CANNIBAL
APOCALYPSE (1980)Director: Anthony M. Dawson (Antonio Margheriti)
Image Entertainment
CANNIBAL
APOCALYPSE (1980)After tons of zombie gut-munchers and jungle massacres, the Italians decided to do something different and more unique with the cannibals and so was born CANNIBAL APOCALYPSE. No stranger to Italian horror (having worked with Mario Bava nearly 20 years earlier), John Saxon is cast in the role of former Vietnam War captain with some major issues.
The film opens with a flashback to a Vietnam village, where Captain Norman Hopper (Saxon) attempts to rescue two POWs trapped in an underground pit. Hopper discovers that Charlie (John Morghen, AKA Giovanni Radice) and Tommy (Tony King) are both feasting on a local woman who fell in. When he extends his arm to get them out, Tommy bites a big chunk out of it!
Years later, Hopper lives in a peaceful Atlanta, GA community with his TV journalist wife ((Elizabeth Turner), but still has recurring nightmares about his traumatic war experiences. One day, old Charlie--out on leave from a mental clinic--calls Norman out of the blue to ask him to come out for a drink. Norman refuses, causing Charlie to go berserk. First he gives a nasty hickey to a girl making out with her boyfriend in a theater, and then he has a confrontation with some wimpy bikers. Later, Charlie is apprehended at a closed flea market after killing two people and causing a big uproar. Norman helps the police (lead by a hilariously racist lieutenant) to capture his old buddy, who is then taken back to the clinic.
Back home, Norman is feeling really strange. The yummy teenage girl next door tries to seduce him and he gives her a nice nibble on her supple tummy. He's convinced he's got a problem, so he goes to the clinic for help. By this point, it's established that anyone bitten is infected with a virus that causes violent, cannibalistic urges. Norman ends up getting worse, and flees the clinic with the crazed Charlie and Tommy (who have committed a fair share of atrocities), along with an infected nurse. When they get out in the streets, they bring about more bloodshed and eventually they make their way into the sewers.
A Spaghetti fusing of action and horror, CANNIBAL APOCALYPSE is good, thrilling junk from the always entertaining Margheriti (CASTLE OF BLOOD, WILD, WILD PLANET), who never takes the material too seriously and just lets the exploitation flow. Saxon is one of the most reliable and least-embarrassed B-movie actors of all time, and he obviously relishes the role. Morghen--who has made a career out of portraying nuts in Italian horror films--is perfectly over the top (looking something look a strung-out Bob Goldthwait), as is former blaxploitation actor King (SHAFT, HELL UP IN HARLEM). Gino De Rossi's special effects offer such carnage as a tongue and a breast being bitten off, bloody shotgun wounds, people burnt to a crisp, a leg being electrically sawed off, and best of all, a victim with a huge hole blown through him (how did they do that?).
Image's transfer has been letterboxed at 1.66:1 and is enhanced for 16x9 TVs. The opening scenes commence with rough Vietnam War stock footage, but soon transforms into a beautiful clear and sharp image with bold colors that make it hard to believe the film is over 20 years old now. The Dolby Digital mono audio is also terrific, with dialogue being clear as can be (the post-synching is hardly noticeable) and balanced well with the blaring, inappropriate discofied score. Image is presenting the film uncut for the first time in the U.S., as it was released here in 1982 in a much-trimmed version called INVASION OF THE FLESH HUNTERS (one of many alternate titles).
This disc is just loaded with extras, and along with the fine transfer, this makes it one of the best presentations of an Italian horror film on DVD. First up is a featurette called "Cannibal Apocalypse Redux," comprised of videotaped interviews with MargherIti (speaking in Italian with English subtitles), Saxon and Morghen (now shaven-headed). Although somewhat awkwardly strung together, the interviews are well conducted, and the whole program lasts nearly an hour. An enthusiastic Saxon reveals the most about making the film (which he has never seen!), claiming that unlike everyone else, he liked the script but the gore turned him off. Saxon also gives his views on the horror genre as well.
Other extras are "Apocalypse in the Streets" a brief tour through the film's actual Atlanta locations as they appear today, hosted by Vic Marlin. There's also a European trailer, a Japanese teaser trailer, as well as the U.S. theatrical opening (same in content except for the alternate title card). A still gallery displays various poster, photos and video box art for the film, and there are filmographies for Saxon, Morghen, King, and Margheriti. Lastly, there's an essay on all the scenes cut for the U.S. release. A booklet insert with super liner notes by Travis Crawford round out this excellent package.
By the way, "Easter Egg" hunters will want to search for hidden trailers for THE GIRL WHO KNEW TOO MUCH, CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST and MAKE THEM DIE SLOWLY. (George R. Reis)