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  "path": "/laura-linney-calls-congo-her-great-bad-movie-and-shes-f-right",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-16T18:51:57.000Z",
  "site": "https://nofilmschool.com",
  "tags": [
    "Frank marshall",
    "Laura linney",
    "Congo",
    "Bad movies",
    "See on Instagram",
    "great bad movies",
    "CGI revolution",
    "Michael Crichton",
    "Bruce Campbell"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\n\nThis is so random, but a few weeks ago, I found out a number of my friends from different circles in my life had never seen the 1995 adventure horror comedy ape romance movie _Congo_. It disturbed me, because the Michael Crichton novel and the Frank Marshall movie were huge parts of my childhood.\n\nSo, I set out to make the world a better place and to get them all to watch.\n\nSomehow, I got them all to individually rent the movie, so if those residual checks ticked up in the last few weeks, it's thanks to me.\n\nAnyway, this is all to say I have a very soft spot for the movie. So I was elated when, in a recent interview with _The Independent_ , acclaimed actress Laura Linney looked back at her career, touched on heavy hitters like _Ozark_ and _The Truman Show._ and then waxed poetic about _Congo_.\n\nCheck it out below, and let's dive in after.\n\n> See on Instagram\n\n* * *\n\n### The \"Delightmare\" of Congo\n\nIn the clip, Linney referred to _Congo_ as \"one of the great bad movies of our time,\" even coining a new term for it: a \"delightmare.\"\n\nI legitimately was cackling during the clip. Mostly because I loved how Linney handled herself and her work. She was proud of it, and she should be. She is awesome in that movie. She took the role seriously, and she seems like she's having fun on screen. Years later, I love that she still loves it and finds joy in it.\n\n\"I haven’t watched it in so long,\" Linney told _The Independent_. \"I’ll go back to it when I’m really old and want to feel good about myself, and be like, 'Oh God, I was young. I was sweet – look at that. And look at my arms!'\"\n\nI want to watch it with her. I hope she does a roadshow tour.\n\n## The Takeaway for Filmmakers\n\nFrom a filmmaking perspective, _Congo_ is a fascinating case study in the transition between practical effects and the CGI revolution sparked by _Jurassic Park_ (Spielberg, 1993) just two years prior.\n\nBoth were Michael Crichton books based heavily on science and technology. _Congo,_ the book, had all the makings of a blockbuster movie in the same vein. But the one for the movie was different, and it had more in common with old serials.\n\n_Congo_ leaned heavily into Stan Winston-designed animatronics and suit actors. The result is a film that feels tangible, sweaty, and undeniably campy.\n\nIt's so much fun to watch. It kind of mixes and mashes genres. It was a great education for me when I was coming up because it had so many tropes from different kinds of films; it was like a bunch of smaller lessons.\n\nAnd if you make a movie like _Congo_ , know that the experience of making the film is often more important than the critical consensus.\n\n## Summing It All Up\n\nGo watch _Congo_ , if not for me, for yourself. To see a young Laura Linney being pretty hot, and to see someone in an ape suit who may or may not be in a romantic relationship with her handler.\n\nWatch it for the diamonds and the Bruce Campbell cameo and everything else.\n\nYou might just see a \"delightmare\" that will be cherished for decades.\n\nLet me know what you think in the comments.",
  "title": "Laura Linney Calls ‘Congo’ Her “Great Bad Movie,” and She’s F****** Right"
}