10 Ridiculously Outrageous Video Nasties

3. Cannibal Apocalypse

Static Cannibal 2 Cannibal Apocalypse is an interesting film almost exclusively because of John Saxon's puzzling involvement in it. No one has had a stranger career trajectory than that man. He started off in the 50s doing romantic comedies with Sandra Dee, and then before you know it he's starring in an Italian exploitation film. It revolves around a soldier in Vietnam who is bitten by a POW, infecting him with a virus that makes him crave human flesh. Saxon was reportedly unaware that this was one of "those kinds" of cannibal films (although a good indicator probably should have been the title), and by the time he realized, he had already signed the contract. He never saw the movie and was totally fine with it being banned in the UK. Probably even relieved, one would imagine. But to be fair, Cannibal Apocalypse does have some admirers in high places -- Quentin Tarantino has an unabashed affection for the film, and you can see its influence in his use of funky music against a blood-spattered backdrop. He even name-dropped the director, Antonio Margheriti, in Inglourious Basterds -- when one of the Basterds poses as an Italian filmmaker, he uses Margheriti's name.
 
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Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.