Jungle – Movie Review (4/5)

Jungle is a breathtaking adventure turned nightmare. Daniel Radcliffe stars in the movie based on a true story!

The fact that Jungle is based on a true story is enough to send shivers down your spine. We’ve seen the stories of survival many times before. Still, they inspire and impress just the same.

One thing is surviving in an old-school slasher where a Jason Voorhees or Freddy Krueger is chasing you. It’s something else when it’s the “real world” and just bad luck. Or stupid decisions.

Okay, it’s probably a bit of both.

During the movie, you don’t really feel that there are any “good guys” or “bad guys”, which would’ve been the easy route to take.

Instead, the focus is on survival and what people choose to do to survive.

As things are progressively going from bad to worse, it’s only natural that difficult decisions need to be made.

Of course, if you’ve read the real-life Yossi’s book, you know how it’ll all turn out. And the mere fact that it’s based on a book by Yossi Ghinsberg, tells you that he will survive. Also, he narrates the beginning of the movie, so…

Want to go on an adventure?

To me, it always seems so crazy when people throw themselves into situations they can’t possibly handle. Deciding to run a marathon or go bungy-jumping? That I can relate to. Sure, there’s a risk involved.

But heading into the jungle with no way of getting contact to the outside world? Hell no!

Of course, this is exactly why I do love watching these stories on screen. Because I do find it fascinating and amazing (though insane) that some people decide to do these crazy things.

Mind you, I’m not talking about explorers. I can understand why you’d head to remote places to document the wildlife or find new medicinal plants.

But to just head out on an adventure with no real experience or knowledge of the area or risks? Umm, no.

Because that would be a recipe for disaster – or at the very least a nightmare come true.

Daniel Radcliffe as a low-key horror icon

Honestly, I’ve always liked Daniel Radcliffe. Sure, in Harry Potter, but also in whatever interview or spoof bit he’s done. He just seems like a great guy. Also, he has done quite a few thriller and horror movies.

After all, the first movie he did, after finishing the Harry Potter movies in 2011, was The Woman in Black in 2012. And then came Horns in 2013.

And even though I don’t feel Horns did Joe Hill’s book justice, the casting for the adaptation (with Radcliffe starring) was near flawless. Then, in 2015, came Victor Frankenstein where Radcliffe portrayed “Igor” to James McAvoy‘s “Dr. Frankenstein”.

Basically, the man has been working with classic horror and thriller elements at least every other year. And while Jungle isn’t horror per say, it’s a thriller about survival. And yeah, the entire situation is pretty damn terrifying.

Wolf Creek director Greg McLean

Any horror fan should be familiar with the Australian horror goldmine that is Wolf Creek. The movie was directed by Greg McLean, who directed Jungle. This fact alone is enough reason for me to watch it.

Greg McLean also wrote Wolf Creek, which was (as hard as it is to believe) his feature film debut as both writer and director. More recently, he did the crazy madness slasher The Belko Experiment, which was written by James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy and, of course, Slither).

Jungle wasn’t written by Greg McLean either. Instead, it was adapted to a screenplay by Justin Monjo, based on the book by Yossi Ghinsberg himself.

For me, this movie worked in pretty much every way. If you like survival movies and aren’t too squeamish, then you should enjoy it as well.

Jungle is out on VOD in the US (along with limited theatrical release) from October 20, 2017.

It will be released in other countries in the following months – including my native Scandinavia on October 30, 2017.

Details

Director: Greg McLean
Writer: Justin Mojo (based on the book by Yossi Ghinsberg
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Thomas Kretschmann, Alex Russell, Joel Jackson

Plot

A group of friends join a guide for a trek into the Bolivian jungle, searching for an Indian village. The men soon realize that the jungle is a difficult place to be.