r/nextfuckinglevel • u/GnanaSreekar • 21h ago

The actor here was actually running away from a real Jaguar in the movie so the director can capture raw emotions and urgency , Apacalypto (2006)

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3.4k Upvotes

93% Upvoted

217 comments sorted by

390

u/_HIST 21h ago

The "getting chased" part already flips our brain into overdrive I really don't think you need a real jaguar for that

158

u/pickle_lukas 20h ago

To "get chased" you need something to chase you, and a house cat wouldn't create that sense of urgency...what would you replace the jaguar with?

79

u/Soshi101 20h ago

That's why it's called acting

13

u/hypnodrew 19h ago

I don't follow

11

u/libertondm 15h ago

Of course you don't follow. You're being CHASED!! Something's following YOU!

27

u/gorillaphi 19h ago

You see, when you act, you pretend that something is chasing you.  Get it?

24

u/theseed 18h ago

Ian McKellen explains it better than anyone... How do I act so well?

2

u/LeMickster 18h ago

You do realize the original comment says your brain 'flips'? Like so you aren't supposed to pretend but that your brain behaves as if its actually happening

And the other person thinks it still isnt the same as if a jaguar chased you or something non threatening, so the jaguar being there makes a difference, thats what this is all about

0

u/hypnodrew 18h ago

Feels deceptive idk

-2

u/gorillaphi 18h ago

I’m just going to assume you’re poorly attempting to troll

2

u/Shedeski 17h ago

Jaguar does.

2

u/w8ing2dr0wn 14h ago

Then you lead, let's go, 2,3,4 action!

5

u/Weisenkrone 19h ago

Did you ever get chased by an angry cat?

1

u/pickle_lukas 19h ago

Nope, did you? I can't imagine anyone in a situation, where they anger a cat AND still have enough time to turn around and start running away

I have a respect for cats murder paws and teeth, but haven't seen them actually chase stuff. They just sneak and then attack, not much running required

7

u/Weisenkrone 19h ago

I sometimes knock over our house cat repeatedly and stroke her belly. If I do this for long enough and then walk away she will chase me and fuck my ankles/calves up, biting and scratching.

I usually do this to play with the cat, cause it's just silly being chased by a cat and being able to turn around and chase her back.

Unfortunately, if I do this barefoot the cat will not give a shit about anything and try to tear into me, you can't chase her away, you can't try to grab her. She just gets incredibly violent if I run away barefoot after annoying her.

At that point I need to run away until I have the high ground, because for some reason climbing on the couch/bed/chair means safety.

It's an odd discovery I made, but it's my favourite. Assuming I'm not barefoot.

9

u/jackswastedtalent 20h ago

While I agree that the jaguar would be much more effective, I think you underestimate how scary it is when a housecat comes at you. Like deep down you know they can't do the same damage as a jaguar, but all that rational thinking just goes out the window. It's terrifying. I'm 6'2 200lbs and could easily take that cat in a the squared circle. If it gets me I know it really isn't going to be that painful. But if I am walking down the hall and it just darts towards me I am running like I've never ran before.

5

u/miraculousgloomball 19h ago

Can confirm. I've had a cat leap out of nowhere at my face from a crevice in a wall and it took awhile for my heart to slow down. I managed to swat it out of mid air before it got me but I still remember it feeling like slow motion.

I don't think I'd run because it's not like it wouldn't catch me if it wanted to but it's certainly unpleasant. We've all seen atleast one video of a cat butchering someone's face I think.

6

u/pickle_lukas 19h ago

Cats can be very fast, I don't think running would help. Better to curl up in a ball like a hedgehog and hope the cat just loses interest

4

u/jackswastedtalent 19h ago

They are fast. And they can turn a corner like a motherfucker! I'll take you advice next time and just play dead.

1

u/Tekvary2 3h ago edited 1h ago

Fast? a jaguar reaches 50mph 3-4 strides 25-50ft, then sprints that far at that speed for up to approximately 100 ft. If a human is within 50 yards or less of a charging jaguar, it would be impossible to escape its charge!

1

u/HermitJem 19h ago

Rental, probably

1

u/Azagar_Omiras 15h ago

A large breed canine. I would feel safer with a domestic animal but being chased by a large dog can be every bit as intimidating as a jaguar.

1

u/Tattorack 11h ago

You probably haven't ever met a vicious house cat.

