Terror in the Andes (El Ucumar) (2022) Review
Terror in the Andes (El Ucumar) (2022) Review
A team of biologists venture deep into the remote jungles of northern Argentina in search of evidence of the elusive Andean bear. Their scientific expedition takes an unsettling turn when locals warn them of the Ucumar—a legendary half-man, half-beast said to stalk the wilderness.
As strange encounters and violent disappearances mount, the researchers find themselves confronting an ancient cryptid that blurs the line between folklore and reality. Trapped in an unforgiving landscape where every shadow may conceal a predator, they must uncover the truth behind the legend before becoming its next victims.
I do enjoy a good creature feature, so I was looking forward to El Ucumar, Octavio Revol Molina’s Argentinian take on the Sasquatch legend. Happily, this is a creature feature that is better than most of the cheap-and-cheerless offerings that seem to dominate the streaming landscape. It doesn’t feel like a trashy quickie knocked together simply to cash in on the genre.
The film centres on El Ucumar, an Andean, Bigfoot-like creature that has become part of local folklore. The film even opens by stating that it is based on a true story. Given the creature’s roots in regional legend, perhaps there is indeed some truth, or at least some real-life inspiration, behind the events depicted here.
Unfortunately, El Ucumar takes its time getting anywhere. Much of the narrative consists of the three central characters debating whether a footprint they have discovered belongs to an Andean bear or to something considerably more mysterious. There is a certain amount of mileage to be had from the uncertainty, but the repeated exchanges of “it’s a bear” versus “it’s not a bear” eventually become rather repetitive.
The film also makes frequent trips back to previous encounters with El Ucumar. These episodic flashbacks and anecdotes offer glimpses into the creature and the mythology surrounding it, but they are generally slight and unremarkable, rarely adding enough to the overall narrative to justify the detours.
When we do eventually get a proper look at the creature, it is actually rather well done. Personally, though, I have always preferred my movie monsters to remain largely off camera. There is something about hearing an unseen creature growling and stomping around in the darkness that allows the imagination to conjure up something far more sinister than anything a filmmaker can necessarily put on screen. In that respect, some of the film’s most effective moments come when El Ucumar remains just out of sight.
There are also a couple of surprises towards the end that provide a welcome jolt after the film’s otherwise leisurely progression.
Ultimately, El Ucumar is a respectable creature feature that deserves credit for being considerably more accomplished than many of its low-budget streaming counterparts. Unfortunately, the slow pace and lack of substantial narrative development make it something of a frustrating experience. There is a decent monster lurking within the film, but too much of the running time is spent circling the same question: is it a bear, or isn’t it?
A promising creature feature that would have benefited from a little more bite and considerably less padding.
