Jungle

Tourists run into trouble in this true story from the director of ‘Wolf Creek’ – but thankfully, the similarities to the gruelling Aussie horror end there. An engaging tale of adventure and survival, it’s based on the book by Yossi Ghinsberg, who’s played here by Daniel Radcliffe. While not an obvious choice for an Israeli explorer, Radcliffe does a good job as the wide-eyed young traveller who goes trekking in the Amazon rainforest. And before the fateful part of the trip, there’s plenty of backpacking fun to keep fans of ‘The Beach’ happy. Yossi runs into a bohemian Swiss traveller who introduces him to charismatic American photographer Kevin (Alex Russell). Bonhomie follows in an array of beautiful locations.

Of course, danger looms. In the first of many poor decisions, the three new chums place their trust in a stranger, Karl (Thomas Kretschmann), who offers to guide them through the jungle. Let’s just say their preparations would not impress Bear Grylls. Injuries slow them and tensions soon arise. One of them (guess who?) ends up alone, struggling to survive. More time could have been spent developing the bond between the men, but ultimately this is quite a gripping weepie bromance, and you don’t see one of those every day.