HUNGRY

Lost holidaymakers, Louisiana swampland, and one very large, very unimpressed hippo: the movie tells you exactly what it is before the first scream. Creature features live or die on commitment, and this one looks entirely committed, with a vacation gone wrong, a maze of black water and cypress, and an animal that regards the whole group as a menu. The tagline sets the tone, half threat and half joke, which is precisely the pitch being made here.

Fans of B-movie animal horror know exactly who they are, and this is aimed squarely at them: nasty, quick, and clocking in around ninety minutes with no interest in a second act about anyone's feelings. Expect murky water, a mounting body count, and the pleasure of watching people make terrible decisions in a swamp. It is not trying to frighten you into insomnia so much as show you a rowdy, ridiculous good time. Best with snacks and company.