A journal photography job might appear to be every travel junkie’s dream but for Avery Taggert (Zoë Bell), the next job might be her last. In this action-thriller, Avery is placed in the heart of the Colombian jungle and asked to follow a group of pseudo-missionaries and document their story. While covertly snapping a few photos, Avery uncovers a dark secret about the group leader, Guillermo (Nacho Vigalondo). Guillermo discovers Avery, (why does the flash always turn on at the most inopportune moments?) and he orders his troops to hunt down and kill her. Avery flees, racing into the heart of the jungle and into the action of the film.
As an action-thriller, this movie breaks from some more well-known counterparts in the genre, such as the Bourne Identity series or the recent James Bond films starring Daniel Craig. Early on, the audience discovers the antagonist’s identity, not withholding the antagonist's reveal until the end of the film. The villain Guillermo is memorable because of his initial likeability and leadership which seems to bring his squad together.
Guillermo’s hypocrisy follows him full circle in Camino, and his laudable actions at odds with his criminal dealings leave him feeling the hollow façade behind his intentions. By the end, Guillermo receives the justicia he advocates for early in the film, and there is a sense of satisfaction at seeing Guillermo find his “truth” as the film closes.
While the villain plays a significant role in Camino, Avery Taggart is the driving force of the plot in her escape through the jungle. The lead actress, Bell, plays the action role well, evolving from a rather apathetic journal photographer to the gritty, death-defying heroine of the film. The audience does not learn much about Avery’s character, motivations, or background; rather, the film opts to focus on the action and escape sequences in the jungle.
While one or two fight scenes stand out regarding their choreographing, some scenes seem somewhat improbable, especially considering Avery’s profession. By the end of the film, she seems more like a trained spy or killer than a photojournalist taking hikes through the jungle.
In all, Camino asks the audience to “journey towards the center,” and that center for the film is the truth—the truth behind Guillermo and the truth of Avery’s past. We journey with Avery as our guide through the darkness of the jungle and the darkness of her circumstances, and we eventually escape. However, somewhere in this journey, we lose the sense of searching in our focus on the action.
It is only near the end of the film that we return to Camino’s search, which (spoilers) seems cheapened by the happy Hollywood ending for Avery, who probably should have died from the multiple gunshots and stab wounds she incurred in the jungle. While the supporting characters are generally forgettable, the prolonged jungle escape maintained the suspense and brings the audience to the end of the road in Camino. A strong optional purchase.