Imagine, if you will, a film where the notion of "Jaws" meets the political climate of "Hotel Rwanda". Now drop the presence of big name actors, and settle in for "Primeval." Set in politically unstable Burundi (in Africa), a legendary 25+ foot crocodile, nicknamed Gustave, has been devouring locals and others for years. Everyone seems to know of the killer croc (the serial killer mentioned in promo materials), but no one has successfully done anything about his blood thirst.
Until an ambitious network news executive, of course, who wants to score high during sweeps' week on television. He sends Tim to Africa (for a recent professional disgrace) and his camera guy Steven to accompany Aviva, an animal news reporter, and join Matt, a croc hunter-turned-media star.
Our crew charge headlong into the unknown, sitting with a shaman for a blessing, but tromping across other customs. (My favorite was Aviva pulling a small dog to safety, despite his presence in the river being the villager's offering to appease the angry croc. Yes, certainly a less-than-humane act on their part, however, their offering wasn't consistent with the Western ways, so she imposes her views and takes over without comment or consent of the locals.)
A smattering of bad guys helps add to the political peril as well as that of the increasingly hungry croc. As you'd expect in such films, most everyone you recognize manage to become croc lunch, but the dog lives to return to America with the surviving few. Following the natural flow of "Jaws" and others, our vicious animal killer's fate isn't really addressed, leaving the door wide open for a sequel.
Let us pause for a moment plea to the great Hollywood immortals that such a sequel never materialize. The film isn't out-and-out awful, certainly, but neither will it be winning many awards for screenwriting, originality, or stellar acting.
I'm confident the turnout of only three others in the theatre with me was the result of it being a week night. Or, the low seat occupancy could have been the product of a half-effort story, some less-than-dazzling CGI effects, and of hapless heroes dodge croc bites, politically-motivated bullets and ensure local legends are consistent with Western mores.
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