The — Green Inferno -2013-
The Green Inferno (2013): The Ultimate Viewer’s Guide
Tagline: Activism is dangerous. Director: Eli Roth (Hostel, Cabin Fever) Starring: Lorenza Izzo, Ariel Levy, Aaron Burns, Kirby Bliss Blanton, Daryl Sabara Genre: Horror / Splatter / Cannibal Exploitation Runtime: 100 Minutes
The Case for Satire: Roth argues that the film is a dark comedy. The activists are cartoonishly self-righteous—one character brags about being "vegan for five years" before being eaten. Their slogans and social media posts do nothing to stop the machetes. Roth’s thesis seems to be: "You want to save the natives? What if the natives don’t want to be saved, and what if they eat you?" By making the victims unlikeable, he forces the audience to confront uncomfortable questions about white savior complexes. The Green Inferno -2013-
“They’re not monsters. They’re just… hungry.” — Alejandro, before being eaten. The Green Inferno (2013): The Ultimate Viewer’s Guide
The Green Inferno -2013- is also a litmus test for modern horror viewers. If you can survive the first 30 minutes of whiny, privileged dialogue, you are rewarded (or punished) with 70 minutes of relentless, artisanal brutality. Roth defenders praised the practical effects and the
- Roth defenders praised the practical effects and the tense third act.
- Critics called it shallow, racist in its portrayal of indigenous people (a criticism Roth vehemently denied, noting the tribe is played by native Burmese actors, not Amazonian tribes), and overly reliant on shock.