Language: English
Directed : John Stockwell
Writing credits (WGA) : Michael Ross (written by)
Cast: Josh Duhame , melissa George

Review

Are we scared for the troupe of American tourists lost in Brazil that may be targets of a human guinea pig experiment? There are a total of six vulnerable vacationers in "Turistas," the latest hack’em up horror film that’s really just being served up as a rehash of last winter’s surprise hit "Hostel." In addition to wanting to be disgusting, this film actually tries to deliver a message about the consequences of acting irresponsible in a foreign land: If you are going to drink hard and have uninhibited sex on the beach, don’t be surprised if you get robbed and stranded the morning after. The savages will soon be on your tail so you better be able to speak the native language of the locals so they can help you get out of town.

The party bunch gets the wrong local to assist them. It’s hard to be scared for these people when they stupidly allow themselves to be guided into a trap – a rain forest lair stilted deep into the jungle. These characters themselves get developed, you know, written enough so they appear to have distinguishable personalities so that before they get helplessly tied up by mercenaries, we at least know who they are. (Shallow personalities it turns out.)

Nearly all of these victims in waiting are written with a lack of caution and good sense, except Alex (Josh Duhamel), the mature leader of the group that takes in a more realistic inventory of his surroundings. His reactions in this movie are halfway believable. When he argues with his friends, he is arguing with a bunch that has lost the ability to hear, or the ability to believe that danger can conceivably come their way. There are two Brits in the group that complain a lot when they’re comfort level isn’t met. The three remaining characters are girls that party first, face down the villain’s blade of a knife after.

Poor Alex has to put up with this bunch, and when push comes to shove, he has to become the rescuer of them all. Zamora (Miguel Lunardi), the doctor of terror, is able to sedate the group and then straps them in for dissection. He specializes in the underground market of organ donors for his country, and when he operates on unwilling live flesh, he marvels in self-pleasure in torturing these dumb Americans. Alex is strong enough to breakaway from one of Zamora’s henchmen, and sets his friends loose who are shivering for more reasons than fright. They are shivering in the cold. The movie is at least smart enough to use weather as a wicked obstacle. What results essentially though is an escape movie set in the rainy forests of Brazil.

While there is some very good location shooting in this picture, there is nevertheless too much running around in the dark as they elude their pursuers. The script comes down to a showdown set in an underwater cave, while although shot with glistening lucidity (the camerawork is of especially high standard), it’s also a completely far-fetched series of events. The baddies get our heroes cornered once again. Will the remaining survivors be able to talk their way out of this one?

There is always going to be a glut of run of the mill movies that exist at the multiplex. And if you are going to get your run of the mill movies you want them directed by John Stockwell ("crazy/beautiful," "Into the Blue"). He has a gift for exploiting the tactile surfaces of his surroundings, and in this case, it’s icky mud, jagged rocks and cold thrush waters. But it doesn’t hide the fact that this flick is nothing more than a “restrained” version of "Hostel." These horror films are no longer as disgusting as they are predictable.
 

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