The Green Inferno

Director Eli Roth is known for his horror films depicting the tourism industry such as Hostel and Cabin Fever. He goes a step further with The Green Inferno, a gore-filled, cannibalistic critique on social activism that leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

A group of privileged student activists travel from New York to Peru for a direct-action mission against the destruction of the rainforest, but their plane crashes into the jungle where they are abducted by the native tribes they are trying to protect. Lorenzo Izzo as the leading damsel is rather good amid the eye-gouging barbarism and over-the-top butchery. However, the decision to depict the indigenous people as primitive, pierced and painted flesh-eating savages is questionable, and has received some objection, especially as there are no cannibal tribes in South America.

Ultimately, the real satirical target is the so-called do-gooders, whose “activism” is fuelled by vanity and moral superiority, rather than altruism. They seek justice with modern technology and reliance on social media trending, and their true colours are revealed once they are captured. Perhaps Roth’s film is a comment on the imperfection of human nature, as the victims, particularly Ariel Levy as Alejandro, start to adopt a survival of the fittest attitude in the face of their situation.

Unfortunately, any real attempt to make a cynical statement is overshadowed by the needless gory imagery, as Roth displays his infatuation with staging torso-ripping dismemberment. The film may be palatable to Roth’s strong-stomached fans, but will probably be lost on mainstream audiences. What’s even stranger is that there isn’t even enough cannibalism to warrant calling it a “cannibal film”. The Green Inferno fails to leave an impact, and is most likely forgettable.

Dominique Perrett

The Green Inferno is released nationwide on 12^th February 2016.

Watch the trailer for The Green Inferno here: