Wild Zone (1989)

User Rating:

3.6/10   

Director:

Percival Rubens

Genre:

Action

Tagline:

No hunt more dangerous. No prey more deadly. No place more savage. [video cover]

Plot:

An American archaeologist decides to attack an evil russian army general Edward Albert, but is he too powerful for him ? |

Plot Keywords:

Independent Film

Cast

Philip Brown	...	Wayne Garrison
Edward Albert	...	Colonel Lavara
Carla Herd	...	Nicole Laroche
Rex Garner	...	Father Riley
Danny Keogh	...	Emilio Cortez
Ben Kruger	...	Dog Schmidt
Ian Steadman	...	Sgt Bragia
At Botha	...	Cuban Lieutenant
Peter J. Elliott	...	Professor Garrison (as Peter Elliot)
Glen Gabela	...	Game Warden
Christobel d'Ortez	...	Mary
Ruben Nthodi	...	Captain Banana
Arthur Mbambo	...	President
Robert Trevelyan	...	Yannia
Billy Mashigo	...	Corporal

Also Known As:

Okavango (South Africa: Afrikaans title)

Country:

South Africa

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Africa

Company:

Elmo De Witt Films

MEDIOCRE, YET LIVELY

Shot with a primarily South African cast and crew, this feature portrays an adventure of an American ecologist, Wayne Garrison (Philip Brown) who has journeyed into Africa, along with his father, in an attempt to bring about a cessation of toxic poisoning of vlei land, but must instead endeavour to liberate the senior Garrison along with his female assistant, both kidnapped for use as hostages in a plot to spring the leader of the bandit abductors from a regional prison. Young Garrison sets out alone to retrieve the captured pair and is promptly joined by nightclub chanteuse Nicole (Carla Herd) whose amorous connection with a local security chief, Colonel Lavara (Edward Albert) is planned to be useful in any attempt at victory over the kidnapers. Unfortunately, the imaginary country of which the Colonel is head of security is but a convenient location for the apparent Cuban based Lavara to obtain booty for his personal coffer, and he is therefore less than cooperative with the presumptuous rescuers. As with most South African cinematic efforts before the nation collapsed into anarchy, this work benefits from vital technical skills, not alone through startling photography, but especially due to excellent sound supervision of Lawrence Applebaum who applies resources native to the land to intensify the visual. The script, penned by director Percival Rubens, is the weakest element here, as continuity is discriminated against through a protracted series of revivings from apparent death by the film's various villains. Brown has a very limited emotional range and is most suitable for action scenes, but Herd is effective , and there are adroit turns as heavies by Danny Keogh and Ben Kruger, while always estimable Albert carries his scenes handily, generally providing engrossing nuances in a nicely created role. In addition to a scenario that becomes increasingly more trite and predictable, there is some difficulty with details, as with Garrison's omnipresent white shirt, unblemished, in fact, after numerous thrashings about in the dirt with a multitude of adversaries; indeed, although Brown may not be great shakes as actor, he certainly knows how to keep a shirt clean.