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Embrace of the Serpent

2015·Movie
2h 5min
84
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.8Metacritic827.8Rotten Tomatoes97%85%
IMDb7.8Metacritic827.8Rotten Tomatoes97%85%

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PhiloKanopyNight Flight+OVID

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Embrace of the Serpent fingerprint

High energy, immersive world, a touch of humor.

Energy

Tense and spectacular

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension7
  • Spectacle7
  • Adrenaline5

Heart

Cathartic and wondrous

  • Catharsis8
  • Wonder8
  • Pathos7

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay4
  • Absurdist Humor3
  • Dark Humor3

World

Faith and meaning, history, and society

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion9
  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • Rewatchability7

Craft

Standout direction, performances, and characters

Layered plot that rewards full attention.

  • Direction8
  • Acting8
  • Character Depth8

Style

Standout cinematography and score

  • Cinematography8
  • Music Composition8
  • Editing7

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFriends NightIntergenerationalPartner WatchSolo WatchTeensPure EscapismThought-Provoking

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About

A poetic and haunting journey into a lost world.

The epic story of the first contact, encounter, approach, betrayal and, eventually, life-transcending friendship, between Karamakate, an Amazonian shaman, last survivor of his people, and two scientists that, over the course of 40 years, travel through the Amazon in search of a sacred plant that can heal them. Inspired by the journals of the first explorers of the Colombian Amazon, Theodor Koch-Grunberg and Richard Evans Schultes.
Amazonian ShamanExploration & FriendshipSacred PlantColumbian AmazonHistorical JourneyCultural EncounterSpiritual QuestLife-TranscendingEcological ReflectionIndigenous Wisdom

Crew

Directed by:
Ciro Guerra
Written by:
Ciro Guerra, Jacques Toulemonde
Produced by:
Marcelo Céspedes, Esteban Mentasti, Gustavo Moyano
Composed by:
Nerina Valido, Alan Borodovsky, Nascuy Linares

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Embrace of the Serpent

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Embrace of the Serpent legally?

PhiloKanopyNight Flight+OVIDFandorPlexFawesomemyfilmfriend

Embrace of the Serpent is included with a subscription to Philo, Night Flight+, and OVID in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on Kanopy, Plex, and Fawesome. You can also rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Embrace of the Serpent worth watching?

84
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes. It's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 85/100 (IMDb 7.8, Rotten Tomatoes 97%, and Metacritic 82). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Embrace of the Serpent rated?

ViolenceDisturbing imagery

Content advisories: violence and disturbing imagery.

How long is Embrace of the Serpent?

2 h 5 min

Embrace of the Serpent runs 2 h 5 min.

Is Embrace of the Serpent based on a true story?

Yes. It's based on real events or a real person's life.

Do critics and audiences agree on Embrace of the Serpent?

Critics90
Audiences80

Not quite. Critics rate Embrace of the Serpent higher (90) than audiences (80). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

Was Embrace of the Serpent a box office hit?

Budget$1 million
Box office$1 million

No. It cost about $1 million to make and earned $1 million worldwide, 94% of its budget.

What language is Embrace of the Serpent in?

SpanishCatalanGermanLatinPortuguese

It was made in Spanish, with some Catalan, German, Latin, Portuguese. Produced in Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela.

In how many countries can I watch Embrace of the Serpent?

25ARATAUBZCACHCLCODEESFRGBGGGY+11

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Embrace of the Serpent in 25 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Embrace of the Serpent use?

An Arm and a LegFire PurifiesA Party, Also Known as an Orgy"Not So Different" RemarkHigher Understanding Through DrugsOminous FogDeliberately MonochromeJungles Sound Like KookaburrasForegone ConclusionTime-Shifted ActorWould Hurt a ChildBookendsand 11 more

TV Tropes lists 23 storytelling tropes for Embrace of the Serpent, including An Arm and a Leg, Fire Purifies, A Party, Also Known as an Orgy.