Apocalypto

When it comes to historical films or those that tell a story many moons ago, there are quite a few periods that are often utilised time and time again until the well is almost dry, or when audiences have finally burned out. And in 2006 Apocalypto hit cinemas taking audiences back to the early 1500s but instead of seeing the colonial explorations of Europe, the story goes deep into the Mexican jungles and offers a fictional adventure about the fall of the Mayan kingdom. I scratch my head to think of any other films that have tried to offer a story involving the ancient civilization and, after a quick bit of Googling, this remains with a lot of untapped potential. 

The story follows a small inland Mayan tribe enjoying a harmonious existence which is interrupted when an exiled tribe pass through their land, clearly traumatised by some unseen threat. Jaguar Paw's father urges the hunters not spread any word of what they have just seen but it isn't long before a group brutish tribesmen attack the entire community, taking any survivors as prisoners for an important event.

Filmed entirely in the native language, Apocalypto is a thrilling, bloody adventure from start to finish and directed surprisingly by Mel Gibson of all people just two years after The Passion of the Christ. The film is very simple though, almost easily defined by two halves with one being the capture and the latter being the exhilarating escape as Jaguar Paw must become almost Rambo in order to survive.

This is all made engaging by the excellent visuals making full use of the lush environments, a rich sound design as the captives prepare to meet their fate, Rudy Youngblood's performance as Jaguar Paw and it being a story about a relatively unexplored civilisation on the big screen. Fans of Narcos: Mexico will also, just about, recognise Gerardo Taracena as one of the sadistic antagonists who is excellent here. It was strange seeing him as a docile Pablo Acosta in that show and then dressed as a Mayan warrior but he really shows his range here and is great to watch whenever he's onscreen. 

Yet despite all the great things I have to say about this film, I did find myself feeling oddly empty afterwards as it puts everything upfront with little to ponder once the credits role after an exhaustive 138 minutes of blood and violence. I'm still really glad a film like this was made, even if I can't vouch for the historical authenticity, and I will give Apocalypto a fairly solid recommendation if the story sounds appealing.