A peculiar piece of American legislative history has found a new life as the unlikely inspiration for a killer-animal thriller. In 1910, U.S. Representative Robert F. Broussard of Louisiana proposed House Resolution 23261, colloquially known as the American Hippo Bill. The bill aimed to release hippopotamuses into the Louisiana bayou to combat water hyacinth overgrowth in rivers and to provide a new source of meat amid shortages.
Though Congress ultimately did not pass the bill, the concept has been revived in the new horror film "Hungry," now available on Prime Video. The movie uses the historical 'American Hippo Bill' as its premise for a story about tourists stranded in the bayou and targeted by a deadly hippo.
This cinematic revival comes at a time when U.S. cattle inventory is at a 75-year low and water hyacinths continue to pose environmental challenges in waterways like the Louisiana bayou. The film taps into this contemporary relevance, albeit with a fictionalized, terrifying twist.
"Hungry" is not directly based on the Milton Bradley board game "Hungry Hungry Hippos," despite the online speculation and parody trailers that have circulated since 2012. The film's title is described as its most attention-grabbing element, as hippos are primarily herbivores and not typically aggressive toward humans or other animals in the way depicted. The creature in the movie is driven by territoriality rather than hunger.
Directed by James Nunn, known for his work in direct-to-video B-movies, "Hungry" reportedly features a blend of practical and digital effects to portray the hippo. The creature's appearance is mostly reserved for the latter half of the film, as the narrative builds suspense. Critics note that while the film attempts a tone similar to "Jaws" or "Alligator," it falls short in fully developing suspense or character depth, despite its willingness to kill off characters.
The film had a limited theatrical release in June, followed by a Video on Demand release, and has now become available on subscription streaming. It follows a trend of recent killer-animal features, such as the primate-themed movie "Primate," released earlier in 2026.