Review of Damned River

Damned River (1989)
Poor adventure/exploitation movie
11 May 2023
My review was written in April 1990 after watching the movie on CBS/Fox video cassette.

This United Artists pickup, originally lensed two years ago with moniker "Devil's Odds", tries to be a coed "Deliverance" without much success. Pic had minimal theatrical exposure last fall and is now in video stores courtesy of UA's output deal with CBS/Fox.

Four Americans are in Zimbabwe for a white water adventure vacation, with rugged former soldier Stephen Shellen as their guide. After some nicely lensed footage of rafting in treacherous waters, the film disintegrates into a corny battle for survival against Shellen. Climax is set at a dangerous rapids called "Devil's Odds".

A rape scene involving lovely herine Lisa Aliff is gratuitously graphic. Her presence on the expedition is unconvingily explained as a substitute for a guy who had to bow out.

Cast is okay: youngsters' camaraderie carries the pic, which would have benefited from more rafting action scenes. Helmer Michael Schroede, a Paul Bartel protege who previously directed "Mortuary Academy", doesn't come up with a consistent tone.
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