A true story set at the turn of the century in Africa when a small village of migrant workers were systematically brutalized and terrorized by not one but a pair of marauding lions, who it is implied simply killed like man does, for fun.

The tempo of the film never flags, the locales and their cinematography is breathtakingly spectacular which is the norm for a film bearing the Vilmos Zsigmond stamp. Composer Jerry Goldsmith is also in winning form creating a stirring theme and some eerie and menacing moments when the lions are on the prowl.

There are flashes of Jaws in the technique that the director Stephen Hopkins employs, not really revealing the lions but rather teasing the audiences with a menacing silhouette or the flick of a tail above the tall grass to signal danger.

The lion attacks are executed impressively and are not unduly gruesome, but chillingly effective all the same. The acting is solid all around with a quite brilliant cameo by seasoned Indian star Om Puri. His accent is spot on and the deliberately incorrect English at various stages indicates a true perfectionist.

Michael Douglas is thoroughly amusing as a grizzled old hunter, his native dancing is nothing short of being sublimely ridiculous, yet it doesn't detract from the flow of the film. Val Kilmer does an earnest job as the bridge builder turned lion hunter. Hammy, old fashioned fun.