Kidnapping Gorillas: A hard watch from another century

If you're the kind of person who gets upset by old nature documentaries or has a soft spot for primates, skip this. Seriously. It’s not a fun afternoon watch. But if you’re into the history of how we used to treat the wild—or if you just want to see something that feels like a fever dream from a forgotten archive—then maybe you’ll stick around.

The whole thing follows Ben Burbridge and his crew as they trek through Africa to trap gorillas. There isn't much of a plot, just a lot of men with gear pushing into the forest. It’s not polished, and the pacing is pretty much non-existent.

The most jarring part? It’s the sheer lack of hesitation. When they finally corner a large gorilla, they don’t just watch it; they take it down. It’s cold. It’s blunt. It doesn't have the glossy narration of a modern nature special. It feels more like someone’s home movie of a disaster.

I found myself staring at the background extras more than the main guy. Some of the local guides look like they’re wondering why on earth these people traveled halfway across the world to do this. You can see it in their eyes—this quiet confusion.

It’s a far cry from the lighthearted chaos you see in The Fly Guy or the weird social dynamics of Två man om en änka. This is just heavy. It’s a document of a time when we thought the earth was just a big supply closet.

Random thoughts while watching:

• The cameras must have been incredibly heavy, but they still managed to get some surprisingly steady shots.
• There’s a moment where a small gorilla just sits there looking at the lens. It's haunting.
• The film stock is scratchy, which somehow makes it feel more real, like looking through a dirty window.
• I couldn't help but think about how much things have changed, even if we still have a long way to go.

There isn't really a 'conclusion' to this thing. The expedition ends, they get their animals, and the screen just fades out. It left me sitting in the dark, feeling a bit weird about the whole experience. Don't expect to be entertained, but maybe expect to be a little disturbed. That’s probably the point, uh, point, right?