Carnifex

An extinct wild animal makes a deadly come back in this Tubi horror flick.

By Tracie Reddick

When it comes to creature features, Carnifex (2022) is different from the pack of rogue species spawned from hazardous waste or concocted in a laboratory.

Directed by Sean Lahiff, this eco-thriller is set in Australian during the aftermath of a series of deadly brush fires.

Images of the devastation sets the ominous mood of the film in the opening scene featuring raging fires then the smoldering ash-covered landscape.

Rain is followed by sunlight as animals emerge from hiding, signifying the awakening of something evil.

Meanwhile, two conservationists, Grace (Sisi Stringer) and Ben (Harry Greenwood), along with filmmaker Bailey (Alexandra Park), trek through the burnt wildlife perserve, searching for displaced animals.

During their journey, they come across strange footprints, multi-colored fur clinging to a claw marked tree and a carcass.

No, a dingo didn’t eat it, baby.

It was a two-thumbed, tree-dwelling, mammoth-sized, blood-thirsty … marsupial.

Yeah, I know. It sounds cheesy.

But, it’s actually kinda scary since the critter is mostly heard and seldom seen.

When it is shown, its in quick flashes, allowing your imagination to run wild about this preceived extinct throwback to the dinosaur days.

There’s some decent jumpscares intertwined with beautiful imagery that’s folded into great camera angles that make great use of shadows and sounds.

Streaming on Tubi, this film sends a not too preachy message about how the extinction of one species effects the survival of others.

And this man-eating monster is ready to move up the food chain, making Carnifex a scary movie worth watching.