As much as I love horror, I’ll always have blindspots; it’s inevitable. One of them is the original Anaconda, which I didn’t see at its 1997 release and still haven’t caught up on, nearly 30 years later. Still, that didn’t stop me from watching the meta-reboot that was recently a minor hit in theatres.
In this 2025 film, lifelong friends Doug (Jack Black), Griff (Paul Rudd), Claire (Thandiwe Newton) and Kenny (Steve Zahen) set out to reboot the original Anaconda film, only to find themselves up against a real anaconda while filming in the Amazon Rainforest.
While the film is ridiculous at times, that’s genuinely part of its charm. The idea that this foursome could actually film something of worth is a reach, but the good-natured work of all the actors really drew me into Anaconda and had me look past all the silliness on screen. That’s part of the film’s appeal. There’s nothing particularly scary throughout the movie, and that’s coming from someone who isn’t a big fan of snakes, big or small. There are a few jumps, just like there are a few laughs, but nothing particularly unique on both ends. And yet, Jack Black and Paul Rudd are a great team and fun to watch as best friends trying to live a dream.
If you’re a fan of the original film, there’s definitely some fan service in the second half of 2025’s Anaconda that you’ll be pleased with (I appreciated it as well, even without having seen said original). Newcomers looking for a fun 90 minutes of horror-comedy will likely have a good time as well. Go in with minimal expectations, and you’ll come up with a smile on your face and perhaps an increase in your ophidiophobia.
