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Cult Review
Senior Film Conservator
Honestly, only if you have a thing for old-school humidity and stories that move at the speed of a snail in the sand. If you want high-octane action, skip it. If you want to watch people squint at each other in the jungle for an hour, you're in the right place.
The whole thing feels like it was filmed inside a wet towel. There’s this constant, heavy atmosphere that is either really dreamy or just kind of exhausting depending on your mood. It’s definitely not for everyone, especially if you get annoyed by characters who barely speak.
The location work is actually kind of weirdly charming. It doesn't look like a vacation brochure; it looks like a place where things go to be forgotten. There’s a scene where the musician just sits by the water, and you can almost smell the salt and rotting leaves. It’s effective, even if the pacing is basically non-existent.
It reminded me a bit of the quiet, slightly desperate feeling you get in Le chiffonnier de Paris. Just people stuck in their own little worlds, waiting for something to happen. Sometimes that’s enough.
Then the three guys show up, and the movie suddenly remembers it needs a plot. They’re these sweaty, mustache-twirling types who seem way too interested in gold for a place that looks like it barely has running water. The way they stomp around the island is almost comical.
The guy defending the island? He’s so timid at first that you want to shake him. But watching him eventually stand his ground is… well, it’s fine. It’s not exactly The Lash in terms of intensity, but it gets the job done.
It’s an imperfect movie. Some shots linger way past their expiration date, and there are gaps in the story that feel like someone just forgot to film the connecting scenes. But there’s a raw, strange energy here that you just don't get in polished modern stuff. It feels like a fever dream that nobody bothered to clean up. And in a way, that’s kind of nice. 🌴
IMDb —
1920
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