Indigenous

Takes half the movie until anything horror-ish even start to happen and then it takes an additional 15 minutes until we actually get a look of the creatures that are suppose to be the main attraction of the movie.

And although they look reasonably creepy, it just isn't enough to save the movie and for the more-part they aren't really anywhere to be seen, occasionally because they are a bit away but mostly because of shaky camera work and the fact that they seem to do most their work at night-time.

The characters are also dull one-tracked party hardy boys and girls with little likability factor to them, which doesn't help.

So yeah really not recommended, unless you are one of the few people who liked 'ANIMAL (2014)' cause that's similar to this. And that was also terrible.

This is an amazingly dreadful movie. Starts off looking like a pretty good C-Grade movie and some fun in the jungle with an unknown beast. That's what it is, but most of the time we run around with a flashlight, screams from the humans and screeches from the beast. We hardly see the beast and have no feelings towards the humans (like who cares if they die). Avoid this one, no joke.

Prey's trite premise made me feel like I had already seen the film several times before. I hadn't. There's no way I'd watch this garbage more than once.

The formulaic storyline sees a group of young backpackers in Panama hiking to a scenic waterfall in a remote part of the jungle, despite being warned not to do so by friendly local Julio. The travellers' trip turns into a nightmare when they find themselves hunted by blood sucking cryptids, the chupacabra.

Reminiscent of countless other 'horrific vacation' movies, including An American Werewolf in London, Hostel, Turistas, Chernobyl Diaries, and The Ruins, with more than a touch of The Descent thrown in for good measure, this lame creature feature brings nothing new to the table, director Alastair Orr content to wheel out all of the expected genre clichés: rapid, wobbly editing and dark cinematography that prevents us from getting a good look at the monsters for most of the movie; 'found footage' shot on the characters' phones; and gutteral noises to creep out the viewer and sudden screeches to make them jump. Even the survivors are predictable from the outset.

Technically, the film is slick enough, and the cast do a reasonable job, but when the finished product is so derivative, what is the point?

2.5 out of 10, rounded up to 3 for latin hottie Laura Penuela as Carmen.

Aahh, horror and all that it comes with it. Same lines, same plot, same surroundings, same reactions and last but not least, same characters.

Still, a far better production than say, Animal, easily two steps down compared to The Descent, overall, an OK movie, for a night with the friends. While most of it was easily anticipated and had the same moves every horror has for the last 20 years, it managed to act OK, and keep you there, in front of the screen without leaving it too soon or skipping forward. Don't expect anything decent, little below it, but below indeed.

Anyway monster horrors are my favorite, so for me it was nice seeing one more. But I wouldn't recommend it to everyone out there. Maybe try The Cave, or The Ruins instead. Those are more likely to impress.

Cheers!

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)