Meat. Lots of meat. | The Green Inferno review.

By: Shion Periy

🌿 Activists beware - “Shots fired” at radical activists. The result is pretty funny. But some people might be offended.

🍖 This movie features cannibalism - You may consider becoming a vegetarian after this film.

🤢 This movie is… gross - If that wasn’t already obvious from the previous point. You’ll want to skip the snacks with this one. I warned you.

The Green Inferno¹ follows a social activism group that travels to the Amazon rainforest to protect native tribes and protest (in rather radical fashion) against forest clearing by a big bad corp.

The main character, Justine, played by Lorenza Izzo, is whisked along on this journey after she finds herself enamoured with the activist group’s leader, Alejandro. Ahh, freshman love.

Things quickly go south when members of the group find themselves trapped by one of the very tribes they’re trying to protect. Pair that with the already numerous dangers of the rainforest, and you’ve already got yourself one hell of a thrilling setting.

Currently holding a 39% on Rotten Tomatoes, this movie wasn’t well-received by critics. It also went under the radar in comparison to director Eli Roth’s more notorious films like Hostel or Thanksgiving.

However, where I feel the movie did something truly special was in the fact that it makes you want to both look and look away from the screen.

Roth filmed the movie with an actual indigenous tribe. Don’t worry, they’re not actual cannibals, although they found the idea hilarious. Because of this, there’s a certain, dare I say, authenticity that you feel when watching this movie. It feels very real at times - Shoutout to the prosthetics team. And because of this, for better or worse, you’ll find yourself really immersed in the film at times, and then quickly looking away, thankful you have a cozy blanket to retreat under. 

The legend Stephen King himself had this to say about the movie: “THE GREEN INFERNO is like a glorious throwback to the drive-in movies of my youth: bloody, gripping, hard to watch, but you can't look away.”²

There’s something about films that explore human survival. Maybe it’s the primal spirit we get to see awaken in characters when they’re forced to go to great lengths. Or maybe, we all just enjoy the hell out of seeing someone get dropped into the most nightmarish situation, who isn’t us. Whatever the case, this movie had me so hooked that I never once felt the urge to check my phone, which, if you were to ask my wife, is pretty darn impressive.

There’s some striking imagery in this film. And not just the eating humans part.

Covered in red dye, the native tribe stands out against the green hell that the characters find themselves in, at times, feeling like literal red demons. There’s one scene in particular where the tribe comes running around a corner, and you can’t help but stare in awe at the nightmarish beauty of this “red wave” moving through the lush and exotic backdrop of the Amazon.

Not to mention the overall sets and costumes. One of the tribe leaders is covered in black dye and yellow face paint, with huge tusks surrounding his face as a part of a facial piercing. His on-screen presence is terrifying, much in part due to his visual appearance, since viewers won’t understand the language they’re speaking. Details like this really add to the immersion of the film, and the makeup department deserves a standing ovation. 

Thanks to these masterfully crafted visuals, it’s a truly gripping film. Especially when the tribe’s true nature is revealed, delivering ultimate shock value involving a tongue and eyeballs…

Roth has typically made characters in his films that are easy to root against. And this film is no different. Aside from the protagonist, viewers may find themselves quickly changing sides on who to root for. Like in many horror movies, characters make wild and often questionable choices, which will have you shaking your head or yelling, “NO, don’t do that!” at the screen. But that’s all part of the fun. 

As the main group of characters gets picked off (and literally picked apart), you may find yourself cheering and then quickly having to close your eyes or turn your head from the screen in squeamish fashion. 

AKA, this film is a ton of fun to watch with a group.

If you take this movie for what it is - A cannibal horror film with some fun social commentary jabs at extreme activism, there’s a good chance you’ll have a good time and find yourself glued to the screen like I was.

👓 Consensus = Deserves better.

1. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2403021/

2. https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3362095/stephen-king-loved-the-green-inferno/