This week on the CineTV.blog, we are asked to write about our favorite film with wildlife. This was a fairly easy choice for me, although I had previously reviewed my real favorite, Hatari!, and so I have to write about a runner-up. As such, I am taking a look at The Ghost and the Darkness (1996), Staring Val Kilmer as Lt. Col. John Patterson and Michael Douglas as the hunter Remington.
My copy of the DVD and the book
Set in the Tsavo region of Africa, Lt. Col. Patterson, an engineer in the British Army, is tasked with constructing a railway brdige across the Tsavo river. The area is plagued by man-eating lions, that are killing the workers. Patterson is able to kill one shortly after his arrival, and things quiet done for awhile until two more man-eaters turn up, and prove to be working in tandem. These two lions also appear to be smarter and avoid Patterson’s attempts to neutralize them. Remington turns up to lend a hand in eliminating the lions, and things get a bit worse for their cause. Hopefully that is enough to give you the idea of what is going on.
One of the lions from The Ghost and the Darkness - IMDB
The Ghost and the Darkness is an adventure film, and is not about big game hunting as opposed to eliminating predators that have killed a large number of people. It is based on Patterson’s memoir from his time in Africa, The Man-Eaters of Tsavo, which reading it after the first time I saw the film that is based upon it, is an example of when the book is much better than the film, as it goes into greater depth of Patterson’s experiences in Africa. Some of the film, including many of the characters, except for Patterson, and Mahina (who in reality was not attacked), are fabricated. The production team did use some of the techniques Patterson describes in his book as a means to trap the lions. It’s been awhile since I read the book, so I am glancing through it to refresh my memory of it. And yes, Patterson really did find the lions’ den, and based on his memoir, he was creeped out by it.
Val Kilmer and Michael Douglas - IMDB
That being said, Ghost holds up well as an adventure film, with a fair amount of excitement and suspense. We also see shots that are taken from the perspective of the two man-eating lions, which adds a lot to the intensity of the some of the scenes when Patterson is trying to kill these lions. It also builds up from the point when Patterson and his allies believe it is a single lion killing the workers until a second one is revealed.
Patterson also has to manage the building of the railway bridge while the workers want to get the heck out of there as they are, rightfully, terrified that they could be next on the lions’ menu. One point from the book that plays into the film is that, in the book, Patterson mentions that the lions had become very canny and relentless in the methods for obtaining, as he put it, their “favorite food”. That being said, I can understand why the workers were keen on leaving the region.
Val Kilmer does a credible job as Patterson, and Michael Douglas as Remington adds a bit of mystique and a bit of humor, as well as some sage advice to Patterson. Remington appears with a quad-barrel Howdah pistol, which plays an important role in dealing with the lions. It’s an interesting weapon, but I am not sure how frequently it was used at the close of the 19th century when the film takes place as it is a cap and ball weapon as opposed to using center-fire cartridges. Also, I am not sure if it is mentioned in the book.
Henry Cele as Mahina - IMDB
The film has narration provided by Samuel, played by John Kani. Interestingly he played T’Chaka in the MCU movies, including Black Panther. Mahina was played by Henry Cele, although I have heard of some of his other films, including Shaka Zulu, this is the only one I have seen him. Both men are fine actors, and performed well in their roles.
Overall, I continue to find The Ghost and the Darkness to be an entertaining film and well worth watching. My one regret – not having time to read the book again before writing his review.
Thanks for stopping by.
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