“Cannibal Holocaust”, 1979
Director: Ruggero Deodato
A controversial Italian film that tells the story of a rescue mission in the Amazon rainforest that uncovers the footage of a missing documentary crew who were making a film about local cannibal tribes. Notorious for its graphic violence and real animal killings, the film has been charged with being exploitative but also praised for its commentary on modern civilization.
Starring: Robert Kerman, Francesca Ciardi, Perry Pirkanen, Luca Barbareschi, Salvatore Basile, Ricardo Fuentes, Carl Gabriel Yorke, Paolo Paoloni, Lionello Pio Di Savoia, Luigina Rocchi;
Production year: 1979;
Genre: horror, adventure;
Age: 18+;
Duration: 95 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 5,8;
More information about the film “Cannibal Holocaust” on the website imdb.com
“Alive”, 1992
Director: Frank Marshall
Based on a true story, this film recounts the harrowing ordeal of the Uruguayan rugby team whose plane crashes in the Andes Mountains. As they struggle to survive in harsh conditions with limited supplies, the survivors are forced to turn to cannibalism to stay alive. It’s a tale of human will and the lengths to which people will go to survive.
Starring: Ethan Hawke, Vincent Spano, Josh Hamilton, Bruce Ramsay, John Haymes Newton, David Kriegel, Kevin Breznahan, Sam Behrens, Illeana Douglas, Jack Noseworthy;
Production year: 1992;
Genre: thriller, drama, adventure, history;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 121 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,1;
More information about the film “Alive” on the website imdb.com
“Ravenous”, 1999
Director: Antonia Bird
Set in the 19th century during the Mexican-American War, this dark comedy and horror film explores cannibalism among a group of soldiers stationed at a remote outpost in the Sierra Nevada. The film blends elements of folklore, Manifest Destiny, and Donner Party-like desperation with a twisted sense of humor.
Starring: Guy Pearce, Robert Carlyle, David Arquette, Jeremy Davies, Jeffrey Jones, John Spencer, Stephen Spinella, Neal McDonough, Joseph Runningfox, Bill Brochtrup;
Production year: 1999;
Genre: horror, thriller;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 101 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,9;
More information about the film “Ravenous” on the website imdb.com
“We Are What We Are”, 2013
Director: Jim Mickle
A horror drama that tells the story of a reclusive family with a macabre secret tradition that comes under threat after the death of the family matriarch. The film explores themes of family loyalty, tradition, and the lengths to which people will go to preserve their way of life, even when it involves cannibalism.
Starring: Kassie DePaiva, Laurent Rejto, Julia Garner, Ambyr Childers, Jack Gore, Bill Sage, Kelly McGillis, Wyatt Russell, Michael Parks, Annemarie Lawless;
Production year: 2013;
Genre: horror, thriller, drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 100 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 5,9;
More information about the film “We Are What We Are” on the website imdb.com
“Raw”, 2016
Director: Julia Ducournau
A French-Belgian horror drama that follows a young vegetarian woman who, after being subjected to a hazing ritual at veterinary school, develops an uncontrollable craving for flesh, leading to cannibalistic desires. The film is a coming-of-age story that explores themes of identity, sexuality, and the pressures of conformity.
Starring: Garance Marillier, Ella Rumpf, Rabah Nait Oufella, Laurent Lucas, Joana Preiss, Bouli Lanners, Marion Vernoux, Thomas Mustin, Marouan Iddoub, Jean-Louis Sbille;
Production year: 2016;
Genre: horror, drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 99 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7;
More information about the film “Raw” on the website imdb.com
This list reflects the diverse ways in which the theme of cannibalism has been approached in cinema, from survivals and horrors to dramas and dark comedies.
In essence, films about cannibalism serve as intriguing platforms for exploring the extremes of societal boundaries and human behavior, ultimately delivering a cinematic experience that is both disturbing and captivating. The dark shades of human nature that these films portray, challenge the viewer's perceptions of morality, acceptance, and survival. Although they may not be for the faint-hearted, their unique narratives and underlying philosophical inquiries prove irrefutably compelling, paving an unlikely path for thought-provoking dialogue and reflection. As a genre, cannibal films have carved out a niche for themselves in the darker corners of the cinematic universe, providing a visceral, chilling experience that is hardly matched elsewhere in cinema.
