O Chupa-Cabra

What happens when you put low-budget, unfamiliar actors, and horror movie together? Usually something really bad. However, that was not the case with this movie. It was incredibly entertaining. Unlike many horror films that are made on the cheap, this was very well acted and directed.

The monster was actually shown. Unlike as often is the case in low-budget horror films where the monster looks like someone who's simply wearing a Halloween mask, the creature in this was very well crafted. It kind of resembled the monsters from The Descent, except this monster could see, and it had raptor-like teeth.

The scenery, primarily a jungle, is always a fun atmosphere, because the forest is like the ocean; both entirely different worlds unto themselves.

For anyone who likes movies like the aforementioned Descent, I highly recommend this movie. It's not as good as Descent, but come on that was a highly original movie. However, if you liked that, you should like this.

I gave this a 7-star rating. It's about time I found a horror film that was good. I've seen so many that stink out loud. Again, I recommend this to all those who are horror movie junkies.

Indigenous offers the well-known concept of lost tourists on an exotic location where they meet hostile entity. It highly resembles other fiction movies or even miniseries from Discovery channel. To its credit, it gives nice visual of the setting and there is effort to produce horror, but ultimately it is a straightforward and tired endeavor.

The story might work to its advantage as audience gets exactly what they expect. There's little diversity here, even in recent year there are several movies with same theme. A few college kids take vacation in a beautiful place, and then they are inexplicably going to ominous site even though there are plenty of visible warnings.

Visual is pretty good, the use of location is commendable, although when the encounter happens during nighttime, it reverts to jittery cam. The movie is shot mostly on third person, so it shouldn't encounter this issue like many mockumentary movies. Fortunately, the practical effect works well and it doesn't shy away from displaying the monster instead of maintaining blurry shots.

Script does what it needs to, though surprisingly the actors perform admirably. They mostly look genuine, either through occasionally adequate presentation of the horror or the acting itself. In latter half, the movie opts for different gimmick and tries to broaden the scale, a decent effort but not entirely novel.

Indigenous is exactly one would expect from lost tourist horror theme, it's far from innovative, but it might just be sufficient in the small scope.

RELEASED IN 2014 and directed by Alastair Orr, "Indigenous" covers events in Panama when five college-age youths vacation there for some fun in the sun. Things go awry when they visit a beautiful waterfall in a forbidden area of the jungle.

This is a professionally made monster-in-the-forest flick with a competent no-name cast highlighted by gorgeous Panamanian locations and winsome Laura Penuela in a bikini. Precious Lindsey McKeon is another highlight on the female front.

My only problems are that (1.) the plot's hackneyed, particularly bringing to mind "The Last Tribe" (2009), which is marginally better in some ways. Other flicks come to mind, like "Touristas" (2007) and "The Ruins" (2008), which are superior to the other two. (2.) There's no depth in the plot: This is a monster movie focusing on partying youths getting chased in the forest by savage creatures and that's it. As such, the film's not very compelling despite the horror and thrills. On the bright side, the last act throws in an unexpected curve ball and shows that the movie wasn't micro-budget. Another positive is that this is arguably the best and most realistic chupacabra flick out there (keeping in mind that I've only seen four such movies).

Speaking of which, 'chupacabra' is a Spanish word, which literally means "goat-sucker" (from chupar "to suck" and cabra "goat"). There are two varieties of this cryptozoological beast: (1.) a reptile-like creature with leathery/scaly greenish-gray skin and sharp spines or quills running down its back; and (2.) a hairless form of canine with a pronounced spinal ridge and prominent eye sockets, fangs, and claws. "Indigenous" interestingly features neither of these, although the creatures come closer to the first description, I suppose.

THE MOVIE RUNS 1 hour 26 minutes was shot in Panama. WRITER: Max Roberts.

GRADE: B-/C+ (5.5/10)

Similar to the film The Ruins but with a kind of humanoid and bloodthirsty monster. Very weak actors, filmed poorly. You may watch it, but it's just to pass the time.

'Indigenous' was not a film that was doomed from very the very start or anything. Although the concept was unoriginal, it did have potential. The cover/poster was another example of the cool and creepy sort of advertising. So actually there was some potential here. Just to say, this is coming from somebody who appreciates horror and aims not to be biased against low budget films (as there are good ones out there).

Not somebody that hates horror and anything that's low budget regardless of what my review history may suggest. Despite wanting to like it and appreciating the genre it fits under, 'Indigenous' just didn't work for me. It is not irredeemably awful, many other films are infinitely more deserving of that dubious distinction, and there are far worse films out there for the genre and overall. Its few, but at least existent, good points however are far outweighed by the bad points, which happen to also sadly be quite big in size, and am not saying that to be nasty or anything.

The photography is quite good and atmospheric, the best thing about 'Indigenous' easily. The scenery also doesn't come off too badly, it at least doesn't look like a studio backlot or anything like that.

Also thought that the creature surprisingly posed a menacing threat and didn't look too bad, despite to other similar creatures in films of a similar budget and even concept. It could have been better used though.

For those sporadic good points, there are sizeable debits with 'Indigenous'. It is badly crippled by a very dull pace, with it never gaining any momentum after a very amateurish start, established immediately by the early parts, and by having no tension or suspense whatsoever, apparent from the very start as well. The script lacks any tautness or natural flow and there is nothing interesting or scary about about the story.

Which is also quite ridiculous frequently and the characters behave far too irritatingly and illogically to be remotely likeable or relatable. The actors really struggle to bring any life or realism to the annoying characters and completely bland script. The music never fits and sounded like it belonged somewhere else.

In summary, weakly done but not a catastrophe. 3/10