Surviving Evil review

With a total disregard for low budget limitations this adventurous rainforest romp has all the components of good old popcorn crunching B-movie fare – a washed up lead, unassuming supporting cast and exploitative yet morbidly enticing plot. Unfortunately even the most fervent fodder hound will find this tropical turn unbearably banal.

Survival expert Seb Beazley (a bald Bear Grylls played by Billy Zane) leads a British TV crew into the heart of a remote Mayan jungle. As the group descend deeper into unchartered territory, it becomes apparent they are not alone. After encountering a superstitious indigenous tribe, the crew learn the legend of the Aswang – shape-shifting creatures from Filipino folklore that harbour a repugnant penchant for the blood of pregnant women. Low and behold Phoebe (Cole) – the films submissive sacrificial lamb – discovers she is with child, and their jungle fever becomes a nightmarish reality.

It is a crude and tasteless turn, but chances are if you’ve come this far you’re unlikely to head back to shore at this juncture. By this point acceptance of the films absurdities is essential, but this is where Surviving Evil splits its audience. It is difficult to gauge how seriously the film takes itself and at times you won’t know whether to recoil with laughter or cry compassionately. And then there’s Zane.

It is hard to get to grips with how uncomfortable Zane looks; as if flipping the switch to autopilot has left his mind to wander… ‘What am I doing on this Island? I was in Twin Peaks for fucks sake.’ While Zane may not be at the apex of contemporary acting, he’s not exactly bad either – although he has always been more suited to selling spreads then seats.

That said he does manage to stand out from the rest of the intolerable interlopers who fail to keep a far from industrious plot ticking over. Although relatively short, by the time the chitchat ceases and carnage ensues there’s barely enough time to glance back from the watch face you’ve been studying for the preceding hour.