In a small Mexican village, the townspeople are in desperate need of rain. If the skies don't open up for them soon, the upcoming harvest is going to be in trouble and this could cause problems with their food supply. Since there's been a drought going on for quite some time now, they're starting to get very concerned about their current situation and what it could mean to their future.

The approach the village Shaman in hopes that he'll be able to summon the rain, but it doesn't do any good and no one seems to be able to summon the rain like the elders did back in the days before, those practices seem to be all but forgotten now. The villagers have no other choice but to send a group of thirteen of their men into the mountains to find the mysterious Diviner, a man rumored to have the power to bring the rains to the land.

After a long trek through the mountains they find the diviner, a mysterious man indeed, and he gives them very specific instructions to follow that he claims will summon Chac, the rain god, and in turn bring the rain. The instructions lead the villagers on a long and arduous journey through the jungles and the mountains, and after a while they become suspicious of the Diviner's intentions.

Chac – The Rain God bears a similarity in the way that it unfolds to Werner Herzog's Aguiree – The Wrath Of God, a film in which a group of conquistadors are lead through the jungle by a madman played by Klaus Kinski. It also seems to pay homage to Akira Kurasawa's films (one actor, not named, was nicknamed Toshiro Mifune according to the commentary) as well as Alejandro Jodorowsky (the religious symbolism is reminiscent of part of The Holy Mountain). In short, it's a combination of symbolism and surrealism set against a simple story that allows the director/writer to bring us on a journey that examines the effects of the traditional Mayan religion and the effects that Christian colonization has had upon it. While the ways of the villagers may seem primitive at first glance, the crosses they wear around their necks and the flashlight that one of them uses in one scene confirm that modern influences have worked their way ever so subtly into their society.

The look of the film is quite impressive. Utilizing two cinematographers, Klein manages to capture some beautiful footage of the jungle and the surrounding area but frames it in such a way that at times, it almost feels claustrophobic and appears to be encroaching upon the villagers in couple of scenes. The lush greens of the plant life are offset against the drab, black village and the gray and black clothing worn by its inhabitants, providing an interesting contrast both visually and symbolically. The jungle, which thrives, being obviously green, while the village, which is dying, is drab and dark looking.

Klein's decision to use real natives in the cast instead of professional actors ensured that the film retains an authentic and realistic feel, even when surrealist moments occur, such as when an owl suddenly turns into a human priest. Much of this story was taken from one of the only surviving Mayan religious texts, The Popul Vuh, so the casting of those familiar with the writing contributes further to the atmosphere that the film is able to create.

While it moves at a slow pace and may alienate some less than patient viewers, Chac – The Rain God is ultimately a thought provoking and unusual film that proves to be quite rewarding to those diligent enough to invest the time and energy to figure it out. The visuals are fantastic, the performances are interesting, and the story is original and interesting.

Video:

Chac is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85.1 and is not enhanced for anamorphic sets. The transfer is far from perfect but it's not wretched either. Colors are pretty decent though there is mild print damage on display consistently from start to finish. Skin tones look natural, though the blacks and darker scenes display some heavy grain. Considering this film was sitting in a closet for two decades though, it doesn't look too bad. For such an obscure film shot on a low budget under less than perfect conditions, Chac – The Rain God looks more than acceptable.