($29.99 **)
Horror fans who went to see Primeval probably anticipated a killer-crocodile thriller that owed more to Anaconda, Piranha and Lake Placid than PBS and the Discovery Channel. The marketing campaign helped perpetrate that idea, suggesting that a crocodile dubbed Gustave killed hundreds of African villagers for reasons other than hunger and survival. The filmmakers weren’t party to the advertising and consciously balanced the horror and suspense with commentary on the tribal warfare in the region. We’re led to Gustave’s lair by a TV crew hoping to get footage of the crocodile. Soon after their arrival in Burundi, the reporters come face to face with the savagery of the combatants.
So, in addition to the threat of being eaten by a 20-foot reptile, they must keep an eye out for government assassins. The dual threat adds a palpable urgency to the narrative, which tries mightily to keep viewers guessing as to Gustave’s size, stealth, speed and savagery. Once the CGI crocodile is fully revealed—slowly, like the shark in Jaws—Primeval becomes a gorefest worthy of its R rating. Given a bit more money and studio interest, the film probably could’ve delivered a more powerful punch. Instead, it feels like a project that was a coin flip away from going straight to DVD. The bonus features are interesting for their explanation of the CGI process and additional footage from Africa.