Anna Daniels
At first, the plot of Jumanji might seem like any kid’s dream. Who wouldn’t want their sleepy New England town to suddenly become a massive, interactive jungle-themed playground? However, as the film makes pretty clear, living that fantasy isn’t exactly fantastic.
Released in 1995, Jumanji stars the late, great Robin Williams as Alan Parrish. When he was a boy, Alan discovered the titular game, and though it seemed fun at first, it was definitely more immersive than Alan anticipated, especially after he was sucked in and trapped in the game for two decades. Years later, Judy and Peter Shepherd (Kirsten Dunst and Bradley Pierce) reopen Jumanji and roll a five, setting Alan free … as well as a crazed hunter and swarms of wild animals. After they reunite with Alan’s childhood friend Sarah (Bonnie Hunt), the four work together to finish the game before the town is completely destroyed.
Jumanji might remain a childhood favorite for many, but from Alan’s imprisonment in the game (which is terrifying in its own right) and Sarah’s obvious post-traumatic stress disorder to man-eating vines and a full-on stampede, it’s also pretty unsettling. All in all, while you might want to rewatch Jumanji, it seems like it would be absolutely horrifying to live it in real life.
Written by: Looper
