The Green Inferno (2015)
Starring: Lorenza Izzo, Ariel Levy, Daryl Sabara, Kirby
Bliss Blanton, Aaron Burns, Antonieta Pari, Ramon Llao, Magda Apanowicz, Sky
Ferreira, Nicolas Martinez, Ignacia Allamand, Matias Lopez, and Matias Lopez.
My Review and Thoughts:
Reviewing this is a mixed bag of emotions. If I was to review it on the gore, and makeup alone then it’s
brilliant. But being an honest reviewer you can’t just rate a movie on a one
sided reality. I am a fan of Eli Roth, and his simple world of gory horror. One thing I
enjoyed about Green Inferno was the throwback to 70's and 80's Grindhouse films. I have a wicked love for Cabin Fever, Hostel and Hostel 2. I am one who
enjoyed Hostel 2 more than part 1. Now let’s make something very clear, Roth is
not one that make scary movies. His ability is not scary, it’s gross out, or
simply put, to cause a reaction of a disturbing nature. From that stand point he
works. None of the mentioned films are scary. The films mentioned are the definition
of horror, and The Green Inferno is a definition of horror. Horror states an
intense feeling of fear, shock, or disgust. Roth gives the disgust with a
crystal clear clarity that he works so well at. If I was to rate on that reality
then this film is a Golden Ticket. But I don’t rate films that way.
The plot is very simple. A corporation is tearing down the
rain forest, and murdering local tribes inside the forest. An activist group
decides to go to the Amazon, and make a political stand. Joining the group is
college freshman Justine who basically comes aboard because she is attracted to
the leader of the group. Once in the Amazon it doesn’t go as planned.
The Green Inferno has all that shocking, bloody murder moments, and
disgusting gore that you would expect from a film paying homage to such gems
like Cannibal Holocaust, and all over the top films of the 70’s and 80’s that
explored the depravity of cannibalistic tribes, and flesh eating humans.
The Green Inferno has its major flaws. Character development
it lacks greatly. Certain moments are ludacris, and had no purpose or bearing in
the film such as the masturbation shot. Yes it was created, to make the
character all the more hated, but was unrealistic in his actions. The other problem was the
CGI. I am not against good CGI. What I am against is bad CGI. It’s okay to have
CGI in horror films as long it’s done right. The ants in this film on a particular
person, was so fake looking, and godawful that it had me rolling my eyes at how
stupid they looked.
The movie is a rehash of all the older 70’s and 80’s film of this nature. It
basically pays homage to the classics. Nothing will ever beat Cannibal
Holocaust, and I am not saying that The Green Inferno tried to, what I am saying, sometimes the same storyline, or plot to films become a little boring. Watching The Green Inferno you as the viewer already knew what
was going to happen. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to know what was going to
happen next. That is also the plus about this movie. You go into these films for simple, gory entertainment. Sometimes you hope that at least there
will be a story, or something new to praise, but in the end most of the time it’s
the same thing over, and over again, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.
The Green Inferno’s stake in the heart was that it suffered
limbo for over 2 years. Created in 2013, and finally saw the light of day in
2015. The problem that happens with this is people start to anticipate, and come
up with ideas of how truly disturbing it is. People build a mythos around the
film that never lives up to the hype. The Green Inferno I think suffered from
that reality. The buildup was great. Also when a movie is in limbo it becomes
fair game to online illegal postings. The Green Inferno was one of those films
that people could watch illegal down loads, and could easily find online. In
reality, the film suffered financial problems and not because of content. It was
in limbo because of money.
The other problem with the film is there is no real likable
characters other then 2. I enjoyed the character of Lars, played by the wonderful
young actor Daryl Sabara. I have been a fan of Sabara for many years. I loved
him as Juni in the Spy Kids films. He is a great natural talent behind the
lens. He was funny in the part of Lars, and ultimately made you believe his
reality. The next character that stood out was Aaron Burns as the character of
Jonah. Now a little trivia for you. Aaron has worked with Roth, and this Rat
Pack of Splat group of Quentin Tarantino, Eli Roth, and Robert Rodriguez. Burns
is also, besides an actor, a visual effects artist working on 2007’s Grindhouse, and Planet Terror, 2007’s Machete, and 2013’s The Green Inferno, also working
the graphic design department of 2005’s Sin City. Plus Burns is also in two other
related Roth films. Eli presented and produced 2014’s The Stranger, Burns is
the character of Officer Harris in The Stranger. Burns plays Louis in Eli Roth’s
2015 Knock Knock.
The Green Inferno is co-written by Roth, and also Guillermo
Amoedo. Both have worked together before on 2012’s Aftershock, Roth as I have
stated produced Amoedo’s films, 2014’s The Stranger. They also worked together
on Roth’s new 2015 movie, Knock Knock. That is something else unique about
Green Inferno, many of the actors or behind the scenes people have been a part
of the same team in many films. Lorenza Izzo who plays Justine, your main lead
in Green Inferno has also been a part of Aftershock, Roth’s Hemlock Grove, The Stranger,
and Knock Knock. You see, she is married to Roth. So I guess it’s a great
reality when you have an actress, and a director as a married couple.
Green Inferno also stars Ariel Levy who has worked in
Aftershock, The Stranger. Nicolas Martinez who also has starred in Aftershock.
Ignacia Allamand who also starred in Aftershock and Knock Knock.
The two main characters that are truly amazing, and
disturbing is the two main baddies. The Head Hunter who is amazingly played by
Ramon Llao, he also played in Aftershock. His character of Head Hunter is one
that stands out, and is an imagery of disturbing forcefulness that lingers with
you. Next would be the Character of The Village Elder, played by Antonieta Pari.
Pari is amazing in this part and another one of those movie characters that
makes you remember them. Both Llao and Pari are true cinema monsters. 
I also have to mention the beautiful cinematography. The
places it was filmed was amazing. The shoots in Peru and Chile are stunning and
give a realistic reality to the film. 
Gore: 9 out of 10
Makeup: 10 out of 10
CGI: 2 out of 10
Acting: 6 out of 10
Direction: 6 out of 10
Storyline: 4 out of 10
Music Score: 8 out of 10
Film Rating: 5 out of 10
Final Verdict: For fans of gory horror. Lovers of cannibal films.
Movies paying homage to 70’s and 80’s Grindhouse films, then I feel it’s a must.
For the average movie lover, I don’t think you will get this style of film.
This is geared to a select audience of gore-whores and 70’s and 80’s Drive-in
Grindhouse film lovers.
On a funny note, I made my mother watch this. She flinched
and covered her eyes in many of the violent, and over the top gore moments that
Roth captured in great detail. He elicited an emotional response from my mother, which he accomplished perfectly.