Trail Of Blood4

　　Determined to atone for playing God, Anaconda 3 survivor Amanda heads to the Carpathian Mountains to destroy the research of a fellow scientist who is attempting to beat the aging process using serum secreted from Blood Orchids and several anacondas. Of course, the snakes get loose…
　　My, the Carpathian Mountains are a busy place. Not only do we have Crystal Lowe’s Amanda and a couple of hired goons running about attempting to blow things up, there’s also a dying billionaire (a completely wasted John Rhys-Davis), a group of earnest paleontologists (or possibly archeologists – it’s never really made clear), several incompetent assassins (all with twirly moustaches), a young man looking for his grandmother’s house (no, really) and two hungry giant snakes.
　　This multitude of characters makes what should be a simple storyline – people attempt to outrun snake, snake eats most of them – somewhat confusing, with the action jumping about all over the place, often senselessly. Viewers who haven’t seen Pt. 3 (starring The Hoff no less) should especially beware, as Lowe constantly refers back to it, even having flashbacks at one point (shortly after she regains consciousness from falling off the world’s smallest step).
　　While the original Anaconda was never going to trouble the Oscars, it was a thoroughly enjoyable affair – all Jon Voight sneers, J-Lo curves and humid tropical settings. By comparison, the Carpathian Mountains, while beautiful, just don’t suit giant, rampaging snakes. Instead of steamy swamps and mysterious ruins, we have yellowing leaves and a mineshaft. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.
　　Which brings us to the snakes. The shoddy CGI we can live with (it is a Sci Fi Channel movie, after all), we’re even okay with the fact that they seem to change size every other scene (usually by a good 10 feet or so). What really narks is the fact that the snakes don’t look like snakes; they’re more akin to the basilisk in Harry Potter. And another thing Mr. Researcher – anacondas don’t rattle!