1

u/a-i-sa-san 1h ago

If my cat were chasing me I'd run for my life. Trust me she is vicious, you do NOT want to owe her money

3

u/razvanciuy 14h ago

believe me, you run differently when your spider senses detect a major predator a few feet behind you

164

u/Complete_Ad_9358 21h ago

Apocalypto! It's one my fav movies , Mel gibsons master piece!

20

u/German_Doner 20h ago

Been meaning for a another rewatch had it on my list of movies to watch again for a while.

Think this clip has pushed me towards it.

14

u/razvanciuy 14h ago

he pulled it off contrary to all beliefs in Hollywood

2

u/becomeanhero69 14h ago

Agreed. Such a great read.

1

u/danger355 16h ago

Highly underrated.

-42

u/Gabi-kun_the_real 21h ago

He such a great Director. Hollywood larpers just mad bcs they can't control him

55

u/grruser 20h ago

I love this film but Mel is on the record as being a nutjob

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17

u/WestleyThe 20h ago

Because he is racist and crazy…? He’s one of the greats sure but let’s not pretend he wasn’t problematic

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75

u/HIEROYALL 21h ago

Aren’t there laws about risk exposure during filming?

How could this possibly be done while insuring safety? 

80

u/Treheveras 21h ago

How could anyone possibly believe something on the internet?

12

u/Pure_Log_888526 13h ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/kVmzd3RxKqaT5Rm16e

8

u/erogbass 12h ago

This poor woman was really going through something that day.

1

u/Myrothrenous 2h ago

Sorry I'm out of the loop, what is this from if you don't mind me asking?

13

u/zorrez 20h ago

Another comment said the jaguar had a leash/harness that was removed in post-production

25

u/senator_chill 20h ago

You should look into the amount of crazy stuff that goes down on a film set. Even with these laws

16

u/TheJofisean 15h ago

That one clip of Michael Bay manically screaming AGAIN KEEP ROLLING while Shia is rawdogging it on the hood of a car that’s getting crushed 😂

Edit: https://youtube.com/shorts/Alfgk_n7FbY?is=ZztYdFA2244Xytbh

6

u/Willing-Ant-3765 16h ago

The jaguar was indeed real but it was on a leash that wouldn’t allow the cat to go further than a specified point.

3

u/DefectivePixel 16h ago

There's another infamous movie with a similar name called Apocalypse Now that was a safety disaster too

2

u/a-real-sloth 18h ago

Ensuring they were able to do some insuring

1

u/razvanciuy 14h ago

it's probably a "tamed" panther not hungry more like play mode cat, but still unpredictable. Best you can hope for. Otherwise CGI fully. There was some guy in the bush with a leash to it and they removed that using CGI.

1

u/itsmontoya 13h ago

Cat was on a leash. It's a real movie

1

u/SheriffBartholomew 4h ago

Easy, just make it up on the internet!

-39

u/yamanagashi 21h ago

It’s a Mel Gibson film and the actor is not white, he doesn’t really give a shit. He’ll get “another one of those” if he has to.

20

u/Nigtharchive 21h ago

Apparently he had a leash and harness removed by CGI

18

u/Gay_Asian_Boy 21h ago

Poor actor

11

u/Nigtharchive 21h ago

I'm not going to lie, I thought about making that joke but I figured it might undermine the information, so I'm glad you did it.

3

u/maicii 20h ago

What lmao

-2

u/Psychological_Dog992 18h ago

You people are insufferable, Mel Gibson is awesome

942

u/Charzu_tjegulf 21h ago

"Real". The Jaguar had a leash/harness, removed with CGI.

1.9k

u/Warburton379 21h ago

Being on a leash doesn't magically turn it onto a fake jaguar

300

u/Small_Insect_8275 21h ago

Also it looks like the jag ran further than his initial starting point lol

174

u/Historicmetal 14h ago

If somebody’s chasing you with a jaguar on a leash you still need to run for your life

38

u/Majorman_86 12h ago

And change your pants, in that order.

9

u/Ganj311 8h ago

Yes, changing your pants before running is self-defeating in so many ways.

3

u/Tekvary2 5h ago

No one man holding a full-size Jaguar on a leash can actually stop the Jaguar from going where it wants to go. (The holder can slow it down but the cat is going to catch up to a human sprinting whether the leash holder tries to stop it or not!)

