Beware Boiúna, a new film in the subgenre of movies featuring monstrously large versions of familiar animals, has arrived in theaters October 2. While the film offers a few clever twists and moments of visual appeal, it ultimately struggles to fully capitalize on its premise, often suffering from a pacing that keeps the audience waiting too long for its main attraction.
The movie follows a trio of doctors on a humanitarian mission to the Amazon, who, along with their boat crew, encounter the Boiúna, a colossal serpent from Brazilian mythology. Described as a force of nature, the Boiúna is said to eliminate any who disrupt the balance of her domain.
Despite delivering a couple of early death scenes to foreshadow the dangers, Beware Boiúna's setup is excessively prolonged. Clocking in at 1 hour and 44 minutes, the film often feels longer than its runtime, a stark contrast to the leaner approaches of similar films like Anaconda and Lake Placid, which ran 90 minutes or less. The narrative dedicates substantial time to establishing characters and their dynamics, attempting a more serious and grounded tone than typical for the genre. While integrating themes of Amazon exploitation and indigenous rights is commendable, these elements are not efficiently blended with the expected creature-feature mayhem.
A subplot involving a dark experience between med student Alli and ship mechanic Lena, leading to a pursuit by a character named Brennan and his men, further contributes to the film's lengthy setup. Although this storyline provides additional potential victims for the Boiúna, it presents a less direct route to the central conflict.
When the Boiúna does appear, she is depicted as a formidable and impressive creature, with the film utilizing her immense size as a weapon. However, the audience's ability to fully appreciate her is hindered by infrequent and often obscured views. Director Mike P. Nelson and cinematographer Nick Junkersfeld create visually appealing scenes, and the special effects for the Boiúna are solid in the brief glimpses provided. The film's limited budget appears to restrict more extensive showcasing of the creature, at times resorting to shaky-cam techniques, which do little to enhance the viewing experience or compensate for the lack of screen time.
Screenwriter Alan B. McElroy, known for Halloween 4, introduces deviations from the genre's typical formula, playing with audience expectations regarding character fates and perspectives. Nevertheless, the film lacks memorable death sequences, with many characters dispatched quickly and without distinct details to make their demises stand out.
Some well-executed moments exist, such as a character using a deceased friend's body for survival or the creature's interaction with construction equipment. However, these impactful scenes are occasionally undercut by unnecessary flashbacks that over-explain character relationships already understood by the audience.
The performances of Jessica Rothe and Kiana Madeira as Alli and Lena are a highlight, conveying the necessary resourcefulness for their roles. Will Close also shines as the comic relief character Callum, effectively delivering humorous lines despite being out of his element.
Director Nelson demonstrates some directorial flair, particularly in well-executed jump scares and other striking moments. However, these isolated instances fail to build sufficient momentum, preventing the film from feeling consistently engaging. Ultimately, the film's reluctance to feature its title creature more prominently and for longer durations detracts significantly from its potential.
In conclusion, Beware Boiúna is a passable monster movie. The appealing cast and a degree of unpredictability meet the basic expectations of the genre. However, a more focused narrative, a slightly quicker pace, and more substantial screen time for the Boiúna would have greatly improved the overall experience.