Movie Review: Hungry (2026)
Synopsis: Coping with her mother's illness, a pile of doctor bills and a recent job loss, Sistine reluctantly joins her friend, Hannah, on an alligator riverboat tour in Louisiana. Their tour guide, Rodrigo, takes them off the normal route in search of the swamp's largest known gator and the two friends, long with the boat's other passengers are soon stranded after being attacked by something none of them expected to see, a hippopotamus, leaving them fighting for their lives against the creature.
Who's in it? The movie stars Madison Davenport, Tracey Bonner, Olivia Bernstone, Samantha Coughlan and River Codack.
Review: When I came across Hungry a few days ago, the description both made me roll my eyes a bit and yet intrigued me just enough to add it to my watch list. I convinced my wife to watch it with me last night and the film more than exceeded expectations.
The idea of a hippo occupying the swamp in Louisiana seemed farfetched, but the movie does an OK job making it seem plausible by connecting it to a real-life historical event. It was one of those things that made me need to educate myself on just how far the United States went when trying to combat a meat shortage in the early 20th century.
I also appreciated how the movie didn't get overly excessive when it came to the hippo itself. Obviously, it was a horror movie and there were probably some liberties taken. However, the film remembered hippos were herbivores and focused more on the "protecting its territory" concept rather than making it a meat eater (though that did make the title seem not quite right).
Another thing I liked about the movie was it wasn't as predictable as I thought it would be. For example, while I wasn't expecting too many survivors, other than maybe Sistine (Davenport), I was surprised by how quickly certain characters were killed and how long others lasted. I also thought for sure certain people would turn out to be bad guys, only to find out differently.
The film also does a great job building the suspense, having the hippo attack from under the water, so you never knew for sure where it is. This meant even moments of reprieve for the characters were something that could end at any moment. Even the ending, which was the one part of the movie that did get a little predictable, had just enough action to keep me on the edge of my seat.
Final Opinion: I was unsure about the premise, but the film does a great job executing the killer hippo concept. It's an entertaining movie that is worth watching.
My Grade: A
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Here are some reviews of other movies featuring a killer animal:
Movie Review: Cocaine Bear (2023)
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