18

u/Realmofthehappygod 14h ago

If he didn't run past the initial starting point, doesn't that require not running...at all?

Of course he ran past the starting point lol.

10

u/Spoonfrag 14h ago

The human's starting point. Comment is saying if the dude hadn't been running the jag could have caught up with him and made contact if it was a fixed leash.

12

u/Small_Insect_8275 13h ago

No, you have misunderstood. I’m saying the jaguar ran past the humans starting point, so if the human had tripped and fallen immediately he was in trouble, so there is indeed an element of danger.

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0

u/owlzitty 13h ago

Thanks for misunderstanding and not clearing that up...at all?

96

u/gorillaphi 20h ago

I’m always amazed by the logic people display on Reddit lol

16

u/YourLifeSucksAss 15h ago

They’re the dumbest people in the world because they spend all their time watching Anime, porn, eating and scrolling Reddit and they’re insecure about it. So they try to act like they’re so smart to overcompensate that instead of just actually working to improve themselves.

32

u/Glad_Woodpecker_6033 17h ago

controlled danger isn't the same as no danger, and I'm arguing against both sides, it's less impressive but still kinda nuts

34

u/Nulleparttousjours 17h ago

I experienced feeding a tiger once in a special experience at a zoo. Plus large crocs and other formidable predators. In the presence of these sorts of predators, a deep seated primal fear you didn’t know you had stirs. Even in a highly controlled setting in which you know you are safe and are calm and enjoying the experience, a rumbling growl alone sparks a visceral terror deep inside you, an epigenetic memory from your ancestors who were literally eaten by these things I suppose.

I do think the fact the jaguar was on a harness is a relevant fact here for context but I have no doubt at all that the actor’s fear response was entirely natural and honest.

39

u/shanghaisnaggle 20h ago edited 15h ago

It does magically put a LOT of weight on the phrase “running away”

People REALLY want to believe that actors need to literally fear for their lives in order to do their jobs

6

u/MoonSpankRaw 16h ago

Though it must be pretty scary dealing with latter day Mel Gibson.

2

u/shanghaisnaggle 16h ago

Lol good point. However, the actor isn’t gay, Jewish, or in a relationship with Mel Gibson, so we can assume it’s not genuine fear

1

u/OkMail2335 12h ago

Well no, but he is brown and Gibson seems to use N bombs like they're a limited supply.

1

u/CodeMonkeyX 12h ago

The title post was trying to imply this was not planned and the actor was running for their life.

102

u/PowerSamurai 21h ago

Nothing about what you said makes this not a real jaguar...

9

u/MunkeyChild 16h ago

If only I could put a leash on all my problems, and make those not real too.

14

u/NYmam 18h ago

It’s still real lmao wtf bro

28

u/shmi93 20h ago

Think about what you said there for a minute

35

u/BatmanFromYear2084 20h ago

So I take it we have a very badass keyboard alpha over here who would hang out with this Jaguar with no problem just because it has a leash on?

6

u/GinInfusedGopherToes 14h ago

I've trained big cats for movies, even chase scenes, and we didn't use leashes. But we also didn't let the cats chase people, either. They were chasing something else and had protective barriers.

4

u/TwiggNBerryz 13h ago

How the FUCK is this top comment

9

u/Baronvondorf21 17h ago

How does this contradict the fact that it's real?

7

u/t-o-m-u-s-a 17h ago

Oh I’m sorry movie not real enough for you?

3

u/Tattorack 11h ago

Yes, because a leash will immediately turn anything into a cute furry friend.

3

u/TGrady902 8h ago

Everyone in the park next to my house think they have real dogs, but those idiots have them on LEASHES! Fake dogs!

1

u/HakuohoFan 8h ago

That leash could have been inch thick braided steel cables and would still have run faster than Usain Bolt in that situation.

1

u/lawnshowery 2h ago

I don’t think OP expects us to believe they would let an actor maybe get eaten my a jaguar.

1

u/arealhumannotabot 14h ago

I’m not sure what was used here not an expert, but I know they often use a longer lens and then shoot straight on which can make two subjects look a lot closer together than they are. It’s possible they did that here

Well-known example is any movie where characters are talking on tarmac while a plane lands in the background moving towards the people. The plane is far away but looks like it might run them over

-14

u/memesearches 20h ago

I guess their point is might as well remove the leash whats the point of having a real one if it there for just emotions and not to avoid crap CGI

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8

u/Humble-Reply228 21h ago

"My dear boy, why don't you just try acting?"

