The Chinese Anaconda Remake Is Absolutely Wild, See The Proof
The trailer for the upcoming Chinese remake of the classic horror thriller Anaconda slithered onto the internet recently, causing a stir among cheesy horror movie enthusiasts. Clocking in at just under three minutes, the trailer provides an enticing sneak peek into the remake.
The familiar terror strikes as the colossal anaconda wreaks havoc, mimicking reminiscent scenes from the original.
The Chinese revamp of Anaconda is being helmed by Hesheng Xiang and Qiuliang Xiang, best known for their work on the action film Monkey King and City of Demons. The movie stars Nita Lei, Terrence Yin, Paul Che, and Xingchen Wang. Yin would likely be the most recognizable to Western audiences for his part in the 2003 Lara Croft movie.
Visually striking and nerve-racking, the trailer for the new Anaconda features breathtaking wildlife shots and chilling suspense. We get glimpses of a team of explorers in a tropical rainforest, their faces etched with fear as they encounter the giant anaconda. The familiar terror strikes as the colossal anaconda wreaks havoc, mimicking reminiscent scenes from the original.
The 1997 Anaconda movie, directed by Luis Llosa, had a star-studded cast featuring Jennifer Lopez, Ice Cube, Owen Wilson, Eric Soltz, and Jon Voight. The plot suspenseful journey of a documentary filming crew in the Amazon rainforest who cross paths with a deranged hunter obsessed with capturing the giant anaconda. The movie was received with mixed reviews but became a cult classic owing to its over-the-top performances, dated special effects, and sly one-liners.
Visually striking and nerve-racking, the trailer for the new Anaconda features breathtaking wildlife shots and chilling suspense.
Anaconda found commercial success, grossing $136.8 million worldwide against a budget of $45 million. Riding on the wave of success from the initial Anaconda movie, its sequel, Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid hit theaters in 2004. Three additional films were subsequently released direct-to-video: Anaconda 3: Offspring, Anacondas: Trail of Blood, and a thrilling crossover, Lake Placid vs. Anaconda, which added the ferocity of the crocodile from the Lake Placid franchise.
Although none of the original movie’s characters make a return in the subsequent films, the adventures of the initial film are recalled by Cole Burris in the second installment. He tells of two men, Dr. Steven Cale and Danny Rich, who journeyed with a crew to the Amazon, only to face a snake attack. This encounter is touched upon again in Lake Placid vs. Anaconda as character Will “Tully” Tull shares the tale of the Amazonian snake incident with Reba, without directly naming those involved.
The 1997 Anaconda movie, directed by Luis Llosa, had a star-studded cast featuring Jennifer Lopez, Ice Cube, Owen Wilson, Eric Soltz, and Jon Voight.
Remaking a cult classic like Anaconda is no easy task. It entails living up to the expectations set by the original, recreating the magic while also offering something new. Moreover, the original Anaconda was known for its unique blend of horror and action, a combination that might be hard to duplicate. Also, the star-studded original cast, including Jennifer Lopez at the peak of her popularity, sets high standards that could be tough for the remake’s cast to live up to.
The trailer for the Chinese remake of Anaconda looks like at the very least it could be an exciting revisit to sate our 90s horror nostalgia. It will be interesting to see if it can live up to the campy satisfaction of the original or fall short like the sequels.
