When the Jungle Speaks: A Deep Dive into El Susurro del Amazonas
From the very first moment, El Susurro del Amazonas (The Whisper of the Amazon), directed by José Chica, feels like a special achievement in independent filmmaking. It’s not just a film about the Amazon; it’s a film that lives in the Amazon — breathing in its mythology, dangers, beauty, and mysteries. What José and his team have pulled off here is remarkable, and the more you sit with it, the more layers you discover: technical bravado, narrative weight, cultural authenticity, and a moral message that transcends borders.
Story Overview
The premise sounds straightforward, yet it quickly evolves into something much more layered. We meet three friends: Victoria (Alona Omelianenko), Carmen (Andrea Velasquez García), and Carlos (Simón Santander). Later, they are joined by Lucia (Natalia Grajales).
Victoria and Carmen, students living in the United States, return to Colombia to embark on a documentary thesis project. Their idea is to travel with Carlos to the Amazon to record the traditions and customs of indigenous communities. At first, the tone is light — they are excited, even naïve. The film takes time to show us Medellín: beautiful drone shots over the city, stylish restaurant scenes filled with cinematic bokeh, and even a perfectly staged airport sequence that looks completely real. For an independent film, pulling off such authentic-looking travel scenes is almost unheard of. It immediately grounds us in a believable world.
But as soon as the group steps into the Amazon, the tone shifts. They carry with them both curiosity and arrogance, venturing into the jungle without full respect for its rules. That lack of respect becomes costly. Tension mounts as they get lost, and Lucia is the first to disappear. Just before her disappearance, we see powerful flashbacks that add depth to her character and foreshadow the struggles to come.
There is also a crucial moment with the indigenous people, where they remind the outsiders that the jungle must be respected — not only the Amazon, but all of nature. Their words carry weight, becoming one of the film’s central moral messages. From that point on, fear and desperation creep in, as the remaining friends face the terrifying reality of the rainforest.
Performances
The acting across the board is solid and believable. Alona Omelianenko and Andrea Velasquez García stand out as Victoria and Carmen, giving us characters who feel both strong and vulnerable. Simón Santander’s Carlos is grounded and convincing, while Natalia Grajales makes Lucia intriguing, her layered performance becoming one of the film’s anchors.
There is even a subplot around an amulet — subtle, tense, and never overplayed — that deepens the characters’ dynamics without turning into unnecessary exposition.
One of the most intense scenes comes when Lucia is left alone, lost in the jungle. The performance is raw. You don’t just watch her panic — you feel it. As someone who has filmed in tropical forests myself, I know how hard it is to capture that level of authenticity. These actors make it look effortless, though the fear they communicate is anything but.
Cinematography and Visual Power
One of the great triumphs of El Susurro del Amazonas (The Whisper of the Amazon) is its cinematography. Independent films rarely look this good.
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Drone shots: Both over Medellín and deep in the rainforest, the aerial photography is breathtaking. The Amazon sequences in particular are astonishing, capturing the vastness and mystery of the jungle.
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Bokeh work: In Medellín restaurants, the out-of-focus backgrounds glow with cinematic blues, lending even everyday scenes a polished, professional look.
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The jungle itself: The camera often makes us feel like the forest is a character, silently watching. This technique recalls the mood of John McTiernan’s Predator. That same creeping sensation — that you are being hunted — is recreated here with style.
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The canoe sequence: Shot on a small boat in the middle of the Amazon river, this scene is as beautiful as it is dangerous. To pull something like this off in the Amazon is not just risky, it’s an act of filmmaking courage.
Throughout, the cinematography elevates the story, turning the Amazon into both setting and antagonist.
Sound and Technical Bravado
Here’s where my personal perspective comes in. I directed a horror short film in Nicaragua in 2021. Filming in the jungle there, I learned firsthand how impossible it is to get clean sound in such an environment. Constant insects, wind, birds, and humidity make it a nightmare.
And yet — in this film — the sound is crystal sharp. It doesn’t sound like ADR; it sounds real, captured live in one of the most hostile environments for sound recording. I still can’t imagine how they pulled it off. It’s one of the most impressive technical aspects of the film.
