2025’s Most Extreme Horror Reboot Tackles a Massive Cinematic Trend

Image: Columbia Pictures/Everett Collection

The 1997 release of Anaconda remains a gold standard for kitschy, “so-bad-it’s-great” cinema. Defined by its erratic internal logic, rudimentary digital effects, and a cast of future superstars—including Jennifer Lopez, Owen Wilson, and Ice Cube—who seemed visibly bewildered by the project, the film is perhaps best remembered for Jon Voight’s baffling South American accent. Despite being panned by critics (Voight even secured a Stinker Award for his performance), the film was a commercial juggernaut, raking in over $136 million and spawning four follow-ups.

Now, nearly thirty years after the original slithered into theaters—and a decade since the franchise’s last gasp in a low-budget crossover with Lake Placid—the series is being revitalized with a self-aware, comedic edge. Simply titled Anaconda, the 2025 iteration swaps straight horror for satire. Starring Jack Black, Paul Rudd, Steve Zahn, and Thandiwe Newton, the story follows a group of friends attempting to film a shoestring-budget sequel to their favorite ’90s cult classic, only to find themselves in a real-life creature feature.

Image: Bradley Patrick/Columbia Pictures/Everett Collection

Directed by Tom Gormican, who previously explored meta-narratives in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, this new Anaconda lampoons the industry’s fixation on reboots while serving as a genuine tribute to the creature features of yesteryear.

“I have a deep affection for the original,” Gormican explained in an interview with Polygon. “The real hurdle was finding a narrative entry point that felt inventive—something that avoided the tropes of a standard remake. We essentially decided to make the concept of the reboot itself the punchline.”

Image: Dani Ferreira/Sony

The film also casts a satirical eye toward “elevated horror”—the wave of socially conscious films like Jordan Peele’s Get Out or Ari Aster’s Midsommar. While Gormican’s Anaconda is unabashedly a popcorn movie, its characters are convinced they are creating a profound masterpiece. In a recurring gag, Rudd and Black’s characters shout “Themes!” at one another, delusional in their belief that their snake movie is actually a gritty commentary on economic inequality and gender dynamics.

However, Gormican clarifies that he isn’t devaluing thematic depth in cinema; he’s simply advocating for the return of the “fun” ride.

“It isn’t a critique of those filmmakers,” he notes. “I’m a fan of those movies. I just felt like the genre was losing its sense of play. You can have a clever, well-constructed film that feels like a thrilling adventure without having to pause and explicitly state your message. By having the characters obsess over ‘themes’ in the middle of the chaos, we get to acknowledge the trend while staying focused on the excitement. There’s room in the theater for both styles.”

Anaconda makes its theatrical debut on December 25.

Source: Polygon