Curucu, Beast of the Amazon

Filmed on location in Eastman Color, Beverly Garland plays a doctor in Brazil who learns that if the local headhunters in Amazon territory can shrink heads then maybe the formula can be used to shrink cancer cell tissue for the cure, a rather logical, believable premise. She is accompanied by plantation owner John Bromfield who is tracking down a legendary monster that is killing and terrorizing the natives in the region. Anyone expecting a real beast will be gravely disappointed. Tribal dancing, anaconda, spiders, piranha, alligators, a jaguar, a water buffalo stampede, snake charmer, scary natives and more punctuate the adventure, and, as such, is still exciting and interesting in that genre. The spectacular Iguazu Falls (a stand-in for the fictional "Curucu Falls" in the film) is the backdrop for a sequence, featuring stunt doubles for the stars. Last scene is freaky.