A 1972 historical drama that struggled commercially at the time of its release is now recognized as one of cinema’s must-watch films. Aguirre: The Wrath of God, directed by Werner Herzog and starring Klaus Kinski, was recently ranked No. 6 on Rotten Tomatoes’ “300 Essential Movies To Watch Now” list.
The film currently holds a 96% Tomatometer score based on 56 reviews and a 90% audience score from more than 10,000 ratings. Rotten Tomatoes’ Critics Consensus describes the movie as: “A haunting journey of natural wonder and tangible danger, Aguirre transcends epic genre trappings and becomes mythological by its own right.”
Originally released in 1972, the film follows Don Lope de Aguirre, a ruthless conquistador searching for the legendary city of gold, El Dorado, deep inside the Amazon rainforest. As the dangerous expedition continues, Aguirre slowly loses control of his mind while fighting for power among the starving explorers.
The movie stars Klaus Kinski as Aguirre alongside Ruy Guerra, Helena Rojo and Del Negro. The film was written, produced and directed by Werner Herzog.
Although the movie did not become a major box office success during its first release, it later gained a strong international following. Critics praised its haunting atmosphere, difficult jungle filmmaking, and Kinski’s intense performance.
The story was loosely inspired by the real-life Spanish conquistador Lope de Aguirre. Herzog created much of the screenplay himself after reading about the historical figure in a book about adventurers. According to production accounts, Herzog wrote the script “in a frenzy” in just two-and-a-half days during a long bus trip.
The movie became famous not only for its story but also for the harsh filming conditions in Peru’s rainforest. Cast and crew members traveled through dangerous river rapids on handmade rafts while shooting scenes on real Amazon tributaries. Herzog even filmed the movie in chronological order so the actors’ exhaustion would match the characters’ physical decline.
Tension behind the scenes also became legendary. Herzog and Kinski frequently argued over how Aguirre should be portrayed. Kinski wanted the character to appear wildly insane, while Herzog preferred a quieter and more threatening version of madness.
In his review, famed critic Roger Ebert called the movie “one of the great haunting visions of the cinema.”
Ebert also praised the film’s unforgettable ending, writing: “The film’s final images, among the most memorable I have ever seen, are of Aguirre alone on his raft, surrounded by corpses and by hundreds of chattering little monkeys, still planning his new empire.”
The movie’s eerie soundtrack by German band Popol Vuh also became one of its defining features. The music mixed choir-like sounds with experimental instruments, helping create the unsettling mood that critics still discuss today.
Over the decades, Aguirre: The Wrath of God grew from a little-seen art-house film into one of the most respected movies ever made. The film appeared on Time magazine’s “All Time 100 Best Films” list and has been called a masterpiece by many critics.
The New York Times praised the movie upon its U.S. release, calling it “absolutely stunning” and “a splendid and haunting work.” The review highlighted Herzog’s detached storytelling style and the film’s powerful jungle imagery.
The story’s themes of greed, obsession, imperialism and madness have helped the film remain relevant more than 50 years after its release. Critics continue to praise the way Herzog combined historical inspiration with surreal imagery and psychological tension.Today, Aguirre: The Wrath of God is widely considered one of the defining films of world cinema.
Related: 1975 Hit Comedy Film, Famously Ending After Funding Crash, Ranked No. 1 ‘Most Rewatchable Movie of All Time’
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