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Cannibal Apocalypse aka Apocalypse Domani, Cannibals in the Streets, Invasion of the Flesh Hunters etc etc (Antonio Margheriti 1980) + Trash rating
By virtue of it's title alone Cannibal Apocalypse falls into the dreaded Italian sub-genre of 'cannibal movies'. This incredibly graphic cycle arguably began in 1972 with Umberto Lenzi's Deep River Savages, and would gain worldwide notoriety and condemnation in 1980 with Ruggero Deodato's now infamous Cannibal Holocaust - a film the director nearly went to prison for on obscenity charges. The same year Umberto Lenzi had given the world Eaten Alive! but not content to be outdone by Deodato, would subsequently deliver one of the most violent movies ever made, 1981's Cannibal Ferox aka Make them Die Slowly. What nearly all these films had in common was their sickening scenes of animal violence, and graphic depiction of torture, rape and mutilation; all offset by often cheap production values and hammy acting. Not surprisingly many Cannibal films were banned in numerous countries throughout the world, not least the UK where initially as many as ten titles - including Cannibal Apocalypse - were named as video nasties - in-fact only three were ever officially branded obscene. Yup the 70's Cannibal genre has to be one of the most reviled in cinematic history and it's not hard to see why; I'm certainly not a fan. I am a fan of Cannibal Apocalypse though, because despite the title, it has nothing in common with it's namesakes other than the fact that cannibals are involved...
Directed and co written (with Dardano Sacchetti) by Anotonio Margheriti, Cannibal Apocalypse was clearly trying to cash in on the late seventies/early eighties zombie boom made popular by George Romero's Dawn of the Dead (1978) and Lucio Fulci's even more lucrative Zombi 2 aka Zombie Flesh Eaters (1979). Marghariti, - often billed as Anthony Dawson for the US market - an experienced Italian director with a number of action and horror B-movies under his belt would place his own spin on the genre by adding a Vietnam war back story. Subsequently the film is often labeled a cross/cash-in of Francis Ford Coppola's seminal war movie Apocalypse Now (1979) and Dawn of the Dead. In reality however, Cannibal Apocalypse bears little resemblance to either and actually plays a lot more like David Cronenberg's Rabid (1977);all be it with a greater emphasis on the comic book action.
The film begins in Vietnam with Lieutenant Norman Hopper (B-movie favourite John Saxon) leading a strike force against a Viet-Cong cave system holding American P.O.W.'s. Everything looks normal until we see an injured Viet-Cong woman fall into a pit containing the prisoners who proceed to tear her apart for dinner. Finally Hopper shows up, and despite his initial revulsion, reaches into the pit regardless to drag his buddies out. Big mistake, cue closeup of Saxon's agonized expression as his buddy Charlie Bukowski - named after the American author/poet and played by Italian horror regular Giovani Lombardo Radice - takes a bite. Fast forward to post Vietnam America with Hopper complaining to his doctor of urges to bite people; followed by a visit from his insane buddy Bukowski who proceeds to wreak havok, infecting others and dragging Hopper down with him...
Cannibal Apocalypse aka Apocalypse Domani, Cannibals in the Streets, Invasion of the Flesh Hunters etc etc (Antonio Margheriti 1980) + Trash rating
By virtue of it's title alone Cannibal Apocalypse falls into the dreaded Italian sub-genre of 'cannibal movies'. This incredibly graphic cycle arguably began in 1972 with Umberto Lenzi's Deep River Savages, and would gain worldwide notoriety and condemnation in 1980 with Ruggero Deodato's now infamous Cannibal Holocaust - a film the director nearly went to prison for on obscenity charges. The same year Umberto Lenzi had given the world Eaten Alive! but not content to be outdone by Deodato, would subsequently deliver one of the most violent movies ever made, 1981's Cannibal Ferox aka Make them Die Slowly. What nearly all these films had in common was their sickening scenes of animal violence, and graphic depiction of torture, rape and mutilation; all offset by often cheap production values and hammy acting. Not surprisingly many Cannibal films were banned in numerous countries throughout the world, not least the UK where initially as many as ten titles - including Cannibal Apocalypse - were named as video nasties - in-fact only three were ever officially branded obscene. Yup the 70's Cannibal genre has to be one of the most reviled in cinematic history and it's not hard to see why; I'm certainly not a fan. I am a fan of Cannibal Apocalypse though, because despite the title, it has nothing in common with it's namesakes other than the fact that cannibals are involved...
