Anaconda, released in 2025 on December 25, is a surprising remake of the cult classic franchise Anaconda (1997). Director Tom Gormican, along with stars Jack Black and Paul Rudd, worked together to produce this film. The film pulls away from the original classic horror and instead leans toward a more comedic and adventurous version. The plot follows two lifelong friends who set out to remake their childhood favorite movie, Anaconda. Shooting the film, the plot thickens when, while out in the Amazon rainforest, they encounter a massive anaconda.

The biggest strength in the movie was the relationship between the characters Doug McCallister and Ronald “Griff” Griffin, played by Black and Rudd respectively. The overall brotherly bond is evident throughout the movie, with a deep and rich background that is established in the beginning. This bond is further developed through the comedy between the two and the tension that builds up when Griff lies about having the rights to the original Anaconda movie. Overall, the comedic charm and witty banter that these two characters bring are unmatched and keep the movie interesting.

Although the comedic aspect was an upside of the film, it was also a downside. The movie trailer made the film out to be more of a horror film than it actually was. The feeling of suspense and terror was lacking; instead, it was filled with jokes and funny scenes, which at times weren’t necessary.

While the film overall wasn’t disappointing, its biggest flaw was that it became predictable. The climax occurred too early, and the twist at the beginning made the end of the movie very obvious–whether it was the end scene where the duo thought they were going to die, and the anaconda blew up after Griff shot it with a flammable barrel, or when the native character, Ana, played by Daniela Melchior, turned out to be working for gold miners.

Overall, the movie wasn’t unpleasant, but the scares weren’t held to the same standard as the last movie. So if you want to see a horror movie, then this isn’t the one for you. But if you want to see a comedic film, then I recommend it because the clipped scenes of the comedic humor between the co-stars seemed natural and well-written. So this isn’t a remake of a horror, but a comedic twist on a similar plot.