Some movies make you think, “That was a little fun, but also a little weak.” King Kong Is Coming Back feels exactly like that. It takes us deep into a jungle with a giant gorilla, shows fear in people’s eyes, and tries to explore the bond between nature and humans. However, that bond does not always feel strong, and at times the film struggles to hold it together.
Synopsis
After a car crash in the mountains, a young boy named Gu Yao gets lost but is saved and raised by a gentle giant gorilla deep in the forest. Fifteen years later, a research team led by Ma Ke stumbles upon the now “wild” Gu Yao and the ape. When outsiders try to capture the gorilla for profit, Gu Yao is forced to choose between the human world he came from and the creature that became his family. (source: Letterboxd)
Trailer
First impressions
The story opens in the jungle with a man driving his young son to a project site. He is arguing with his wife on the phone, the boy is crying and begging them not to fight, and then a wild wolf appears. The car swerves into a rock and crashes. The father dies on the spot. The wolf chases the boy, who falls and almost becomes its prey. Suddenly the wolf backs away in fear. The boy looks up and sees a massive gorilla standing in front of him. It is King Kong. From that moment the boy and the gorilla form a bond, and the gorilla watches over him.
Years later, researcher Ma Ke brings his family and team into the jungle for a study that looks like a mix of research, mining, and exploration. One day a girl from the camp wanders off, and a wolf attacks her. The same jungle boy, now grown and called Gu Yao, saves her and chases the wolf away. She brings him back to camp. While driving, Ma Ke spots the giant gorilla with his own eyes. His boss hears about it and threatens him: bring me the gorilla, or your whole family pays the price.
Ma Ke does not want to, yet he is forced into a plan to capture Kong. Soon the truth comes out. The wild young man they brought back is actually Ma Ke’s son who was lost in childhood, the same boy Kong raised. The boss moves in at night, chaos follows, there is a quick fight, and the film wraps up before the drama can fully land. Now that you know the setup, here is how the movie felt to me.
Positives ✅
- Nature and jungle feel: The jungle atmosphere is built with care. You can almost smell wet leaves, hear birds, and sense the hush between sounds. Some shots do capture the effort to make the jungle feel real.
- Gu Yao and the gorilla’s bond: Their connection feels natural and emotional. It is not only about danger or action. You can see a quiet, almost parent-child bond that grew far away from human society.
- Short running time helps: At around 63 minutes, the film moves quickly. There is little time to get bored, and the fluff is minimal. For some viewers, that is a plus.
- A concept with potential: The idea of a gorilla caught between wild nature and human greed will never be outdated. With stronger execution, this could have felt bigger and more meaningful. In a few moments, you can sense the “bigger picture” the film reaches for.
Negative ❌
- Weak CGI and visuals: When the gorilla moves or the action picks up, the effects look cheap. Animation feels rough, and lighting does not match well in fire or shadow-heavy scenes.
- Simple, predictable plot: The story follows a very familiar path. There are few real twists. You can see the turns coming from far away.
- Shallow characters: Even though Gu Yao is the heart, his emotions and past are not explored enough. Ma Ke and the rest of the team mostly function as expedition pieces without strong personal motivation.
- Soft climax: As the film heads toward the finale, the big emotional punch never arrives. The showdown feels smaller than it should.
- Audio and editing issues: Some tracks feel incomplete, and a few dialogue moments do not sync cleanly. The edit is rough in places, with abrupt scene changes that cut the tension.
My opinion
While watching, I kept hoping for a sharp “ape versus exploiter” drama with real brutality and a clear message. The message is there, but it is weak. The bond between Gu Yao and Kong touched me, yet whenever the human storyline took over, it felt generic. The jungle mood often works: rustling leaves, long silences, and the contrast with human noise. Unfortunately, when the action and conflict arrive, they rarely lift the energy. I wanted more tension, more danger, and more pain. The short duration is a small blessing. It keeps the film from dragging and prevents too much time from being wasted.
Is it worth watching?
If you like gorilla stories, jungle scenery, and a small, gentle creature–human bond, then yes, it is worth a try, especially since the runtime is short. If you want massive fights, polished CGI, and a powerful emotional punch, this will likely come up short for you.
Overall Verdict
King Kong Is Coming Back is an imperfect film with a few touching moments. If you enjoy nature-forward stories and simple wilderness drama with a large creature at the center, you might find enough here for a single watch. If you are expecting joystick-level action, heavy monster mayhem, or big emotions, you will probably feel disappointed.
Overall I'd would give it a solid 5 out of 10.
Posted using CineTV