A British documentary crew arrive at a remote Philippines island to shoot a jungle survival special. Soon the crew witness violent movement through the trees, accompanied by eerie cries and dark figures whipping through the canopy. The crew are unnerved, but determined to finish the job; they send their Filipino guides Joey (Joel Torre) and Chill (Natalie Mendoza The Descent) into the jungle to seek answers from the native Isarog tribe. However, all they find are dozens of half-eaten corpses. Presenter and survival-skills expert, Seb (Billy Zane – Titanic, Dead Calm) has survived every type of natural threat. But, deep within the primeval jungle and at the mercy of horrifying, shape-changing creatures with a thirst for blood, can he find away to protect the team and escape with his life? Starring: Billy Zane, Christina Cole, Natalie Mendoza
Directed by: Terence Daw
Runtime: 90 minutes
Studio: Kaleidoscope Entertainment
Amazon USAmazon UKIMDBReview: Surviving Evil
I’ve seen so many films lately about islands with monsters on them that it’s putting me off going on holiday. Terence Daw’s Surviving Evil sees a film crew head for a remote island in the Philippines to film a documentary but they soon come to realize they have chosen the wrong island. A group of natives at the outset are attacked by a group of bloodthirsty creatures, with their desire for pregnant women being top of their list of priorities. With the natives wiped out the strange creatures known as Aswang turn their focus on the film crew.
Our crew are made up of the leader Seb (Billy Zane), Phoebe (Chrstina Cole), Joey (Joel Torre), Dex (Colin Moss), Rachel (Louise Barnes) and Chill (Natalie Mendoza) who is the guide. There are tensions in the camp. Dex and Rachel are former lovers and though Dex is over it, Rachel clearly isn’t. This makes things difficult when Dex becomes friendly with Chill. If that isn’t enough, Seb and Phoebe have slept together weeks before and on the island she discovers she is pregnant. Not ideal with the resident creatures being drawn to pregnant women. Soon our friends are faced with a struggle for survival and predictably one amongst them is on the island for reasons other than filming a documentary. Who will make it to the end though?
Surviving Evil is an apt title in many ways. It could be deemed self-referential given how poor the overall experience is. You will survive to the end of the film’s short run-time but you’re unlikely to feel bowled over or liberated after sitting through this. There must be someone out there that can furnish Zane with a better project than this. I think of him in Dead Calm and wonder how did he get here?
Verdict: 1/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
About the Author:
I was born in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England and have always been a bookworm and enjoyed creative writing at school. In 1999 I created the Elencheran Chronicles and have been writing ever since. My first novel, Fezariu's Epiphany, was published in May 2011. When not writing I'm a lover of films, games, books and blogging. I now live in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, with my wife, Donna, and our six cats - Kain, Razz, Buggles, Charlie, Bilbo and Frodo.
David M. Brown – who has written 764 posts on Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave.