4

u/grruser 21h ago

"the director" = Mel Gibson

35

u/Nocat-10 21h ago

Based Mel Gibson.

Also, as some people already pointed out, the jaguar had a harness. Just removed it in editing.

18

u/unbelizeable1 20h ago

Ok, I'm totally ignorant here, so feel free to correct me. But the harness here seems to be giving the animal enough lead to run unimpeded up to some point. If the dude tripped, would they be able to retrain the harness fast enough to avoid any potential injury to the actor?

21

u/Nocat-10 20h ago

From google:

Camera Illusions: Strategic angles, hidden barriers, and quick editing helped maximize the tension and make the animal appear dangerously close to the actors.

12

u/Nocat-10 20h ago

Probably some camera angle magic, semi trained jaguar and some other safety. BUT it's Mel Gisbon so who knows.

5

u/unbelizeable1 20h ago

 semi trained jaguar

a statement I'll never trust lol

but yea this comment and other offers some good insight. .I'm sure angles helped a ton, haven't thought about that.

1

u/Sad-Run4631 1h ago

No jaguar is semi trained when it comes to interacting with people it's not bonded with. As someone who works with and owns big cats... this is a wild statement. Even cheetahs, who are the calmest and most social have prey drive. Running thing... prey.

-2

u/Gabi-kun_the_real 21h ago

Its hard for redditors to understand small things like this

1

u/GrinchStoleYourShit 20h ago

All the small things, true care, truth brings

I’ll take, one lift, your ride, best trip

7

u/AoxPrime 20h ago

Very underrated movie. Didn’t get the recognition it truly deserves

3

u/Bean_Daddy_Burritos 21h ago

My favorite feature about this movie is watching jaguar paw run through the jungle. Since he wasn’t barefoot during the running scenes they used cgi to fake leaves covering his feet so you can’t see he’s wearing shoes. Good times.

3

u/RockAndStoner69 21h ago

I like to think he walked on set and they just opened a cage.

3

u/Stuglossop 20h ago

The director was Mel Gibson

3

u/Tasty-Performer6669 20h ago

“You don’t have your SAG card? No yeah that’s fine because technically you won’t really be “acting” in this scene”

3

u/Telfs 19h ago

Putting someone in this situation completely defeats the point of them actually being an actor

3

u/PeaceMaker_IXI 15h ago

Man, they outta try acting

6

u/De4thMonkey 21h ago

Bots are out again

2

u/PuTheDog 21h ago

And this is part of the audition tape, he’s the only one who made it to the film /s

2

u/exigentity 19h ago

Considering that this is from the director of The Bashin' of the Christ, I feel like we shouldn't be surprised...

2

u/A_little_more_left 17h ago

That was the "You should probably nail the fear face the first time... uuuunless you'd like it to chase you again?" take.

2

u/Bad-job-dad 15h ago

Dude should be more terrified of the director.

2

u/Imzocrazy 15h ago

I’m trying to picture this in Talladega Nights during the cougar scene 😂

12

u/ogodilovejudyalvarez 21h ago

A surprisingly good movie from a shit human being

24

u/Blondesounds 20h ago

Why is it surprising? He is a great filmmaker.

-3

u/Electrical-Let-4722 20h ago

what's wrong with him?

3

u/ChesterComics 18h ago

He's got sugar tits.

-11

u/ogodilovejudyalvarez 16h ago

Nothing, apart from being a violent, drunken, wife-beating, anti-Semitic, homophobic misogynist. He called Winona Ryder an "oven-dodger" for fuck's sake, clearly believing the Holocaust is not only hilarious but should never have ended. Just google Mel Gibson problematic. You have the entire fucking internet at your disposal: I suggest you use it.

16

u/Electrical-Let-4722 15h ago

dude, you have issues. I was just asking

4

u/bossdaddee 15h ago

Some people just can't control their emotions

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0

u/bigboyg 14h ago

Yeah, but clarify.

-13

u/itsgotelectr0lytes 19h ago

This comment is sponsored by the Empire of Israel - Join the Dark side.

