ANACONDA (2025)

December 23, 2025

Greetings again from the darkness. Longtime movie lovers usually cringe with announcements regarding movie remakes. Of course, some work out pretty well: A STAR IS BORN (2018), THE THING (1982), TRUE GRIT (2010); while others deserve backlash: PSYCHO (1998), ROLLERBALL (2002), THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (2003). When the news hit that writer-director Tom Gormican (THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT, 2022) was going to remake ANACONDA (1997), it wasn’t so much a cringe reaction as it was a giant question mark … Why remake a movie that on its best day could only be labeled a fringe cult favorite? Once the leads of Jack Black (after Nic Cage dropped out) and Paul Rudd were announced, it made much more sense. This was to be a comedic take on an original film that featured quite a few accidental comedy elements.

This latest take revolves around four lifelong friends stuck in mid-life limbo, searching for meaning. Doug (Jack Black), Griff (Paul Rudd), Kenny (Steve Zahn), and Claire (Thandiwe Newton) made a movie together as kids, and Griff discovered the VHS tape at his mom’s house. Watching their work as youngsters ignites the desire to recreate the passion they once had. The solution is obvious (to them): remake ANACONDA!

They head to the Amazon and almost immediately are unknowingly caught up in a gold crime ring where a key player, Ana (Daniela Melchior, ROAD HOUSE, 2024) winds up captaining the boat they chartered for the river work. Also on the boat is Santiago (Selton Mello (I’M STILL HERE, 2024), a snake handler who brings along his pet as the titular character. As you might imagine, the whole thing turns into quite an ordeal and yes, there is a giant snake who feasts on humans (like in the original).

Director Gormican co-wrote the script with Kevin Etten, and rather than tongue-in-cheek, they go full-on comedic reimagining of the original 1997 film written by Hans Bauer, Jim Cash, and Jack Epps Jr. Paying additional homage to that film, there are mentions of Jennifer Lopez, Eric Stoltz, and a wisecrack about Jon Voight’s confusing accent. I’ll admit that I don’t always find the genius in this type of comedy, but I found myself laughing more often than not at some of the outrageous escapades … likely due to the talents of the lead actors (Zahn especially has some zingers). You likely know already whether this one will appeal to you, so enjoy … or not.

Opens in theaters on Christmas Day 2025

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Posted by David Ferguson

GOD’S COUNTRY (2022)

September 25, 2022

Greetings again from the darkness. Do you ever have that feeling that if no one’s going to do something then “I guess I will”? These days it seems our systems and institutions are failing us, and that’s at the heart of what is eating at Sandra (Thandiwe Newton), a college professor living in a remote house in the mountains. When the film opens, she is at the crematorium for her recently deceased mother. Soon after, two hunters park on her land, and their reactions after she politely asks them not to, tells us where this story is headed.

Writer-director Julian Higgins and co-writer Shaye Ogbanna never give Sandra (or us) any reason to think everything is going to be just fine. It’s a slow-burn towards disaster, and we can’t help but watch to see how bad situations turn worse and how the conclusion plays out. Violence is expected … especially after we see how ineffective the local acting Sheriff (Jeremy Bobb) is at his job.

The ”chapters” in this story are actually the days numbered so that we can keep up with the tension. A red truck, an arrow in the door, a police report, a faculty meeting, a church organist, and the disclosure by a student (Tanaya Beatty) all lead us to the dreaded seventh day. The stress builds for Sandra, who manages to hold her tongue quite often, right up until she doesn’t. It’s clear to us that she’s carrying a bitterness and a chip … and seeking vengeance. It’s easy for us to emphasize with Sandra in the first two acts, though it’s likely many will join me in being a bit disappointed in the final act.

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Posted by David Ferguson

ALL THE OLD KNIVES (2022)

April 8, 2022

Greetings again from the darkness. Thanks to James Bond, Jason Bourne, and Ethan Hunt, we’ve grown accustomed to globetrotting action-packed thrillers in the spy genre. But of course, there is the flip side: the quiet and unheralded work done by intelligence agents … those who typically use their brains more often than their fists or guns. Director Janus Metz (the underrated BORG VS MCENROE, 2017) has based his film on the 2015 book by Olen Steinhauer.

It’s 2012 and we are inside the Vienna station of the CIA as the agents meet to strategize their response to a terrorist act – the hijacking of Turkish Alliance Airline Flight 127. The team is unable to prevent tragedy, and it’s clear this is a case that will stick with them. Eight years later, the station chief (Laurence Fishburne) calls Henry Pelham (Chris Pine) back in to let him know that on orders from Langley the case has been re-opened. The terrorist behind that hijacking has been recently captured and disclosed that he had a CIA mole inside the Vienna station. Henry is to re-interview everyone involved to uncover the double-agent.

One of those interviewed is the former supervisor played by Jonathan Pryce. He’s now retired, and Henry forces him to go back through all details, some of which are uncomfortably personal. But that doesn’t compare to how personal the next interview hits. Celia (Thandiwe Newton) was not just Henry’s fellow agent, but also his lover. She has since left the agency and is living a pleasant family life in stunning Carmel-by-the-Sea, perhaps the most picturesque coastal area in the U.S. Chris Pine gets to look really cool driving a convertible over Bixby Bridge.

Director Metz works in numerous flashbacks to the relationship between Henry and Celia, and it’s through these that we come to understand their connection and the type of people they are. But ultimately, it’s their meeting at the fancy restaurant with the breathtaking view that serves as the key to the movie and the story. In fact, because their time sharing a table and wine is so substantial and critical, it could easily transition to a stage play. It’s a high-level game of cat-and-mouse between two beautiful and smart characters. You may know where it’s headed, but it’s unlikely you’ll know how it will get there.

It’s easy to see this being a popular streaming choice as the characters and setting are easy on the eyes. The deeper questions asked here are what to do when a loved one isn’t who you thought they were. Also, can you trust those trained to not trust others? As previously stated, it’s a bit of a different spin on the spy genre – less action/thriller and more character study.

Streaming on Prime Video beginning April 8, 2022

WATCH THE TRAILER

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Posted by David Ferguson