My quick rating - 6.1/10. Aside from knowing there's a big snake involved, I went into Beware Boiúna completely blind. That's the best way to approach a creature feature when you're hoping for something that might scratch that giant snake itch. It opens with the rather ominous quote, "The forest makes good men great, and bad men monsters." We then get an overhead shot of the Amazon River in Colombia, accompanied by some foreign narration and subtitles that essentially amount to a warning. Nothing says holiday destination quite like that.
We're soon witnessing footage of an illegal gold mine being raided, but the real attraction arrives when Boiúna makes an appearance and sends all involved running for their lives. Now we're talking! Being a fan of Anaconda (1997) and even the recent 2025 remake, I was more than happy to see what this one had slithering around.
The story follows a team of young doctors embarking on a humanitarian mission through the Amazon rainforest. They spend some time helping the local villagers with various ailments, while Alli (Jessica Rothe) even gets involved in a little soccer. It's all rather wholesome, really. Unfortunately, their arrival gets the attention of an ancient predator that isn't fond of visitors. The Boiúna dominates both land and water, and the doctors are soon fighting for survival in a place where they're definitely not at the top of the food chain.
The movie is set against the backdrop of Brazil's Curuçá River, and the scenery is fantastic. There are some lovely shots of the surrounding wilderness, although it also serves as a reminder that I'm about as remote as I ever want to be. Forget five-star accommodation. Your satellite phone might have problems there.
There are some effective tension-building moments, like that shot looking underneath the pier, where you just know something unpleasant is lurking. The question isn't really whether the snake is going to attack, but when. Thankfully, the effects are pretty solid overall. I only spotted one occasion where the snake looked a little cheesy, which is hardly a disaster when your leading antagonist is essentially a giant noodle with an attitude problem.
Interestingly, this is a horror movie that doesn't even attempt to inject humor into proceedings. It plays everything straight, and even the accompanying storyline takes a decidedly dark and serious approach. No winking at the audience, no ridiculous one-liners, just people having a miserable time in the rainforest.
Overall, Beware Boiúna delivers an entertaining creature feature with some impressive scenery, decent effects and enough tension to keep things interesting. It might not reach the box office heights of the Anaconda franchise, but snake fans should find something to enjoy here. Just remember to check underneath the pier before going for a swim.
https://jackmeat.com/beware-boiuna-2026/
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