On top of that, the sound design adds a subtle but powerful layer: the whooshes, booms, and low rumbles that punctuate the scarier moments. They never feel cheap or overdone; instead, they amplify the suspense, drawing you deeper into the jungle’s menace.
Editing and Flashbacks
The film’s editing deserves real praise. Pacing is tight, and at 1 hour and 20 minutes, the runtime is perfect. Not a moment too long, not a moment too short.
The flashbacks are particularly well-handled. They appear exactly when needed, expanding character depth without slowing momentum. And the final beach flashback, between Carmen and Victoria, is visually stunning — top-quality production that leaves a strong emotional note as the film closes.
Indigenous Presence and Message
Perhaps the most moving element of El Susurro del Amazonas (The Whisper of the Amazon) is its inclusion of indigenous communities. Their appearance is so natural, so unforced, that I honestly couldn’t tell if they were trained actors or real members of the community. They blend seamlessly into the story, yet their presence elevates the film to something larger than a narrative exercise.
Their singing, woven into the film, becomes a moral message: respect nature. Not just the Amazon, not just Colombia, but the Earth itself. In a time when ecological issues dominate global headlines, this message feels urgent, necessary, and beautifully delivered.
Comparisons and Atmosphere
While El Susurro del Amazonas (The Whisper of the Amazon) is its own film, certain cinematic echoes are undeniable. As I mentioned, the jungle sequences recall Predator. The sensation of being watched, the paranoia, the beauty mixed with danger — it’s all there, though told through a completely different lens.
The desperation of the characters also reminded me of my own experience shooting in tropical forests. It’s freaky, it’s suffocating, and it’s terrifyingly easy to lose yourself. The actors here conveyed that reality so convincingly that it was almost too close to home.
The Ending
Without giving spoilers: the ending is unexpected, powerful, and unforgettable. It’s one of those rare moments that makes you sit back and whisper, “Wow.” It ties the themes together while leaving enough open interpretation to spark debate long after the credits roll.
Final Thoughts
El El Susurro del Amazonas (The Whisper of the Amazon) is an amazing combination: a fictional story that feels documentary-level real and also horror, a technically ambitious project that succeeds on nearly every front, and a film with a moral heart that resonates beyond its runtime.
The acting is strong, the cinematography beautiful, the sound design shockingly clean, the editing precise, and the themes vital. At its core, this is a film about humility: about respecting cultures, respecting nature, and recognizing that the jungle is bigger, older, and stronger than us.
At 1 hour and 20 minutes, it’s a perfect festival film — one that not only entertains but also has clear distribution potential. Audiences, critics, and buyers alike will see the value here.
In the end, what stands out most is the vision and determination of José Chica, the director and creative force behind this film. Along with the producers and the entire team, he has crafted something truly unique — a work that feels both intimate and epic. The acting throughout is solid, the technical craft impressive, and the message unforgettable.
It’s clear this was a tight group of filmmakers who believed in their project and poured everything into making it real. The result is not just a film, but an experience — something beautiful, brave, and worth celebrating.
Watching El Susurro del Amazonas (The Whisper of the Amazon) has been a joy, and I leave it with deep respect for the filmmakers who brought this vision to life.
Festival Screening
El Susurro del Amazonas (The Whisper of the Amazon) will screen at the Love & Hope International Film Festival — Barcelona 2025, in Block: The Hitchcock Hour, on Day 3, Friday, October 3, from 7:00–8:30 pm, at Cinema Maldà (Carrer del Pi, 5, Ciutat Vella, 08002 Barcelona, España). A filmmaker Q&A will follow, subject to time availability.
This is more than just a screening — it’s a chance to step into the Amazon itself, without leaving Barcelona.
Disclaimer:
This review reflects personal impressions and interpretations of El Susurro del Amazonas (The Whisper of the Amazon). It is not intended to reveal spoilers or replace the viewing experience, but rather to highlight the film’s artistic and technical achievements. All opinions expressed are subjective and based on a critical appreciation of the film.
Connect with Jose Chica:
📽️ Website: Jose Chica
📸 Instagram: @josechica
Film Review: El Susurro Del Amazonas (The Whisper of The Amazon) By Darwin Reina
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