This Halloween is not offering up much in the way of killer releases. I can't say anything looks like an absolute must have, but every week offers up something that will be worth looking into. I was a little hesitant about selecting this week's pick, but I have ended up probably going against better judgment with my choice.
This week's pick is the Umberto Lenzi directed gutmuncher Cannibal Ferox. I was hesitant in making this choice based on my decidedly negative reaction to Cannibal Holocaust. That film severely messed up my head for a week or so. That is one seriously disturbing movie, and quite possibly the most disturbing thing I have ever seen on film. It is that experience that caused me to pause when selecting this week's pick. It is interesting, for some reason I am drawn to other, similar films despite the negative effect they may have on me.
Cannibal Ferox's director, Umberto Lenzi, was one of those responsible for the rise of the Italian cannibal film when he released Man from Deep River. That was nine years prior to this film, which is considered a close relative, although inferior, to Cannibal Holocaust. The two films have similar plots featuring anthropologists traveling into the Amazon in search of cannibals. Ferox has them meet up with unscrupulous drug dealers who are having some problems with the local cannibal tribe.
I have read this film, again like Holocaust, features actual animal deaths. This is something that gives me strong pause before actually watching it. Unfortunately, this does not seem to be an uncommon practice in these films. Why? I may never know. This is being released by the same company responsible for releasing Holocaust, Grindhouse. They are advertising it as the complete uncut version of the film with a plethora of extras.
Article comments
1 - Mat Brewster
I've seen both Holocaust and Ferox. Ferox is nearly as disturbing as Holocaust (its cheaper looking which hurts the effects) and the whole 'us civilized folks are just as disturbed as the cannibals' bit isn't as well played.
I too am somehow drawn to these grusome flicks for odd reasons
2 - Chris Beaumont
Hey Mat,
Did you happen to see my Cannibal Holocaust review? It felt like a purging of my soul....
3 - Mat Brewster
I did, and I believe I commented on it too. It stayed with me for many a day too. Sometimes I still see the ending rape/decapitation scene in my nightmares.
There are many more cannibal flicks out there, and I strangely feel compelled to see them, but not anytime soon.