Primeval (R, 2007)

After Burundi's legendary 20-foot crocodile, Gustave, kills a white female forensics expert who's examining a mass grave, a tabloid-esque TV station sends a crew to capture the beast. Along with cameraman Steven (Orlando Jones), the team includes producer Tim (Dominic Purcell), "animal reporter" Aviva (Brooke Langton) -- whose moral compass is revealed when she saves a dog left out as bait for the monster croc -- and Matt (Gideon Emery), a self-absorbed Aussie croc expert. Matt wants to preserve Gustave and manages to affix a tracking device to the croc. Weathered guide Krieg (Jürgen Prochnow) is determined to kill the beast rather than capture it. Tim and Aviva come to appreciate Krieg's view, as Gustave attacks the group repeatedly. But the crocodile isn't their only problem. Steven befriends war-orphaned teenager Jojo (Gabriel Malema), and also witnesses an execution by the warlord known as "Little Gustave."

Inconsistent and conventional, Primeval claims to be "inspired by true events." Namely, the reported attacks by Gustave and the country's civil war, which has raged since 1993. The two plotlines come together thematically, with the movie positioning the militias as "killing machines" much like the crocodile -- both of which fail to attract the attention of white, Western media or intervention by international peacekeepers.

While it's worthwhile for the filmmakers to try to compare the two, the intriguing idea is trivialized and lost in the formulaic plot and characters of this mostly hum-drum horror flick. On top of that, the special effects are lacking -- Gustave is a not-very-convincing mix of animatronics and CGI.

Studio: Hollywood Pictures
Director: Michael Katleman
Cast: Brooke Langton, Dominic Purcell, Orlando Jones
Genre: Horror
Run time: 94 minutes
Theatrical release: January 12, 2007
DVD release: June 12, 2007
MPAA Rating: R
MPAA explanation: strong graphic violence, brutality, terror, and language.