5 Essential Italian Cannibal Movies
If you are looking for a subgenre of horror that emphasized graphic violence and shock value above all else, look no further than the Italian cannibal movies of the 1970s and 1980s.
Exploitation
Day of the Stranger (2019, UK) Review
I’m going to be honest here; I don’t really know what happened in this movie. I mean I think I do, but I’m not entirely sure. So, apologies in advance to the filmmakers who obviously put so much work into this psychedelic (often referred to as “acid” or what I’ve dubbed “twistern”) western filmed primarily in Wales. A bounty hunter is hired to collect a…demon gunslinger? Story points are integrated into the plot just as they are in most movies, other than the great Godfrey Reggio’s experimental eye candy, sure. But do they add to the proceedings or just further confuse the world that’s been created?
“Better the Devil you know.”
Verotika versus Rabid ’77
Ladies and gentlemen, in this corner we have the classic 1977 David Cronenberg film, Rabid. In the opposite corner, we have the Glenn Danzig opus, Verotika. Is one a better film than the other? Will the cult classic crush the newcomer or will the Master Misfit cut new horror film ground based on his comic book kingdom?
If you’re like me, your interest in anything Danzig related was piqued the moment it was announced he was working on a movie. Unfortunately, the promise faded with ever passing time…
“Pray it doesn’t happen to you.”
You Ain’t Got to Pull That Blacula Shit With Me. Black Vampires in: Vampire in Brooklyn and Blacula
“You ain’t got to pull that Blacula shit with me.” The line is an attempt to link what seems to be a half-hearted star-vehicle with something else: blaxploitation. By simultaneously comparing Murphy’s ’90s effort with its ’70s predecessor, whilst slyly digging at the older genre’s foibles, the gag it is a somewhat noble, if pithy, effort to give Vampire in Brooklyn more heft.
“Interesting. I’ve been stabbed, and I’ve been hanged, and I’ve been burned. Even broken on the rack once, but I’ve never been shot before. Kind of itches a little!”
Endgame (1983, Italy)
Let’s get right to it; is this movie the final installment of The Bronx Warriors trilogy that includes 1990: The Bronx Warriors and Escape from the Bronx, or not? The short answer in my opinion is no, it most definitely is not. It bears no resemblance, nor any connection to the previous films that I could detect; though it is supposedly set in New York, I don’t recall any reference to it in the dialogue.
“For an ENDGAME champion in the year 2025, there’s only one way to live. Dangerously.”
Faces of Death (1978, USA) Review
The Original Faces of Death, as it would later be known as, is a controversial pseudo-documentary on death containing real stock footage of accidents, suicides, autopsies, and executions. But, when the stock footage was unable to tell the entire story, the filmmakers created scenes of staged violence, editing it together to create a coherent narrative.
“During the past 20 years I know that my compulsion to understand death was much greater than just an obsession. My dreams have dictated my mission. But now it is time to witness the final moment, to discover the circle that forever repeats ifself. The end of the beginning or the beginning of the end? I’ll leave that decision to you.”
Bloodsucking Freaks (1976) 88 Films 2014 Blu-ray
Dom O’Brien reviews the 88 Films Blu-ray release Bloodsucking Freaks (1976), directed by Joel M. Reed.
This is the first time it has been released uncut in Britain and its certainly a first for a Blu-ray release. Bloodsucking Freaks is an exploitation film truly needs to be seen even if you only have a passing interest in the exploitation genre. Now, are you all sitting uncomfortably? Good, then we shall get on with the review of this piece of bad film brilliance.
“Oh yes! Now we’re getting the proper reaction.” PRESS PLAY ►
Knightriders (1981) Arrow Video BD/DVD
After they’re triumphant run on the previous Mario Bava releases, Arrow Video is back once again to tempt the cult film fans. This time fans are treated to an even more rare release (at least on British shores) with the strangely heartfelt story of Knightriders. The film follows a makeshift community of Renaissance performers as they struggle to earn a living, avoid despicable police officer and come to terms with their leader whose slowly starting to loose the plot. PRESS PLAY ►
Surf Nazis Must Die (1987)
Question, what do you get if the California coastline is destroyed after an earthquake causing all of the beaches to be in a constant state of unrest and bloody chaos? Well the answer is simple, you’d get the Peter George / Troma cult feature Surf Nazis Must Die.
So continuing our look at Arrow Films latest releases of Troma films, Dom brings us this crazy feature, Surf Nazis Must Die… PRESS PLAY ►
Class Of Nuke’em High – Blu Ray Review
In conjunction with our latest Troma competition and the 3 new releases from Arrow Films & video we will be bring you reviews of these great titles, starting of with Class of Nuke’em High. Dom brings us his take on the gooey goings on at Troma’s dysfunction high school and a look at how Arrow Films as brought it to us with their new Blu-ray release.
So what are you waiting for? And once you’ve checkout our review head over to the Troma Competition and enter.
PRESS PLAY ►
Almost Human (1974, Italy)
Umberto Lenzi’s Almost Human is an unrelenting, uncompromising and mean-spirited poliziotteschi that succeeds on every possible level. This ultra-violent, ultra-stylish Italian crime film stars Tomás Milián as the sadistic Giulio Sacchi, a low life criminal sick of the social class disorder in Milan after a bank robbery turns sour leaving him desperate for cash. His luck however is about to change… Almost Human is a wildly violent, depraved and entertaining poliziotteschi that has easily become Lenzi’s greatest achievement in Italian crime cinema.
“He raped, tortured, killed… and loved every minute of it!”
Black Belt Jones (1974)
Honestly there is one subgenre within the viewing habits of the average cult film enthusiast that needs a little more love. Specifically this would be the Blaxploitation film from the 1970’s to early 1980’s. These films where really a breed of their own and utterly perfect for their time period.
So Dominic has brought us one of his favs, the Kung-fu Afro kicking, jive talking, smooth mother shut your mouth, Black Belt Jones. PRESS PLAY ►
