When I first saw the trailer for this movie, I was definitely intrigued. I love a good monster movie that promises fun and thrills, but unfortunately, this one delivers weakly. I was initially bewildered that the highly anticipated film Resident Evil wasn’t the official opening-night movie, given how good it is, and that this seemingly Anaconda (1997) knock-off would be the official opening-night feature of my beloved genre film festival. Sadly, I was right to assume this film wouldn’t deliver.
Within the Amazon rainforest. A medical humanitarian group tries to treat locals struggling with various medical conditions. At the same time, a more opportunistic group attempts to scour the area for financial gain. Though both parties initially work together well, a poor choice by one of the treasure seekers awakens a gigantic snake that tries to take everyone out.
While the premise is solid, writer/director Mike P. Nelson and his co-writers fail to deliver a movie that fully intrigues and compels its audience to care about what follows. Though the movie has its moments, we never get a strong enough backstory, and the action often falls flat. On top of that, this attempted creature feature takes itself too seriously, but the bad writing and weak direction never manage to pull it off.
The film has a decent cast, but the material doesn’t do their talents justice. Actors Kiara Madeira, Jessica Rothe, Logan Marshall-Greene, and the supporting cast deserve much better. They are clearly invested in this story and the events their characters experience, but their acting and dedication deserve a better foundation. The direction is sufficient, but I found myself bored from the opening to the closing.
I was rather disappointed that Beware Boiuna was selected as the official opening-night film of this year’s Fantastic Fest. Even though I enjoyed several great movies at the festival, this one wasn’t one of them. Beware Boiuna is now playing in theaters.