This Hungry review examines how an aquatic creature feature attempts to completely overturn the friendly cinematic reputation of the hippopotamus. Throughout popular culture, hippos have almost universally enjoyed benign treatment. Audiences have seen them dancing gracefully in Disney classic Fantasia, charming crowds as Gloria in Madagascar, and entertaining young British television viewers as George on the long-running children series Rainbow. In stark contrast to those gentle, surprisingly agile depictions, writer-director James Nunn delivers Hungry, a survival thriller whose title cleverly nods to the frenetic tabletop board game Hungry Hungry Hippos. The production reimagines the herbivorous mammal into an unstoppable, mud-splattered executioner reminiscent of Anton Chigurh without the bowl haircut. Unfortunately, the murderous beast is practically the solitary bright spot within the entire feature.
The Ill-Fated Bayou Excursion
The familiar survival plot gathers an assemble of thinly drawn holidaymakers embarking on a scenic bayou boat journey to spot alligators. At the helm is a handsome boat captain named Rodrigo (Michel Curiel). The eclectic passenger manifest features a retired, widowed firefighter named Tim (Jim Meskimen), his high-strung middle-aged daughter Sally (Samantha Coughlan), and her moody teenage son Mike (River Codack). Adding friction to the group is corporate-minded Dionne (Tracey Bonner), an executive who has grown distant from her stepchildren and bizarrely chooses to navigate swamp country wearing high heels.
Unlikely Survivors and Familiar Tropes
Injecting some vitality into the group dynamic is fun-loving Hannah (Olivia Bernstone) alongside her devoted companion Sistine (Madison Davenport). Sistine views herself as an unfortunate failure who was recently dismissed from a minimum-wage job while constantly struggling to provide care for her ailing mother. Right from the opening scenes, Sistine clearly radiates undeniable Final Girl energy. Her survival credentials stem from her good nature, her resourceful thinking, and perhaps the sheer novelty of sharing a name with a famous papal chapel. Regrettably, none of the accompanying human characters are given sufficient depth to command viewer empathy.
The Anatomy of a Swamp Predator
Recognizing that mainstream moviegoers rarely perceive hippos as genuine apex threats, Nunn puts considerable dialogue into proving the beast deadly capabilities. Enter Walker (Joaquim de Almeida), acting as a swamp-wise mentor reminiscent of Quint from Jaws. Walker bluntly informs the frightened passengers that despite its plant-based diet, the creature weighs a massive 3.5 tons, causes roughly 500 human fatalities annually, and kills humans simply for enjoyment.
Treebound Climax and Missed Camp Potential
Once the massive beast capsizes the tourist vessel, the bulk of the remaining running time takes place in the branches of a single tree. The marooned survivors cling to high boughs, desperately trying to keep their limbs out of the water while brainstorming ridiculous, counterproductive escape schemes. Nunn mostly frames the creature through low water-level perspective shots. However, whenever the practical beast actually appears on screen, it functions as a genuinely menacing and physically convincing predator that delivers a far more compelling performance than its human counterparts. A movie revolving around a homicidal hippopotamus clearly holds the potential for campy entertainment, but Hungry takes its own absurdity far too seriously. None of the violent encounters yield genuine thrills, leaving the viewing experience underwhelming.
