I love L.A.
It’s taken six years to get to where I’m at within my social & professional posture and yet there are new Easter eggs each and every day. A few weeks back, my industry narc contacted me about a test screening of a film and asked if I’d ever heard of it. Welcome to the Jungle is the obscure title and it’s written & directed by Jonathan Hensleigh (Die Hard: With a Vengeance, The Rock, Con Air, Armageddon, The Punisher, Next…) and produced by Gale Anne Hurd (The Terminator(s), Aliens, The Abyss, Armageddon, Hulk, The Incredible Hulk, Dante’s Peak…) I must admit, their combined box office revenue is quite impressive.
I had never heard of it. Digging around online, from IMDb to Baseline—I found no trace of this film. And then I stumbled upon a bit of a rant on the unknown film from the AFM. ‘Jungle’ was likened to and inspired by Ruggero Deodato’s Cannibal Holocaust. One’s mind wanders—and mine began salivating. Does Hollywood finally have an original & unhinged idea that isn’t on a Happy Meal box?
A name popped up. Michael Rockefeller, heir to the Rockefeller estate and son to the Vice President of the United States. Michael seems to have been an adventurer and in 1961, while traveling through New Guinea, his boat capsized and he went missing. He became the subject of the largest manhunt that the US had ever embarked on until most recently with Bin Laden. See Wikipedia link (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Rockefeller).
Being a lore enthusiast, I bit and weaseled my way into this screening. And the lights dimmed…
The bold faced type of the events surrounding Michael Rockefeller’s life appeared on screen over a black and white photo of the man that the world has been looking for. There was no score accompaniment, no thumping song by The Chemical Brothers but a haunting sound of flies buzzing that filled our senses. From that image, the space between my ears cleared and for 90 minutes, I was taken on a journey into the heart of darkness.
The film chronicles four friends on vacation in New Guinea as they stumble upon the legend of Rockefeller and set out to find something, anything that may answer his whereabouts or demise. Liken this film to anything you want. Blair Witch? Ehhhh. Back in 1999, the film was good before the hype then it was simply lame and nauseating. I want to be clear and state that this has nothing to do with Cannibal Holocaust and is extremely far removed. The cinéma vérité approach that Hensleigh incorporates is a must as the film wouldn’t pack the emotional wallop it does in the end. The fluidity of the camera’s movement does not take away from the visceral experience. It merely complements the film. Amidst the days we live in of studio garbage, one is able to see the filmmaker’s heart all over this movie without the fingerprints of producer suggestions.
It’s been a long time since I sat stone faced, teeth clenched and gripping my arm rests. Welcome to the Jungle is quite possibly the most terrifying film of the last decade. The film resonates long after the house lights come up. There are no lavish special effects or buckets of blood. As far as the acting, well, the performances were organic by nature and the descent of each character shines through the screen with an extremely profound impact. People were exiting the theatre during the climax, looking away from the screen and cursing under their breath about how disgusting it was.
As a fan of the genre, that’s a good thing. Who leaves at the tail end of a film unless it’s directed by the likes of Brett Ratner? For that, you have my sincerest understanding. The production on this is top notch and the editing by John Leonetti is seamless. Some of the things you see on screen will leave you scratching your head and wondering how they did that.
I must say in the end, this film is an acquired taste. It’s not for everyone and definitely not for the faint of heart. It’s ruthless and grabs you by your throat, shakes the hell out of you and rips your heart out at the end. Hensleigh & company have succeeded in creating an atmospheric horror film that no studio can simply box up and ship out to the masses. Many people probably won’t enjoy this and will argue that it’s not original. To those I say; to each their own. For me, I absolutely, positively loved every second of the roller coaster ride.
This is a slow burn of a film-going experience. One must commit whole heartedly to the characters and journey with them to their pending doom. Welcome to the Jungle will leave your mind spinning & haunt you for days.
And remember, Children shouldn’t play with dead things
– Jack Reher
- 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
