Movie Review: Anaconda 5: A Fight for Survival (2025)
“In the heart of the jungle, the real predator isn’t always human.”
After years of silence, the Anaconda franchise slithers back onto the screen with its most intense installment yet. Anaconda 5: A Fight for Survival takes everything fans love—giant snakes, tropical terror, and absurdly fun action—and turns it up to eleven. Directed by horror-thriller newcomer Isabel Fuentes, the film breathes new life (and venom) into a series that had nearly become a cult-classic relic.
This time, the story is set in the dense, uncharted wetlands of the Congo, where a secret eco-science operation discovers not just one—but a nest—of genetically altered anacondas. These aren’t just big snakes—they’re smarter, faster, and meaner than ever before. When communications go dark, a rescue team led by Jenna Ortega (as field medic-turned-leader Kayla Rivera) is sent in… only to find themselves trapped in a survival nightmare.
The cast is surprisingly strong for a creature feature. Ortega gives a grounded, gritty performance that carries the film, while Boyd Holbrook plays a skeptical mercenary with a haunted past. There’s even a wild cameo by Danny Trejo, reprising a version of his role from Anaconda: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid, now older and snake-scarred, warning: “These aren’t just snakes. They’re born of nightmares.”
The horror and action elements are relentless. Whether it’s a jungle river ambush, a claustrophobic underground tunnel escape, or the finale in a burning lab tower surrounded by water and death, each scene pushes the intensity higher. The CGI has improved significantly since earlier entries, with the snakes looking truly menacing—especially in close-up attacks. It’s not just gore for shock; it’s structured chaos with a pulse.
Sure, the plot is formulaic—evil corporations, hidden research, people making obviously bad decisions—but it knows exactly what it is: a fun, over-the-top jungle survival horror flick. The tone strikes a sweet spot between serious tension and campy thrills, giving audiences just enough character development to care before the next jaws-open jump scare hits.
Big, loud, and proudly ridiculous. If you’re in the mood for a wild ride filled with venomous monsters, jungle mayhem, and fearless heroes—Anaconda 5 delivers exactly what it promises.
