Indigenous

RELEASED IN 2014 and directed by Alastair Orr, "Indigenous" covers events in Panama when five college-age youths vacation there for some fun in the sun. Things go awry when they visit a beautiful waterfall in a forbidden area of the jungle.

This is a professionally made monster-in-the-forest flick with a competent no-name cast highlighted by gorgeous Panamanian locations and winsome Laura Penuela in a bikini. Precious Lindsey McKeon is another highlight on the female front.

My only problems are that (1.) the plot's hackneyed, particularly bringing to mind "The Last Tribe" (2009), which is marginally better in some ways. Other flicks come to mind, like "Touristas" (2007) and "The Ruins" (2008), which are superior to the other two. (2.) There's no depth in the plot: This is a monster movie focusing on partying youths getting chased in the forest by savage creatures and that's it. As such, the film's not very compelling despite the horror and thrills. On the bright side, the last act throws in an unexpected curve ball and shows that the movie wasn't micro-budget. Another positive is that this is arguably the best and most realistic chupacabra flick out there (keeping in mind that I've only seen four such movies).

Speaking of which, 'chupacabra' is a Spanish word, which literally means "goat-sucker" (from chupar "to suck" and cabra "goat"). There are two varieties of this cryptozoological beast: (1.) a reptile-like creature with leathery/scaly greenish-gray skin and sharp spines or quills running down its back; and (2.) a hairless form of canine with a pronounced spinal ridge and prominent eye sockets, fangs, and claws. "Indigenous" interestingly features neither of these, although the creatures come closer to the first description, I suppose.

THE MOVIE RUNS 1 hour 26 minutes was shot in Panama. WRITER: Max Roberts.

GRADE: B-/C+ (5.5/10)

Below mediocre, thoroughly amateurish attempt making a survival horror film in the jungles of Panama. The film is about a group of friends who decide to explore an impenetrable area called the Darién Gap.

The Darién Gap (Spanish: Región del Darién or Tapón del Darién) is a break in the Pan-American Highway consisting of a large swath of undeveloped swampland and forest within Panama's Darién Province in Central America and the northern portion of Colombia's Chocó Department in South America.

Having learned from a friend about a beautiful waterfall in that area, which has a pool very good to swim in, they decide to undertake an expedition despite the friend's warning about a vicious creature that inhabits the area. This creature, the Chupacabra, is thought to be an evil spirit inhabiting the body of a half-man, half-animal being.

The film opens fairly straightforward as most films in this genre do. A group of tourists enjoying themselves, sucking up the atmosphere, drinking, making love to their girlfriends etc., etc. Then they decide that rather then surfing at the coast, they do something adventurous and explore this impenetrable area called the Darién Gap. They find the waterfall as the friend said. They then bathe in the pool below the waterfall for a while, till one of the couple decides to leave and do deeper into the jungle. Then all hell breaks loose...

The director, I feel, is unable into inject a real spark into this film. The actors that were chosen did their jobs as per the script. But the script itself is so obviously dull and predictable, that we already know what direction the film is headed at. In the past I saw a survival action-horror film that set the benchmark for all movies of its genre. This film was Predator, a 1987 film directed by John McTiernan. Also note that The Thing (1982) directed by John Carpenter is also a survival-horror film. Basis of such movies is an outer-space alien killing off humans.

More films you may like: Dawn of the Dead(1978), Tremors(1990), Jaws(1975), Shakma(1990), Prince of Darkness(1987), 30 Days of Night(2007).

Thank you for reading this review. May you live long and prosper.

What happens when you put low-budget, unfamiliar actors, and horror movie together? Usually something really bad. However, that was not the case with this movie. It was incredibly entertaining. Unlike many horror films that are made on the cheap, this was very well acted and directed.

The monster was actually shown. Unlike as often is the case in low-budget horror films where the monster looks like someone who's simply wearing a Halloween mask, the creature in this was very well crafted. It kind of resembled the monsters from The Descent, except this monster could see, and it had raptor-like teeth.

The scenery, primarily a jungle, is always a fun atmosphere, because the forest is like the ocean; both entirely different worlds unto themselves.

For anyone who likes movies like the aforementioned Descent, I highly recommend this movie. It's not as good as Descent, but come on that was a highly original movie. However, if you liked that, you should like this.

I gave this a 7-star rating. It's about time I found a horror film that was good. I've seen so many that stink out loud. Again, I recommend this to all those who are horror movie junkies.

'Indigenous' was not a film that was doomed from very the very start or anything. Although the concept was unoriginal, it did have potential. The cover/poster was another example of the cool and creepy sort of advertising. So actually there was some potential here. Just to say, this is coming from somebody who appreciates horror and aims not to be biased against low budget films (as there are good ones out there).

Not somebody that hates horror and anything that's low budget regardless of what my review history may suggest. Despite wanting to like it and appreciating the genre it fits under, 'Indigenous' just didn't work for me. It is not irredeemably awful, many other films are infinitely more deserving of that dubious distinction, and there are far worse films out there for the genre and overall. Its few, but at least existent, good points however are far outweighed by the bad points, which happen to also sadly be quite big in size, and am not saying that to be nasty or anything.

The photography is quite good and atmospheric, the best thing about 'Indigenous' easily. The scenery also doesn't come off too badly, it at least doesn't look like a studio backlot or anything like that.

Also thought that the creature surprisingly posed a menacing threat and didn't look too bad, despite to other similar creatures in films of a similar budget and even concept. It could have been better used though.

For those sporadic good points, there are sizeable debits with 'Indigenous'. It is badly crippled by a very dull pace, with it never gaining any momentum after a very amateurish start, established immediately by the early parts, and by having no tension or suspense whatsoever, apparent from the very start as well. The script lacks any tautness or natural flow and there is nothing interesting or scary about about the story.

Which is also quite ridiculous frequently and the characters behave far too irritatingly and illogically to be remotely likeable or relatable. The actors really struggle to bring any life or realism to the annoying characters and completely bland script. The music never fits and sounded like it belonged somewhere else.

In summary, weakly done but not a catastrophe. 3/10

Prey's trite premise made me feel like I had already seen the film several times before. I hadn't. There's no way I'd watch this garbage more than once.

The formulaic storyline sees a group of young backpackers in Panama hiking to a scenic waterfall in a remote part of the jungle, despite being warned not to do so by friendly local Julio. The travellers' trip turns into a nightmare when they find themselves hunted by blood sucking cryptids, the chupacabra.

Reminiscent of countless other 'horrific vacation' movies, including An American Werewolf in London, Hostel, Turistas, Chernobyl Diaries, and The Ruins, with more than a touch of The Descent thrown in for good measure, this lame creature feature brings nothing new to the table, director Alastair Orr content to wheel out all of the expected genre clichés: rapid, wobbly editing and dark cinematography that prevents us from getting a good look at the monsters for most of the movie; 'found footage' shot on the characters' phones; and gutteral noises to creep out the viewer and sudden screeches to make them jump. Even the survivors are predictable from the outset.

Technically, the film is slick enough, and the cast do a reasonable job, but when the finished product is so derivative, what is the point?

2.5 out of 10, rounded up to 3 for latin hottie Laura Penuela as Carmen.