Directed and co written (with Dardano Sacchetti) by Anotonio Margheriti, Cannibal Apocalypse was clearly trying to cash in on the late seventies/early eighties zombie boom made popular by George Romero's Dawn of the Dead (1978) and Lucio Fulci's even more lucrative Zombi 2 aka Zombie Flesh Eaters (1979). Marghariti, - often billed as Anthony Dawson for the US market - an experienced Italian director with a number of action and horror B-movies under his belt would place his own spin on the genre by adding a Vietnam war back story. Subsequently the film is often labeled a cross/cash-in of Francis Ford Coppola's seminal war movie Apocalypse Now (1979) and Dawn of the Dead. In reality however, Cannibal Apocalypse bears little resemblance to either and actually plays a lot more like David Cronenberg's Rabid (1977);all be it with a greater emphasis on the comic book action.
The film begins in Vietnam with Lieutenant Norman Hopper (B-movie favourite John Saxon) leading a strike force against a Viet-Cong cave system holding American P.O.W.'s. Everything looks normal until we see an injured Viet-Cong woman fall into a pit containing the prisoners who proceed to tear her apart for dinner. Finally Hopper shows up, and despite his initial revulsion, reaches into the pit regardless to drag his buddies out. Big mistake, cue closeup of Saxon's agonized expression as his buddy Charlie Bukowski - named after the American author/poet and played by Italian horror regular Giovani Lombardo Radice - takes a bite. Fast forward to post Vietnam America with Hopper complaining to his doctor of urges to bite people; followed by a visit from his insane buddy Bukowski who proceeds to wreak havok, infecting others and dragging Hopper down with him...
Despite the Vietnam themed plot Cannibal Apocalypse never makes any attempt at social commentary whatsoever. Margheriti simply set out to deliver a cheap, entertaining action/horror film, and in that much he succeeded admirably. In-fact even without the depth I found the basic premise of Vietnam veterans infected by a cannibal virus intriguingly silly fun perfectly complemented by Margheriti's comic book approach. Not only is Cannibal Apocalypse good fun, but it's overlooked and underrated good fun to boot. Margheriti is no hack having cut his teeth on Spaghetti westerns, crime thrillers and horror films in the seventies, and it pays off here with some well choreographed (and very bloody) action scenes. Even the cast are good with Saxon effortlessly portraying Hopper as someone with a gritty levelheaded humanity who can't help but slide into depravity. Radice (billed as John Morghen) an old hand at this sort of thing steals the film though. He's by turns intense, manic and comical as the crazed Bukowski; who of all the characters I've seen him play in numerous Italian exploiters is easily my favourite. Most importantly Cannibal Apocalypse is perfectly paced and hence never dull - the nail in the coffin of many a cheap B-movie - it was made by an an experienced director and it shows. There's even a satisfyingly downbeat ending to cap off the gory action, and a great disco-funk soundtrack from Alexander Blonksteiner, making this one of my favourite B-movies. In an era where the 'Grindhouse' is back in vogue, Cannibal Apocalypse is essential viewing and shouldn't be disregarded just because of it's rather suspect title.
* UK horror fans can pick up the dvd easily and at a reasonable price, although the film is cut by two seconds (a shot of a burning rat). I have the R1 edition, but can't imagine the cut affects the viewing experience.
* UK horror fans can pick up the dvd easily and at a reasonable price, although the film is cut by two seconds (a shot of a burning rat). I have the R1 edition, but can't imagine the cut affects the viewing experience.