So you may be saying to yourself, why the hell would Horror Bob review a Mel Gibson movie, that is obviously not a horror film, but more of a history piece. Well if you know anything about the Mayan Civilization, you know that the Mayans were pretty screwed up people. With all due respect in a nutshell they were a bunch of savages, and Gibson catches that history all too well with this film.
Apocalypo starts out with a small group of male tribesman hunting a Tapir, while hunting they encounter a group of people from another tribe who want to pass though their lands. They allow it, but it eventually will cost the tribe their village as this other tribe they let pass though is being tracked by the Mayan Empire. Well the Mayan attack the village, and take most of the village as their prisoners. The women will be sold as slaves, while the men will be taken to the temple and sacrificed to the gods. Jaguar Paw is our main character in the film, and he spots the Mayans before they invade the village. He hides his wife and young son in a cave like well, so that they will not be taken prisoners. However Jaguar Paw leaves them to go help his father and brother fight the Mayans. Well he is taken captive and along with his tribe is forced to walk back to the Mayan City. However there is something about Jaguar Paw that the Mayan’s will soon learn to fear. But Jaguar Paw really just wants to get home and be with his family.
I was both absolutely terrified and overwhelmed with the script to this film, Gibson and writing partner Farhad Safinia not only managed to capture the gruesome history behind the Mayans, but also were able to develop a great story line to introduce us to the culture. Gibson as always does a great job directing; and this film was probably more of a challenge to shoot than Passion of the Christ was. There were more over the top costumes and sets to work with. And one thing that no horror fan can take away from Mel Gibson is his use of gore in his films. His horrors are that of true history and how man of the past was more dangerous and animal like than we are today.
As far as the acting goes, the performances in this film were top notch, Rudy Youngblood who plays Jaguar Paw gave a great Oscar worthy performance, as did his menacing co-star Rodolfo Palacios. The whole entire cast was just great in this film, and their performances show just how well of a director Mel Gibson is.
You will probably see some of the best make-up and special effects in this movie than you would in most horror films. I mean this film had so much blood, guts and gore, that it gives Cannibal Holocaust a run for it’s money. I mean we get everything from blood spaying from a head to decapitated heads, A Jaguar eating s guys face to a field full of headless bodies. This film has plenty for fans of gore, and why not get a history lesson while your at it.
I can’t help but mention the sets and production value of the film. Most of it takes place in the Rain Forest, but the Mayan Temples and villages looked out of this world. The costume design in the film was also nothing but perfect.
Overall, probably the only two things that bothered me about this film were how the Mayans treated the children of the tribes. (Broke my parenting heart). And the length of the film. Yes the movie is about two and half hours long, but it’s well worth the time. I really enjoyed this film; not only was I entertained by it, but the troubles that Jaguar Paw and his tribe went though in this film touched me, and at times scared me. Well worth picking up on DVD.
– Horror Bob
- Interview with J.R. Bookwalter - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
