Grindhouse ReleasingCannibal Ferox is director Umberto Lenzis answer to the notorious Cannibal Holocaust (1980) as well as his attempt to claw back some credit for pioneering the cannibal subgenre with Deep River Savages (1972). In fact, its pretty much Cannibal Holocaust all over again with another excursion into the jungle, another native cannibal tribe and several actual animal killings performed on camera. They raped and killed his sister while he watched helplessly! claimed the original US tagline. Now its his turn to make them die slowly! Actually, nothing like this happens in the film, but that doesnt mean that Lenzi lets his actors off lightly. If you remember Cannibal Ferox for any one scene, its probably the moment when John Morghens over the top drug dealer starts losing prized body parts. This in fact brings the picture full circle as earlier in the movie Morghen gives one of the all-time worst readings while delivering the line, then.then they ate his genitals!
Ian Watson is the author of 'Midnight Movie Madness', a 600+ page guide to "bad" movies from 'Reefer Madness' to 'Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead.'
