Sunday, March 1

In the Shadow of Kilimanjaro (1986)


Directed by Raju Patel
97 Minutes / U.S.A. Entertainment / Cropped from 2.35:1 to full screen

A pack of vicious red-assed baboons sets their aim upon a Kenyan township and the surrounding area.

Excuse while I wipe the crust from my tear ducts from the extreme, face-blistering tedium I just endured. To the makers of this film: I do not give a flying damn about the daily goings on of white entrepreneurs in Africa. I also don't care about their quarrels in their personal relationships or with local officials. Yes, the baboons do attack, but it's essentially a bunch of quick cuts of human face terror, 'boon teeth, and clothes. Boring even with the fantasy genre's official "that guy" John Rhys-Davies providing his worldly, bearded heft. Timothy Bottoms enjoys the scenery. The rest of the cast wonders why they signed up for a shoot in Hell on Earth. Also I friggin' hate films that believe they're ever-so important merely because the story has been based on actual events. This heap reeks of that bull. Did I mention the rain ends it? Oops, I just spoiled it, so go watch Russell Mulcahy's superior Razorback instead.

Film: 2.5/10
VHS Picture: 2/10 (hot, cramped, blurry)
VHS Sound: 6/10

2 comments:

I Like Horror Movies said...

More nostalgic cover art, I remember seeing that pissed off monkey/demon/thing on the shelves back in the good ol' VHS days. Too bad the cover art was better than the film lol..

Jayson Kennedy said...

I think the film might be a little better with a remastered, scope presentation on DVD (real eyesore here), but it's still pretty mediocre. Suspense or tension never build at any point.

I agree though, the cover is pretty cool.

...do you dare tread upon the staircase?

Basement of Ghoulish Decadence, Basement of Ghoulish Archive, and all original material Copyright © 2009-present by Jayson Kennedy. All rights reserved.