Blu-ray Review: ANTHROPOPHAGOUS (1980)

ANTHROPOPHAGOUS
Directed by  Joe D'Amato
Distributed by CAV Distribution / Severin Films

 I remember watching this film over 18 years ago back when I was in college.   I remember browsing the video shelves and my eyes landing on the cover featuring a man eating his own intestines.  Obviously, that was a movie I had to check out!   I honestly don't remember anything about that film, other than that iconic scene.  

 I was very excited when I saw Severin Films was releasing this film on Blu-ray!   This was one I definitely needed to re-visit and I'm so glad I got the opportunity!  Here is the basic plot courtesy of the film's imdb page:

A group of tourists become stranded on an uninhabited island where they are stalked by an insane, violent, and grotesque killer that slaughtered the town's former residents.

  If you couldn't tell from the cover photo, this film's main goal is shock factor.  It goes for the throat (literally) and never lets go.   The film starts out with a brutal hatchet to the head killing, which actually looked pretty realistic.  The film never gives up and the gore factor only gets worse from there.   The plot is really simple, and the film can actually be a little slow at times, but it makes up for it with the awesome gore effects and creepiness factor.   The killer on the island is one of the creepiest killers I have ever seen in film.  He makes my skin crawl just thinking about him.  He never talks throughout the film, and only makes grunting and moaning sounds.  I am not sure who or what he is, as the movie never really explains it, but he is almost zombie like in his movements and mannerisms.

 If you want great acting, great character development, and a thought provoking story, this might not be the film for you.  If you are looking for an extremely fun film with tons of gore, then this is a must see!   ANTHROPOPHAGOUS is available now on DVD and Blu-ray from Severin Films.  Special Features include:

*  Don’t Fear The Man-Eater: Interview with Writer/Star Luigi Montefiori a.k.a. George Eastman
*  The Man Who Killed The Anthropophagus: Interview with Actor Saverio Vallone
*  Cannibal Frenzy: Interview with FX Artist Pietro Tenoglio
*  Brother And Sister In Editing: Interview With Editor Bruno Micheli
*  Inside Zora’s Mouth: Interview with Actress Zora Kerova
*  Trailers
*  Reversible Wrap


CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD
CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray

Blu-ray Review: EMANUELLE AND THE LAST CANNIBALS (1977)

EMANUELLE AND THE LAST CANNIBALS
Written & Directed by Joe D'Amato
Distributed by CAV Distribution / Severin Films

  There are so many great sub-genres of horror, but one of my all time favorites is the cannibal film.   The cannibal films were huge back in the 70's and early 80's, with such classics as CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST, CANNIBAL APOCALYPSE, and CANNIBAL FEROX just to name a few.  In 1977 the EMANUELLE series of films joined the group with EMANUELLE AND THE LAST CANNIBALS.   Here is the basic synopsis courtesy of the Severin Films website:

  In 1977, infamous filth auteur Joe D’Amato (BEYOND THE DARKNESS, ANTHROPOPHAGUS) combined the insane extremes of eroticism and cannibalism for the most groin-grinding, gut-munching, gore-spewing EuroSleaze saga of them all: When journalist Emanuelle (the ever-luscious Laura Gemser of BLACK EMANUELLE fame) discovers evidence of an extinct cannibal tribe in a Manhattan mental hospital, her investigation will take her to the Amazon jungle for an orgy of carnage that SexGoreMutants calls “…feral, demented and nasty. And in exploitation terms, that’s entertainment!” Gabriele Tinti (EMANUELLE IN AMERICA), Monica Zanchi (SISTER EMANUELLE) and Donald O’Brien (DOCTOR BUTCHER, M.D.) co-star in “the flesh & fear masterpiece from the late great splatter genius” (DVD Beaver) released to ‘80s grindhouses as TRAP THEM AND KILL THEM and now scanned in 2k from original vault elements.

  Once again we are treated to the lovely Laura Gemser as Emanuelle.   This time she is playing a reporter going deep into the Amazon forest to track down one of the last known surviving cannibal tribes.  Needless to say she finds it and all hell breaks loose!   Cannibal films are known for their gore, and this one does not disappoint.   There is tons of blood and lots of intestines being chomped on by the cannibal tribe.  There are some cool booby traps and torture devices as well.  Oh, and speaking of boobies, there are plenty of those on display as well.  That is to be expected, of course, with this being an entry in the Emanuelle series of films. 

 If you are a fan of the EMANUELLE films and/or cannibal films of the 1970's, you will definitely want to check out EMANUELLE AND THE LAST CANNIBALS.   The film is available now on DVD and BD from Severin Films  Special Features include the following:

*  The World Of Nico Fidenco: An Interview With Composer Nico Fidenco
*  A Nun Among The Cannibals: An Interview With Actress Annamaria Clementi
*  O’Brien MD: An Interview With Actor Donal O’Brien
*  From Switzerland To Mato Grosso: An Interview With Actress Monika Zanchi
*  I Am Your Black Queen: Laura Gemser Archive Audio Interview
*  Theatrical Trailer

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD
CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray