Primeval
Primeval
R | 12 January 2007 (USA)
Primeval Trailers

A news team is sent to Burundi to capture and bring home a legendary 25-foot crocodile. Their difficult task turns potentially deadly when a warlord targets them for death.

Reviews
Incannerax What a waste of my time!!!
Laikals The greatest movie ever made..!
TeenzTen An action-packed slog
Nayan Gough A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.
GL84 Following a disastrous affair, a team of journalists are sent to Africa to track down a vicious crocodile terrorizing the locals only to come under fire from a local warlord using the area as his own personal playground and must try to dodge both threats to get out alive.This is a really underrated creature feature that does have a lot to offer. This one has a pretty impressive feat in that there's a unique spin on it where rather than the creature showing up at a particular location where others are gathered together, this one takes place where the croc calls home. It's a surprising idea and all the fun from this is a cause from it, and that extends into the big reasoning for this one being so underrated which is all the action the film has. The early parts of the film, where the attempts to capture it result in some really big action scenes are rather fun with the opening attack inside the body-filled pit is really great, the group's first trap attempt is quite creepy and chilling and a chase through the jungle comes at the tail end of a huge gunfight with the warlord's henchmen isn't that bad either. The big one is the spectacular assault on the floating campground since it's on the water where there's a lot of opportunities for action from these scenes and they are just plain great as well with the surprise charge and the gunfire to hold it off before taking out the walkways and then leading into the charge against their hideout makes this a highlight that is quite fun. Even the rather fun and frantic finale, which is the big encounter in the bush surrounding the swamplands in the driving rain where they encounter both the creature and the henchmen in some rather fun and exciting scenes that really do end this on a high-note. The few croc attacks here result in some really graphic kills while the non-croc kills aren't that bad either, leaving this one with numerous amounts of bloodshed throughout here. These here all make it really underrated as this one here doesn't have a whole lot of flaws, and those aren't that bad. The main factor against it is that this one has a whole lot of really bad quick- cutting during the big action scenes that are nearly impossible to see at times, and along with the use of extreme close- ups there's not a lot to see during these. As these are the film's big moments, it has a real tendency to drag down. There's not a whole lot of surprise in the final twist in the film, which is one that could be seen coming from a mile away, and is so un-shocking that not even the characters offer up any surprise at it, merely taking it for granted that it happened. That alone speaks enough of how good it is. The last flaw is that, despite delivering some of the goriest moments in the film, there really should've been more crocodile kills. It gets only a few, and these are the real gory ones, but it doesn't have the majority, and for it's own film that is a little sad. Overall, these aren't that bad and make it somewhat worthwhile.Rated R: Graphic Violence and Graphic Language.
Python Hyena Primeval (2007): Dir: Michael Katleman / Cast: Dominic Purcell, Brooke Langton, Orlando Jones, Jurgen Prochnow, Gideon Emery: Supposedly based on true events although the likely hood of that are probably exaggerated. The film has a film crew that flies to Africa to gain coverage over numerous deaths. Apparently a giant crocodile is to blame. Director Michael Katleman creates tension but it is interesting that the film's advertisements place no mentions on the crocodile. Instead they make it sound as if a human being caused over 300 deaths. The crocodile is indeed huge and looks fantastic but realism is tested when it attacks a car. Suspense abound although those sequel lovers may be in luck. It will put some viewers in mind of the horrible 1980 horror film Alligator, which is even worse than this. Dominic Purcell is there because he foiled a previous report. He is the one individual who contains any depth although that still doesn't elevate it above formula. He is accompanied by Brooke Langton as the film's official female so that one can be billed within the cast, and Orlando Jones as his cameraman. Jurgen Prochnow and Gideon Emery are also featured as potential menu specials for the croc. None of them are broad roles. Langton is pretty much a romantic tease for Purcell. Theme regards those things that are best accepted because explanation is oblivious such as the writing of this screenplay. Score: 4 / 10
Bloodwank Films like Primeval frustrate me. More so than truly poor films, more so even that Sci-Fi Channel originals where interesting beasts turn into useless CGI. Films like Primeval frustrate me because they waste potential with poor direction and inept editing, leaving themselves wastelands. The story here is of a disgraced journalist embarking on a mission to catch a legendary crocodile in Africa. Once there he becomes embroiled in human tragedy, rediscovers a social conscience and ends up against both the crocodile and the forces of a ruthless local warlord. Dominic Purcell is effectively cool and laconic as the hero, cynicism slowly turning to genuine care, he brings fair emotion and force to the role. Brooke Langton is a suitably pleasant if bland love interest, while Orlando Jones is an amusing wise cracking camera-man. Jurgen Prochnow brings some gravitas as a vengeful guide and hunter, while Gideon Emery does his best with a horribly irritating conservationist character. Everyone basically works as well as they can with the material, but the material itself is deeply flawed. Caught between creature feature, jungle action and socially conscious drama it ends up unable to really satisfy on any of those levels. The flippant writing and potentially offensive stereotypes combine with the silliness of some of the action to stop the film from working on a serious level and the pretensions of seriousness derail its potential fun as both action and horror, as does the pointlessly frenetic editing and overtly tight direction, with several potentially exciting scenes lost in a speedy blur of close ups. Occasionally the film does rise above its problems to become exciting, but it isn't too often. The crocodile here is CGI, it isn't especially convincing but is at least just above Sci-Fi Channel levels. Sadly the film misses out on its potential for gore, though there are a few chewed up corpses and bits of CGI blood splatter. Though I criticise it, I did just about have a good time with this film, it manages to be misbegotten enough to be amusing and it has a few fun ideas, plus an effortless pace and fine cinematography when scenes aren't botched in the editing room. I get the impression that this might have originally been longer, there are scenes that seem cut short and moments where the action seems incoherent above and beyond the call of duty, I wonder if perhaps the producers realised the film was going wrong and got it finished quickly before piecing it together with what they had, or maybe they simply thought it was do long and did a number on it to make it more appealing to the masses. Or maybe the film-makers were simply inept, its hard to know for certain. Anyway, I wouldn't recommend this in any fashion, but for bad movie aficionados it offers enough stupidity (occasionally at a mind boggling level) to stay relatively entertaining. 4/10 from me
long-ford Primeval is horrible but it didn't need to be. A thirty minute creature feature is expanded by incorporating a needless plot line showing civil war and genocide in Africa. Plus the sneering tone of the film in this 'genocide segment' feels totally inappropriate for what was supposed to be a cheesy B-movie. To make matters infinitely worse, the monster is barely even shown and the shaky cam means that the action footage makes no sense at all. The acting is mediocre. Special mention for Orlando Jones who has a cringe-inducing dialogue towards the end. All in all, you come out of the cinema hall feeling cheated.Overall 2/10
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