Jungle Virgin Force (1988) User Reviews

Awful

[dbborroughs · 3/10 · 30 March 2008]

Indonesian (?) jungle film about a hidden tribe on a hidden island that revolts against a god sent leader. Of course a film crew shows up to film them and the "leader: and her band of warriors have to come to their rescue or some such nonsense.

Its bad and awful and not in a good way. I lost patience very fast and while I think I might try it again I don't think anyone else should. The performances are poor (I wouldn't blame the dubbing), the action isn't very good and there are simply too many WTF moments for any sane mind to take in. I like bad movies but this is almost too much to endure, even if you make fun of it as it goes on.

What on Earth....?

[John_Mclaren · 1/10 · 26 November 2005]

I obtained this piece of garbage on the VideoAsia "Tales of Voodoo" DVD label. Quite where the voodoo is supposed to fit in, I have no idea. Indeed I would not usually connect voodoo with Indonesia anyway.

From the description given to it on the cover, this looked like it could be a wonderful piece of little known exploitation from South East Asia.

It isn't. Abused women rush off into the jungle to oppose their oppressors, but frankly I would rather they had stayed home. No gore, a little formulaic violence and no nudity (well I think there might have been a hint in one scene, but it was optically fogged).

There is nothing to recommend this movie. Period.

As my gym teacher used to say- on the whole, I'd rather be at the disco....

Low budget but insane and fun

[CobraMist · 7/10 · 16 April 2021]

Jungle Virgin Force starts off with the introduction of an obscure and hard to reach island that is populated by several tribes of "savages" that have been battling each other forever. The film then takes us to some students who learn from their professor about the existence of the island as well as a sizable treasure that resides there. From there the students are pursued by evil treasure hunters from the professor's house all the way to the island itself. Both groups are captured by the more barbaric of the two tribes and are turned into bloody sacrifices before they are able to escape. They stay with the good tribe for a bit before conspiracies are hatched and betrayals begin as more people decide that they want a piece of that treasure. The fighting culminates with a final battle between the two sides that results in both groups being wiped out, leaving only the the protagonist and one of his love interests.

This is a pretty insane movie that is a little hard to follow at times but those who like weird, Indonesian mystic movies or even just psychotronic films in general should definitely check it out. Some highlights include: hilarious acting by the "savages", multiple black magic sacrifices, cannibalism, decapitations, numerous impalements, white magic voodoo, and tons more. The dubbing isn't quite as cheesy as one might prefer but much of the acting from the barbaric tribe and their warlock leader is a real hoot. It does slow down in the middle for a bit while alliances shift and its final lurch into action for the showdown is so abrupt that it almost feels like it belongs to a different movie.

Overall I'd definitely suggest this to fans of weird, Indonesian cinema. Just remember that this a very low budget affair. Don't go in expecting something like The Devil's Sword or even The Queen of Black Magic.

Badfilm enthusiasts will LOVE this film.

[midibullets · 8/10 · 27 March 2008]

This movie simply ROCKS. Its so funny to read reviews from people actually expecting a "good" movie from directors and actors like in this movie. This movie is absolutely TERRIBLE, and that is exactly why it is soooo good! From cheesy 1980s electro music, cheap laser and fire effects, ridiculous plot and costumes, beautiful chick, etc... This movie has it all. Indonesian films are also always about Indonesian folklore, just as this one is. You have to look past the atrocious acting and plot to see it for what it is: Brainless, hilarious fun and an Indonesian history lesson all in one.. Highly recommended to anyone that can appreciate bad cinema..

Trashy jungle fun.

[BA_Harrison · 6/10 · 1 July 2018]

Indonesian adventure Jungle Virgin Force is, as the schlocky title suggests, a big dose of cheesy exploitation, and provides trash cinema fans with a splendidly silly hour and a half of entertainment that is hard not to enjoy.

The film opens on an island where a jungle tribe make a mysterious vine-swinging woman (Lydia Kandou) their queen, much to the annoyance of the high priest and his followers. A fight breaks out and the tribe splits into two warring factions, tasty females in fur bikinis and their queen versus grunting ape-men and their priest.

Meanwhile, a group of scientists embark on an expedition to the island, closely followed by a band of ruthless treasure hunters, who have heard that the tribe have a hidden fortune in gold.

This set up allows for plenty of trashy jungle shenanigans, including naked frolics in a jungle pool (although any nudity is optically fogged), female explorers in hot pants, loads of poorly choreographed fight scenes, a cat fight, some black magic by the wicked priest, a few terrible special effects (including one of the worst matte shots I have ever scene, the island poorly composited with the sea), a couple of daft native dance routines, and quite a lot of gore: loads of extras are shot by arrows, skewered by spears and impaled by flying shards of rock, and director Danu Umbara even channels the spirit of Lenzi and Deodato with a spot of cannibalism, a man falling into a pit of spikes, brief animal cruelty, and a grisly scene in which a woman is strapped to a cross and decapitated.

Obviously, this kind of thing isn't going to appeal to everyone, but those who enjoy z-grade movies will have a blast.

6.5 out of 10, rounded up to 7 for the baby sacrifice, the horned warriors, and for naming the female treasure hunter Doris.

An entertainingly inane jungle adventure camp hoot

[Woodyanders · 8/10 · 27 July 2008]

A group of college student anthropologists and a rival team of no-count treasure hunters run afoul of a lethal tribe of primitive cannibals led by an evil witch doctor while checking out a dangerous jungle on a remote island. It's up to feisty'n'fetching Tarzanesque jungle babe Jelita (ravishing brunette fox Lydia Kandou) to keep everyone alive. Man, does this delightfully batty and berserk jaw-dropper possess all the right wonderfully ridiculous stuff to qualify as a real four star serving of deliciously cheesy schlock: we've got energetic direction by Danu Umbara, a constant brisk pace, hokey mild gore, a funky, thumping, syncopated score by Gatot Sudarto, plenty of outrageously wild and violent over-the-top fight scenes, laughably lousy dubbing, broadly drawn characters, vibrant, colorful cinematography by Bambang Trimakno, a protracted car chase, inept overuse of strenuous slow motion, a hilarious tribe of grunting ape-like untamed savages, and tacky (far from) special effects. Alas, the obligatory smidgen of gratuitous female nudity is optically fogged, but thankfully we still have a gaggle of good-looking gals running amok in skimpy fur two piece bikini outfits. Overall, this film possesses an infectiously kitschy charm that's impossible to either resist or dislike. A total gut-busting riot.