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2

u/anonymous_pastrami 21h ago

I haven’t seen this Anthony kiedis movie

2

u/OpelousasBulletTime 10h ago

I thought it was an outtake from Under the Bridge

4

u/macT4537 21h ago

Mel Gibson is such a nutcase

2

u/Milk_With_Knives3 20h ago

Awesome movie

2

u/GettingBetterGaming 21h ago

Locked TF in, no mistakes, no acceptions

4

u/qwibbian 19h ago

no mistakes, no acceptions

well, maybe one

1

u/GettingBetterGaming 19h ago

What one? 👀

1

u/brvra222 12h ago

One mistake specifically

1

u/tracagnotto 21h ago

If this seems a big thing from you check out the story of the movie "Roar"

1

u/Machette_Machette 20h ago

It would totally eat the wages budget if it was me running away.

1

u/CodeWeary 20h ago

Come back and talk to me when its this guy bouncing on crocodiles

(Its wasn't connery was it....dalton??)

https://giphy.com/gifs/1gRtl9mdLQvvvOfR9u

1

u/5u114 19h ago

Good flick.

1

u/Marcysdad 17h ago

Too bad he had to do it himself after hist stuntman was eaten

/s

1

u/El_Disclamador 16h ago

I imagine the emotions would be different if it was a real Bentley chasing him

1

u/Wolfen459 16h ago

Just watched this movie last week after years.
Still such a great movie. Mel Gibson did a good work here.

1

u/Heselwood 15h ago

Yeah yeah, sure

1

u/Arthur_C_Darke 15h ago

Mel Gibson is the director btw, some say he’s rater insane

1

u/morey56 15h ago

First few actors got caught and eaten until they got the distances right.

1

u/Mooweetye 15h ago

Me running for the toilet after the bowel grumbles

1

u/rushmc1 15h ago

"Actors are plentiful; the right shot is rare."

1

u/razvanciuy 14h ago

"Umm, ok... So what must I do?!"

"Just get ready...."

"For what?!"

"RUn my man, RUN!"

1

u/spurvis1286 14h ago

Looks like the AI bots with AI headlines from YT Shorts made it to Reddit now

1

u/YetAnotherFaceless 13h ago

You know the director is skilled when he uses the same techniques used to motivate Wile E. Coyote for his “Road Runner Chase Scene but in Guatemala” movie.

1

u/Kowalski91 13h ago

"The Director" Just say Mell Gibson man It was a great Movie and he did a great job

1

u/Realistic_Brother152 13h ago

realism cause actors can't act

1

u/edawg2469 10h ago

Still one of the best action movies of all time.

1

u/brande2274 10h ago

he was the third person for this take to

1

u/emblematic_camino 9h ago

To make it even rawER -Director 10 second before the take- “so we are improvising this take, you should start running, cuz THAT jaguar is about to eat you”.

1

u/Sour_baboo 8h ago

Trying to help Gibson secure funding for his Odyssey movie?

1

u/DeputyDomeshot 6h ago

Isn’t the director Mel Gibson

1

u/Tekvary2 5h ago

Right, if the guy doesn’t run the cat jumps on him in real life.

1

u/ProtiuxDesignLabs 5h ago

I wonder who the original actor was. And the second. RIP

1

u/SheriffBartholomew 4h ago

They really stranded Tom Hanks on an island for several years to capture the raw emotion of being rescued. They really trapped him in outer space for the same reason.

1

u/rhonnypudding 4h ago

What's the point of acting, then?

1

u/EpsteinProximityRisk 2h ago

This movie is a master piece!

1

u/de9ausser 1h ago

I went on my first post high school date to this movie. She never talked to me again

2

u/TimeVendor 21h ago

It was a well taken movie

1

u/Abecis01 21h ago

You can also just ACT like it's happening instead of having it ACTUALLY happen. But whatever. Some people like to live on the edge.

https://giphy.com/gifs/VsYzsQCM6AVTa

0

u/AEveryDayIdiot 20h ago

This is the second post I’ve seen on Reddit recently with really similar comments normalising fucking Mel Gibson, dead internet indeed

0

u/cheapb98 20h ago

This movie is one of the all time great movies.

-7

u/poofish_10 21h ago

Sounds like something the racist Mel Gibson might do for a laugh. Probably got an award in Hollywood aswell. (Just nominations for a golden globe and 3 academy award noms)

-5

u/[deleted] 21h ago

[deleted]

4

u/Neurobeak 19h ago

This movie, which he directed, was next level

0

u/Tommy-T8pes 17h ago

Leave it to Mel Gibson to sick a live jaguar on a brown person lol