ISMN: “Terror in the Jungle” (1968) - Tonight! Dec. 22nd 7:30 PM at Scrivner’s house.
AKA: “Flug 413 nach Rio meldet sich nicht” and “Verdammt in grüner Hölle”
VHS/Color/84 Mins/Not Rated
(Not Available on Netflix #19)
I can’t believe this film isn’t more well known or talked about by the “so bad it’s good” film fans. A total no-budget independent bizarro camp curio that nothing can prepare you for. Found many years ago at a VHS liquidation sale in Salt Lake City.
At the time I had no idea what I was holding in my hands. The VHS cover looks like this:
You would think by the lobby card (above top), that this film is some 1940’s serialized pulp fiction slop, much like the following comic book covers:
The VHS sleeve makes you think this movie going to be jungle nasty exploitation like “Jungle Halocaust”:
On the contrary this is a seemingly family friendly (almost), politically incorrect film about a little boy and his stuffed toy tiger who survive a plane crash…
on a coffin…
He then proceeds to spend his time wandering the jungle whining for his dad, as he encounters snakes, quick sand, and the local savages who think he’s a diety due to the glow of his golden corn stalk hair.
A glow literally appears above his head ala the magic of exquisite hollywood special effects:
Dad now regretting sending his son out on a plane ride alone, sets out to find him blah blah. There is so much I don’t want to say, because the ending is so craptastic you wont believe your eyes - turning this jungle adventure into a questionable fantasy film?!
My favorite scenes from the film are definitely during the plane ride, which includes a go go dancing model, some nuns, and a 60’s Beatles wannabe hair band.
Yeah yeah yeah! (Back when teen idols were middle aged men in wigs wearing swanky shiny shirts.)
(Above) This film features some of the weirdest/most hilarious crash effects and gore scenes ever!
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Here are a couple fav reviews from IMDB etc:
The best WORST movie ever!!!, 29 January 2000
Author: Bryce David
Terror in the Jungle is a real find. If you saw it, you’re one of the few lucky ones. It’s hilarious!
The story is about an airplane crashing in the middle of the south american jungle. The crash scene has to be seen to be believed. Everyone dies in the crash or they’re subsequently eaten alive by crocodiles. Only a young blonde boy survives. A nearby tribes brings the kid to their village and they (all males) venerate him because of his golden hair! I kid you NOT! At the end, there’s a lot of wrestling between the natives and the man on the search for any survivors of the downed airplane. All the while, the kid sits on a throne and his blond hair is surrounded by a golden halo and he cries nonstop!! It’s a hoot!!!
Very obscure and contains very questionable subtexts. A must if you’re into obscure, it’s-so-bad-it’s-good movies.
(Above: The goovy song “Soft Lips” that will make you want to wet your pants!)
I agree with the rest…, 23 August 2006
Author: Rustyguy
Making a jungle movie POORLY isn’t easy…first, you have to make sure that the nightclub style ceremonial dance scenes are choreographed with just the right amount of schlock…you have to make sure all of the costumes have been lifted from the 1968 Miss America (or maybe Miss Ecuador) swimsuit competition…and you definitely MUST insure that all the actors have never performed beyond the high school level…
I’M TOTALLY AMAZED THAT THIS MOVIE ISN’T UNIVERSALLY CONSIDERED TO BE THE MOST BEAUTIFULLY MADE BAD MOVIE OF ALL TIME. I laughed more during this movie than any other…EVER!!!!!
The problem is that, since it is so unknown, it’s hard to find. Yet it’s definitely worth the effort if you like this sort of thing,
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Bonus Short Film:
The extremely awkward Matt Dillon episode of “Fishing with John” (1991) - which has A LOT in common with tonight’s feature, it’s uncanny.
DVD/23 Mins/TV-Not Rated
“John Lurie takes movie star Matt Dillon (to brave the Costa Rican Jungle) on a fishing trip …, where they meet a village elder who teaches them the Fish Dance and a guide who claims to be able to turn into a bird.” - TV.com
(This is actually our next Mini-series to be shown at ISMN each week ;)
+
Tom & Jerry short: “Plane Dumb” (1932)
(Shown before years ago, brought back by personal popular demand!)
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Time: Tonight Dec. 22nd @ 7:30 PM
Place: Shaun Scrivner’s house 750 N 1000 E., Provo, UT
Parking: 820 north, alongside kiwanis park, or however you spell that. they ticket my street after 9 or 9:30.
Anyone in the world who reads this is welcome to attend. No smoking, weapons or drugs. Sorry.
See you there!
BC Sterrett :)
Meow!
PS. (All photos were borrowed, in my haste to get this out, from the “haunted closet” blog - which you shouldn’t look at until you have seen this film first. It’s complete with spoilers)
