Tragic Jungle

Set in the 1920s along the border between Mexico and Belize, Tragic Jungle follows a group of Mexican gum workers who encounter Agnes, a young Belizean woman, while they are deep in the forest. Her arrival stirs the desires and rivalries of the men, who are unaware that they have disturbed something far older: a presence tied to Mayan legend that lives in the heart of the jungle. What begins as a tense encounter between the laborers and the newcomer gradually turns into a confrontation with forces beyond their understanding.

The film was directed by Yulene Olaizola, who wrote the screenplay with Rubén Imaz. The two had previously collaborated on her earlier features, and Imaz is also among the producers alongside Pablo Zimbrón Alva and Olaizola herself. Indira Andrewin plays Agnes, with Gilberto Barraza, Mariano Tun Xool, Gabino Rodríguez, Eligio Meléndez and Eliseo Mancilla de la Cruz completing the cast. The production was a Colombian, Mexican and French co-production made for about 1 million USD.

Released in September 2020, the film runs 96 minutes and blends drama with mystery. Its reception has been modest: on IMDb it holds 5.6/10 from around 1,200 votes, while on TMDB it sits at 6.1/10 from a much smaller pool of 47 votes. The critics' rating of 6.5/10 from 27 reviews places it somewhat above the audience scores, suggesting a more favourable view among reviewers than among the wider public.