Hungry (2026)

Creature features have become ten a penny in recent years. Thanks to advances in CGI, filmmakers can conjure increasingly convincing monsters on relatively modest budgets, leading to a flood of films where oversized predators terrorise unsuspecting victims. Sharks, crocodiles, giant snakes and every other toothy menace imaginable have all had their turn. In fact, we’ve reached the point where simply choosing a different animal is enough to make a film stand out. Thankfully, Hungry does exactly that, replacing the usual suspects with one of nature’s most dangerous yet surprisingly underused killers, the hippopotamus.

Directed by James Nunn, whose previous work includes action thrillers such as One Shot and Tower Block, Hungry demonstrates that he wanted to make something more than another disposable “people versus animal” movie. While the familiar creature-feature formula is certainly present, a group of people stranded in hostile territory while a predator picks them off one by one, Nunn invests enough time in the characters and dialogue to elevate the material above the average straight-to-streaming effort.

That’s not to suggest Hungry is reinventing the genre. It knows exactly what kind of film it wants to be and rarely pretends otherwise. This is an uncomplicated survival horror designed to entertain, and for the most part it succeeds. The pacing rarely drags, the attacks are well spaced throughout, and there’s enough tension to keep you engaged from beginning to end.

One of the film’s strongest assets is its cast of characters. Rather than filling the screen with obvious chew toys, Hungry gives each member of the group enough personality and motivation that you actually begin to care about them. As the body count inevitably starts to climb, I found myself hoping most of them would survive, and more than once I caught myself letting out a disappointed “aww” when someone met an untimely end. That’s a rarity in modern creature features, where victims often exist solely to become the monster’s next meal.

Of course, the real star is the hippo itself. Hippopotamuses are responsible for more human deaths in Africa than many people realise, yet they’ve rarely been used as horror villains. Hungry takes full advantage of their immense size, speed and unpredictable aggression, creating a genuinely intimidating creature. The CGI is surprisingly convincing throughout, blending well with practical effects, pyrotechnics and some satisfyingly bloody gore. None of it reaches blockbuster levels, but it’s solid and more than effective enough to sell the illusion.

The locations also help establish a suitably isolated atmosphere, making the characters feel trapped in an environment where help is never coming. There are, however, one or two moments where logic takes a back seat. One scene references a building that supposedly hasn’t been entered for over a century, yet despite sitting in a swamp, the structure remains remarkably intact, with only minimal signs of decay. It’s a minor complaint in the grand scheme of things, but it briefly pulled me out of the experience.

My biggest reservation comes during the climax. Without venturing into spoiler territory, the film opts for a surprisingly peaceful resolution rather than delivering the explosive finale many viewers might expect. I understand the reasoning behind the decision. Modern creature features often try to avoid portraying animals as mindless villains in the wake of the criticism films like Jaws received for demonising sharks, and hippos don’t carry the same sinister reputation in popular culture. They’re often seen as almost comical, thanks to children’s books and animated films, despite being among the deadliest mammals on Earth. While I appreciate what the filmmakers were aiming for, I couldn’t help feeling that the restrained ending slightly undercuts the tension the film had spent so long building. In short, I wanted my “Smile you son of a bitch!” moment.

That said, Hungry remains an enjoyable addition to the ever-growing creature-feature catalogue. It doesn’t revolutionise the genre, nor does it aspire to become the next Jaws. Instead, it delivers exactly what it promises: a well-made, entertaining monster movie with an unusual predator, likeable characters and enough suspense to keep horror fans invested. In a market saturated with interchangeable shark and crocodile films, that alone helps it stand apart.

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