Congo (film)

An expedition was sent by the American company TraviCom to the depths of equatorial Africa. They are looking for a new type of diamond for use in microelectronics. During a communication session with headquarters via satellite video communications , travelers are attacked by unknown shaggy creatures who quickly and mercilessly kill all members of the expedition.

In search of a new team outfits. It includes a TraviCom employee, Dr. Karen Ross ( Laura Linney ), who wants to find her fiancé Charles ( Bruce Campbell ), the son of TravisCom owner Travis ( Joe Don Baker ). She joins a researcher at the University of Berkeley , a primate behavior researcher Peter Elliott ( Dylan Walsh ), who is making remarkable progress in experiments with the gorilla Emmy. He manages to set up a complex system that converts the sign language of a gorilla into a voice and it becomes possible to communicate with a monkey. As the gorilla is harassed by nightmares, Peter and his assistant Richard ( Grant Heslov ) want to bring Emmy back to her homeland. The sponsor is a suspicious type, a wealthy Romanian named Herkemer Homolka ( Tim Curry ).

Arriving in Africa, they form a full-fledged expedition, which is joined by Munro Kelly ( Ernie Hudson ), a guide, and his friend Kaega ( Adewale Akinnuoye -Agbaj ). The expedition overcomes a variety of obstacles along the way: an attack by hippos on the river, firing at an airplane during an invasion of the airspace of the Republic of the Congo. Along the way, it turns out that Munro knows Homolk and pulled him out of the jungle when he was looking for the lost city of Zinj, in which the famous mines of King Solomon were supposedly located. At the same time, Homolka with the help of various facts (an ancient ring, a photo of Amy with her drawing) proves that the gorilla Emmy saw the city of Zinj and leads them there. Munro is skeptical of this, believing that this city does not exist. However, the expedition was asked a lot of questions by a member of the missing expedition found by the Ghost tribe who, at the sight of Emmy, screams wildly and dies.

Arriving at the lost city, they discover the remains of the camp, while there are no bodies. And soon there are permanent residents of the city - gray gorillas who kill Richard and a couple of porters. The expedition sets up a night camp near the city and withstands the attack of the gorillas. Homolka, who noticed the repeated hieroglyphs on the walls of the houses, translates what they mean - “We are watching you” (Peter later recalls this phrase, saying that these are the words of trainers and mentors). Later, when everyone is trying to get out, they learn the history of the city from the wall murals. In an effort to protect the mines, the people of Solomon tamed the gray gorillas to kill strangers, selected them for aggressiveness and encouraged her. And then the gorillas pounced on their masters, and the city was empty and disappeared. At this moment, an earthquake occurs, signaling the awakening of a nearby volcano. Seeking a way out, the group accidentally enters the mines, which are full of caves - dwellings of gray gorillas. Distraught with happiness, Homolka collects diamonds lying and tries to escape. Gorillas kill him, as well as Kaegu and most members of the expedition. Meanwhile, Karen and Peter find dead Charlie and the rest of the expedition. The surviving Munro is trying to shoot back from the gorillas, reporting that the cartridges are running out. Karen finds the laser Charlie tested and inserts a diamond into it. Meanwhile, the gorillas are grabbing Peter and already want to tear him to pieces, as Emmy resorts to the spears and saves him. Karen charges the laser and clears the path with fire. As soon as they leave the mine, a volcanic eruption begins. Mines floods with lava, completely destroying the caves and their inhabitants. Strong tremors destroy the city.

Having run off to a safe distance, Karen tells Munro to prepare the balloon found among the wreckage of the third expedition aircraft. Karen herself contacts Travis. During the dialogue, it turns out that Travis is more concerned about the diamonds found, and not the fate of his son. In retaliation, Karen destroys a communications satellite with a laser. Peter says goodbye to Emmy, leaving for the “good gorillas” she met earlier. The surviving trinity flies in a balloon. Finally, Karen pulls a diamond from the laser and asks Peter to throw it away, which he does.

• Laura Linney - Dr. Karen Ross
• Dylan Walsh - Dr. Peter Elliot
• Ernie Hudson - Captain Monroe Kelly
• Tim Curry - Herkermer Homolka
• Grant Heslov - Richard
• Joe Don Baker - Charlie Travis's father
• Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje - Kaega
• Bruce Campbell - Charlie Travis
• Joe Pantoliano - Eddie Ventro
• Shayna Fox - Amy (voice acting)

• 1996 - Saturn Award - three nominations.
• 1996 - Golden Raspberry Award - seven nominations.

• review and criticism of the Washington Post movie
• review and criticism of the movie Roger Ebert
• Congo on IMDB
• Congo on Allmovie.com
• Congo on Rotten Tomatoes (21% based on 42 reviews)
• Budget and movie fees at boxofficemojo.com
• Movie reviews on Variety : Variety Staff , Brian Lowry