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The Michael Katleman directed Primeval (or Anaconda 3: The Crocodile
as it’s probably known to VCD vendors in Asia) fixes on a news team who
is sent to South Africa to detain and bring home a renowned 25-foot
crocodile. Their difficult task turns potentially fatal when a warlord
targets them for death.
Dominic Purcell, the muscly star of TVs Prison Break,
tries his best to play the straight-up likeable hero here. Though he
looks the part, there’s something about his demeanour that suggests
he’s got a few skeletons in the closet… you never quite believe he’s on
your side. Maybe it’s the bald head? Maybe it’s the grimace?
Fairing slightly better is Sandra Bullock look-a-like Brooke Langton who plays the brawn’s cluey aide.
Though it never strives to be anything other than Jaws in the Jungle, Primeval
still gets a whipping for its unbelievably silly plot, overdramatic
& uninteresting performances and an extra lash for its superfluous
history lesson on African genocide.
Instead of trying
to blend popcorn with purpose, the filmmakers should’ve stuck to the
one tone (i.e. tongue-in-cheek horror film) and skipped the bits about
hard-up Africa. Superficial politicizing is about as welcome here as
Robert Downey Jr is in your kid’s bed.
There’s only one or two
good scares here – maybe only one now that I think of it – but they’re
enough to suffice a rental on discount day. Maybe.
EXTRAS
Extras include a brief making-of, a commentary and some cut-for-a-reason additional scenes. Conclusion:
Movie 50% Extras: 40%
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