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Piloted by Loren Mercer (Alex Reid), a medical team of nine leaves for the South Seas, in
particular the Celebes to find a cure for a patient in the hospital. Headed by Dr. Leon and Valentine (Pepe Sancho, Chris Potter respectively), the team is joined by Capri
(Ravil Isyanov), a scientist. Mercer's plane develops engine trouble and is destroyed as it crashlands on an island but all passengers are unharmed. As they trek through the
lush forest to get to the other side of the island, they encounter giant bugs, centipedes, spiders and other mutated creatures that prey on human beings. They find evidence
that Loren's brother, a pilot who disappeared, was a victim of these monsters. Their guns are no match for the gluey webs, ticks and tentacles of the mutants which devour them
one by one. Can any of them survive?
Amazon is a
simple straightforward narrative without sub-plots or complications. Being a horror film, it endeavors to generate some tension in the viewer by the use of visuals of the
mutants, contrast in lighting and some sound effects. The monsters look frightening enough and the very graphic deaths of victims are too gory and gruesome for comfort;
however, the use of better special effects can have more impact. The expedition crashlands on the beach in full sunlight but three-fourths of the film takes place in the eerie
half-lights and shadows of the forest. The sounds produced by the monsters contrasting with the silence of the jungle help build the mood but the horror picture enthusiast
would appreciate better and more appropriate sound effects. Produced by Spain's biggest film studio, Filmax, the movie has unclear dialogue in English with subtitles in a
foreign language (not Spanish) and in an unfamiliar script (Middle Eastern?). The actors are not well known and most of the acting needs to be honed and polished.
The sight of the monstrous mutated creatures could make us pause and think about the possible
terrifying consequences when nature runs berserk, when things are not as they should be. We have perhaps taken for granted the wonderful order and balance in God's beautiful
world, with everything just right in its place. Also, we may have neglected this world, even despoiling it unwittingly sometimes. Worse, we may have tampered with nature
without much thought about the serious results. For instance, we know nature's "revenge" for the destruction of our forests, Now, we have genetically modified organisms (in
food), test tube babies, cloning. Laboratory mutation of animals and insects is not far behind. This new technology is touted by its advocates as promising advantages to
mankind but can we predict the horrifying results when nature goes awry as we play God?
(Date reviewed: February 21, 2003)
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