Beyondfest 2026 | Movie Review: A Giant Snake Causes Mild Distress In Beware Boiúna
Image courtesy of Lionsgate.
2/5 Stars. 5/10 For Reel Score.
We’ve done giant tropical snakes already. There was even allegedly enough nostalgia for 1995’s Anaconda to warrant a meta legacy sequel last Christmas. This is where I would hope to say that the latest film to tackle such a beast finds a new angle. Instead, we have Beware Boiúna. Mike P. Nelson’s (Silent Night, Deadly Night) tango with a violent protector of the Amazon forest is never outright terrible. It might’ve even been a gritty little treat on streaming. However, it’s a big ask for an audience to go to the theater, wait nearly an hour for the snake to slither into the frame, only for it to occasionally do more than stare down its victims. Nothing here inspires excitement for Nelson’s upcoming reboot of Saw - which will require a vicious creativity that Beware Boiúna does not have to stand out as the 11th film in the saga.
We follow a group of doctors including Lena (Kiana Maderia) and Alli (Jessica Rothe) on a humanitarian mission near the Curuçá River. They encounter some cruel miners led by Brennan (Logan Marshall Green) who have little patience for their altruistic intentions towards the locals. After Brennann’s brother attempts to assault Alli, Lena saves her life by shoving him onto a metal part of a bridge, killing him. The crew goes on the run but Brennan demands their return and arrest. Little do they know that the vengeful Boiúna lurks in the waters, ready to extinguish all who are a part of this invasive species.
Image courtesy of Lionsgate
Nelson and crew filmed Beware Boiúna in the actual jungles it takes place in. The natural sense of grit and discomfort comes across. The drama between these two opposing groups is played without an ounce of camp. Alan B. McElroy’s screenplay is clearly trying to manufacture some substance, commentating on those who enter indigenous lands without an understanding of the culture or care for the people. There’s just not much to chew on when the lines between good and bad are so clear cut. Lena and Alli are kind and innocent souls who want to do the right thing. Brennan is a slimeball villain who is as cruel as possible in any given scene. The leads do their best. Kiana Maderia is a more stoic balance to Rothe’s more nakedly emotional turn. There’s even a bit of romantic tension between them, but Nelson isn’t interested in delivering on that. Green always has fun being a jerk. Everyone else is entirely forgettable snake food.
All of this would be forgivable if Boiúna’s wrath was worth the wait. She’s certainly scary looking despite the dodgy CGI that brings her to life. Unfortunately, those budget limitations also constrict how much she can actually do on screen. A lot of the action is just her lunging at someone, the camera cutting to someone’s horrified reaction and then another shot of the victim's legs going down her throat. In fact, the film’s scariest moments don’t involve her at all - instead centering on our characters having to confront the elements. Thick mud that is impossible to wade out of. Disgusting bugs crawling on them. Thick jungle that is impossible to navigate through. The window dressing is there but that is not enough to carry a monster movie in 2026.
Image courtesy of Lionsgate
If the jank of it all isn’t a deterrent, one might have fun with Beware Boiúna. There are certainly a couple of effective jump scares and fleeting moments of wince-worthy gore. It just falls flat in a year where even low budget horror has been able to innovate on such a high level. There is absolutely still a place for schlock in the current landscape but the shock value and carnal thrills have to be there. Between Beware Boiúna and Onslaught, I’m starting to wonder if people have just forgotten how to make these kinds of movies.