Cobra Verde

A hypnotic, gruelling descent into colonial madness, with stark imagery and a relentless sense of doom.

Directed by

Werner Herzog

Genres

Adventure, Drama

Starring

Klaus Kinski, King Ampaw, José Lewgoy

Overview

A fearsome 19th century bandit, Cobra Verde cuts a swath through Brazil until he arrives at the sugar plantation of Don Octávio Countinho. Not knowing that his new guest is the notorious bandit and impressed by his ruthless ways, Don Octávio hires Cobra Verde to oversee his slaves. But when Cobra Verde impregnates Don Octávio’s three daughters, the incensed plantation owner exiles the outlaw to Africa where he is expected to reopen the slave trade. Following his trans-Atlantic journey, Cobra Verde exploits tribal conflicts to commandeer an abandoned fortress and whips an army of naked warriors into a frenzied bloodlust as he vies for survival.

How it feels

Bleak, dark, tense and absurd. Slow-burning and demanding.

About

Colonialism, power, obsession, violence

Content

Strong violence. Mild gore, sexual content and language.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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Watch the trailer on YouTube (opens in a new tab)