Jungle Virgin Force (1988)

Combining the worst in cannibalism, black magic, and Indonesian jungle theatrics, JUNGLE VIRGIN FORCE seems to want to wow us but instead is as appealing as a bowl of warm chicken soup. Now what exactly does that mean? It means this movie is decent but could have been a lot better. I was expecting a wild exotic Indonesian exploitation flick but had to settle for a mild romp without nudity.

Who is this mysterious jungle woman that swings from vines like Tarzan and helps the natives avoid crocodile attacks? Her name is Jelita the protector, played by the beautiful Lydia Kandou. Actually lost in the jungle as a child after a plane crash, she now wanders about doing good deeds. There is a scene of native women bathing under a waterfall but the nudity is blurred out for some god-awful reason. Jelita meets the tribal women and is invited back to their cave to be the new leader. “She wears a symbol of holy powers!” exclaims one woman. It’s really just a shiny necklace her mother had given her when young. The high priest of the community disagrees and then everyone starts fighting for quite a long time. You can’t really tell who’s fighting for what side but it doesn’t really matter.

Back in the city a group of university students are planning an expedition to this secret island to look for lost treasure. The professor gives them a map and provides them with a guide, Bunion. Another group of treasure hunters want the map and another long stupid battle occurs with car chase and explosion. This should be interesting but is really just meh. The explorers consist of  John, Mya, Laura, and a guy whose name sounds like Hardon.  IMDb was missing some character names so I apoligize for the Hardon (pun intended). The guide’s name is Bunion. When we first meet him he’s wearing a yellow hardhat. Does he think he’s a construction worker or something? Anyway, he warns John not to fire the guns so as not to alert the cannibals but he just wouldn’t listen. Laura is captured and beheaded for John’s mistake of firing what the cannibals called the “thunder weapon”.  Another boring fight breaks out and Bunion is killed, but not before realizing Jelita was his long lost daughter. The cannibals capture our explorers. One victim is consumed by magic fire (this is actually pretty cool). I’m not sure who this person even was. It was probably a member of the second group of treasure hunters who managed to appear on the island and blend into the scene during the battle without me noticing. Lots of these people look the same and the fighting scenes are long and confusing. Anyway, the original group escapes at night while the cannibals are sleeping. I can’t figure this out! They must be very heavy sleepers, all of them!

So we have established that the second group of explorers is on the island. There’s also conflict within the local tribe. People have aligned themselves either with or against the high priest. His warriors have long black horns on their head. He bestows this magical blessing when they perform a brave act. So instead of a medal of bravery these dudes sprout horns. The heat and humidity of the jungle is getting to the original explorers and they start fighting among themselves. John tries to make a move on Mya (Hardon’s girl) while she’s bathing so Hardon starts a fight. Jelita fights Doris (from the second group of treasure hunters) just because girls fighting is entertaining I suppose. To add to the drama there are some steamy sex scenes without nudity and the characters behaviors continue to make little sense.

 There is an ultimate final showdown between the split tribe and all the explorers. White and Black magic is used along with energy blasts and not-so-special effects. John finally finds the treasure cave filled with gold but the fighting outside causes the cave to collapse and some explosions thrown in kill the high priest. Lots of folks end up toast but Hardon and Jelita find true love. The end?!

 A crappy movie yes. but a terrible one, no. The colorful yet lame battle scenes move the story along a brisk pace. The film really suffers because there is no nudity or strong gore. One can get awfully tired of ritualistic, bloodless Indonesian battle scenes. I ask myself why they filmed nudity only to blur it out later. Also, why does every south Asian genre film have to include black magic. I’m sick and tired of it but I understand it must be part of their culture and what they find exciting so it’s kind of ok. I only wish things got more extreme!

2 / 5 STARS