Weitiko changed my whole perception of foreign films. I only recently gave them another try, and some were actually pretty enjoyable. Weitiko saved me from fear of subtitles. I feel as if they ruin the experience of the film. However, Weitiko kept me wondering and also pretty surprised. I thought this would be a bad review, but it’s not at all. I left the film feeling fulfilled.
Let’s get into the review.
Synopsis
In the depths of the Maya jungle, a young Maya man hired to deliver hallucinogenic toads stumbles into a spiritual war between indigenous rebels and Euro-Western seekers, led by a parasitic white shaman with a thirst for power-and blood.
Island From Hell
I think the film portrays the idea of hallucinogens very well. Who wouldn’t want a magic psychedelic frog? I am very familiar with hallucinogens. I spent a lot of my 20’s going on fun trips from mushrooms or little tabs of joy. I also know it can get a little scary sometimes. Howeever lets stop talking about me and more about the movie. Weitiko may not have won me over at first with the subtitles, but they made the film worth all the twists and turns. Without being an action film, Weitiko focuses more on the cult they formed with a grumpy Shaman. Their experience starts off simple, a drop off of magic toads, like he has done many times. However, this time he ended up in the wrong spot. The details are easy to figure out at first. The film falls into very creepy vibes.
After the first interaction with the Shaman cult, because you are trying to get a girl. In the jungle, that’s not a wise choice most times. If you don’t accept their offerings, you would offend their god and make your poor soul suffer. The film seems very real, to be completely honest. If Jim Jones built a small empire in the jungle, and we all know how that ended up. It was pretty cool to see the beautiful landscape from above. Also, the scenery in the jungle makes you nervous around every corner. Then came the cave, with another filming location that was beautiful, even in the dark. All of this made the movie worth another watch from me. Not so much in my daily movie list for background noise while I work. Then again, who knows?
In The End
In the end, I can say I fully enjoyed the film, even with the subtitles you had to read or you’d miss the scene. It did not seem to bother me as much with Weitiko. The film also left me wondering about how many ancient tribes are in uncharted territory, and is this all real in life? Sometimes it makes me wonder. The film made me focus on something other than doomscrolling. It was easy to put together, but there are a few surprises that come when you try to escape with one of his cult members. I saw some things that made me wonder about the god they follow, is it man or spiritual?
I bet you have the same question.