Primeval (2007)

A news team is sent to Burundi to capture and bring home a legendary 25-foot crocodile. Their difficult task turns potentially deadly when a warlord targets them for death.

Director:

Michael Katleman

Writers:

John Brancato, Michael Ferris

Stars:

Dominic Purcell, Orlando Jones, Brooke Langton

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dominic Purcell	...	Tim Manfrey
Brooke Langton	...	Aviva Masters
Orlando Jones	...	Steven Johnson
Jürgen Prochnow	...	Jacob Krieg
Gideon Emery	...	Matt Collins
Gabriel Malema	...	Jojo
Linda Mpondo	...	Gold Tooth
Lehlohonolo Makoko	...	Beanpole
Dumisani Mbebe	...	Harry
Eddy 'Big Eddy' Bekombo	...	Ato
Chris April	...	Captain
Ernest Ndlovu	...	Shaman (as Ernest Ndhlovu)
Erica Wessels	...	Dr. Cathy Andrews
Vivian Moodley	...	Indian UN Officer
Lika Berning	...	Rachel (as Lika van den Bergh)

Storyline

TV show star reporter Tim Manfrey and his cameraman Steven Johnson travel to Burundi to get sensational footage of a giant crococilian monster which attacked a UN identification team and the Tutsi-Hutu tribal civil war carnage mass grave corpses it was digging up in a Great Lakes marsh area. But it turns out danger also lurks in the armed form of a local war lord.

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Plot Keywords:

based on true story | natural horror | creature feature | burundi | monster | 

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Taglines:

Inspired by the true story of the most prolific serial killer in history.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Crime | Horror | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong graphic violence, brutality, terror and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Description Since Gustave has not been captured, his exact length and weight is unknown, but in 2002 it was stated that he could be "easily more than 18 feet (5.5 m)" long, and weigh more than 2,000 pounds (910 kg). He was estimated to be around 100 years old in order to achieve such outstanding size; however, further more careful observation of Gustave revealed a complete set of teeth when he opened his mouth. Since a 100-year-old crocodile "should be nearly toothless" (according to the documentary), he was estimated to be "probably no older than 60, and likely, still growing". Gustave is also known for the three bullet scars on his body. His right shoulder blade was also found to be deeply wounded. Circumstances surrounding the four scars are unknown. Scientists and herpetologists who have studied Gustave claim that his uncommon size and weight impede his ability to hunt the species' usual, agile prey such as fish, antelope and zebra, forcing him to attack larger animals such as hippopotamus, large wildebeest and, to some extent, humans. According to a popular local warning, he is said to hunt and leave his victims' corpses uneaten. The documentary film also stated that since crocodiles can go several months without eating, Gustave could afford to select his prey carefully. In 2009 the croc had reappeared in Ruzizi River near Lake Tanganyika.

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Goofs

(at around 1h 25 mins) After crashing against the crocodile, the front part of the pick-up truck that Tim drives is not damaged at all.

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Quotes

Steven Johnson: I'd never say this in front of a bunch of white people, but slavery was a good thing. Anything you gotta do to get the fuck out of Africa is OK with me.

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Connections

References Jaws (1975)

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Soundtracks

Keleya
Written and Performed by Moussa Doumbia
Courtesy of Luaka Bop

User Reviews

Nothing great, but above average horror flick

I admit it, I have a soft spot for monster movies. Maybe it's the kid in me who watched all the old "creature features" at a young age, or maybe it's the fact that no one has really made a serious monster movie since...well, you tell me. That being said, "Primeval" is no work of genius, and like most mainstream films, is loaded with clichéd moments that we've seen in better movies. However, when compared to the films that pass for horror today, this one has surprising bite (no pun intended) at certain moments. The main complaint here seems to be the misleading advertising campaign of the film, hyping it up as a tale of serial killer in rural Africa. Of course, the actual story details an American news team (the brooding male leader, the hot female sidekick, and of course, the token black guy who serves mostly as comic relief) traveling to the war-torn Burundi to film and hopefully capture Gustave, an enormous crocodile who has eaten hundreds of people. Naturally, things go wrong, and the river soon runs red. An interesting aspect of the movie is the inclusion of a warlord in the plot, adding a second threat to the protagonists (Gustave is, of course, their first threat). This risky move sometimes works and sometimes doesn't, but I applaud the filmmakers for trying something new at least. What really redeems the film however are a few key scenes that are surprisingly atmospheric (something most modern horror films have forgotten), well edited, and increasingly suspenseful. Without giving too much away, the croc itself is better than one may expect from this kind of a movie. The cast does what they can with a strictly average script, yet for the most part, manage to elicit some interest and sympathy. The final act is a bit of a disappointment, but by that point, it's already been a fun, exciting ride, and one doesn't really care. In short, "Primeval" is strictly what many of us go to the movies for: popcorn entertainment. I myself had originally gone to see "Pan's Labyrinth" but as the shows were sold out, my friends and I eventually decided to give "Primeval" a go. I wasn't dazzled, but then again, I wasn't expecting to be. It's simply fun, escapist entertainment, and despite what any film snob will tell you, there's nothing wrong with that. Just shut your brain off and you should have a good time.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Space [Canada]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Swahili Kirundi French

Release Date:

12 January 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Gustave

Filming Locations:

Bergville, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,048,315, 14 January 2007

Gross USA:

$10,597,734

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$15,291,277

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hollywood Pictures, Pariah, Sarah James Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1