{"id":6239,"date":"2026-05-17T08:00:23","date_gmt":"2026-05-17T06:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.senses.se\/en\/review-anaconda\/"},"modified":"2026-05-17T08:07:22","modified_gmt":"2026-05-17T06:07:22","slug":"review-anaconda","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.senses.se\/en\/review-anaconda\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Anaconda"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In Anaconda (2025)<\/strong>, we are introduced to Doug (Jack Black)<\/strong> and Ronald (Paul Rudd)<\/strong>, two lifelong friends with a deep-seated passion for cinema. While Ronald moved to Los Angeles<\/strong> to pursue an acting career with limited success, Doug remained in their hometown, earning a living as a wedding videographer. Reunited at a birthday party, Ronald proposes an ambitious project: a remake of their favorite film, Anaconda<\/em>. After securing the necessary funding, the duo travels to the Amazon<\/strong> to realize their dream. However, they soon discover that the rainforest is far more perilous than they anticipated, quickly finding themselves in genuine danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Surprisingly Intelligent Meta-Remake<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The original 1997 Anaconda<\/strong> has never been a film I held in particularly high regard; it is a quintessential Jaws<\/em>-style narrative, substituting a shark for a giant predator. Consequently, I must credit the filmmakers for their inventive approach to remaking this specific property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is refreshing to see original concepts still emerging from Hollywood<\/strong>. This production manages to deliver a remake while simultaneously offering a satirical commentary on the film industry itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Direction and Meta-Humor<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Director and screenwriter Tom Gormican<\/strong> is well-versed in meta-humor, having previously written and directed The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent<\/strong>, which starred Nicolas Cage<\/strong> as a fictionalized version of himself. While that film may not have been a massive box-office hit, the iconic scene featuring Cage and Pedro Pascal<\/strong> became a significant viral sensation on social media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Execution: Strengths and Challenges<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Anaconda<\/em> possesses all the components of a successful genre film: a clever hook, inspired casting, and a tone that avoids taking itself too seriously. Unfortunately, several execution issues begin to surface quite early in the runtime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, the plot hinges on the idea of Anaconda<\/em> being a “childhood dream” for the protagonists. However, Rudd and Black were both born in 1969, making them 28 years old when the original film was released. While not a deal-breaker, this oversight points to a broader pattern of narrative inconsistency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The direction also struggles with tonal consistency. Beyond the age discrepancy, the film includes an exceptionally<\/em> long sequence involving the use of a corpse as bait for the snake. While intended as dark comedy, the fact that the deceased character has a family makes the scene feel tonally dissonant. Despite a late-scene “twist,” the entire sequence feels somewhat distasteful, detracting from the viewer’s engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The film is not without its comedic merits, particularly for those familiar with the film industry. However, it never quite finds its stride, failing to fully commit to being either a laugh-out-loud comedy or a genuine thriller. The final result feels somewhat underwhelming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The UHD Edition: A Technical Highlight<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The film\u2019s greatest asset is undoubtedly the UHD edition<\/strong>. Presented in 2160p<\/strong> with Dolby Vision<\/strong> and HDR10<\/strong>, the transfer offers impressive dynamic range and high-contrast depth, which is particularly effective during night scenes. Color saturation is excellent, taking full advantage of the format’s wide color gamut to bring the lush rainforest environments to life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The UHD release also features a Dolby Atmos<\/strong> soundtrack. The Atmos mix provides an expansive soundstage, utilizing height channels effectively to create a truly immersive jungle atmosphere. Environmental sounds, weather effects, and action set-pieces are precisely placed within the sound field. The final confrontation, in particular, is a standout from an audio perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The disc includes a generous selection of bonus features, such as bloopers and behind-the-scenes documentaries. While a commentary track is noticeably absent, the overall quality of the extras is high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ultimately, while I appreciated the clever concept behind this Anaconda<\/em> remake\u2014perhaps one of the most inventive approaches to the format\u2014it falters in execution. Tonal missteps and some questionable creative choices from a usually intuitive director prevent the film from reaching its full potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The superb UHD presentation bolsters the overall score. Despite its flaws, the film contains enough entertaining moments to warrant a look, though it falls just short of a full recommendation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SF Studios<\/em><\/strong><\/a> provided review copies for this feature. The provider has no editorial influence on our content; all reviews are conducted independently with our audience’s interests as the priority.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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