Nearly three decades after its release, Anaconda (1997) is still remembered as one of the most thrilling and campy creature features of the ’90s.

The jungle-set survival horror, starring Jennifer Lopez, Ice Cube, and Jon Voight, terrified audiences with its massive animatronic snake that seemed almost too real. And according to Ice Cube’s son, for the cast, it sometimes was too real.

In a recent conversation, Ice Cube’s son revealed a shocking detail: the giant animatronic snake used on set once malfunctioned, sending the crew and actors into chaos.

The mechanical beast, designed to thrash, coil, and lunge with terrifying precision, went haywire mid-scene—knocking props, startling actors, and creating a moment of genuine fear that went beyond scripted acting.

“It wasn’t just acting,” he shared. “The snake actually malfunctioned and scared the hell out of everyone. My dad and the others weren’t pretending—they were really on edge.”

The revelation explains the raw tension visible in certain sequences, moments where the actors’ reactions feel too authentic to be staged. It also highlights the challenges of practical effects in the pre-CGI era, when filmmakers relied on massive mechanical creations that could just as easily terrify their crew as impress an audience.

For fans of Anaconda, the story adds a whole new layer to the cult classic’s legacy: behind the campy fun and over-the-top villainy was a cast genuinely wondering if the “monster” in front of them might turn dangerous at any moment.