3. Cannibal Apocalypse (1980)
A pleasant change from all that Amazonia in your average Italian cannibal film, Cannibal Apocalypse showcases cannibals in an urban setting. It is an exciting little romp with strong gore to back it up. The basic plot is that a couple of American soldiers during the Vietnam War contracted a virus that makes them crave human flesh. One of the soldiers afflicted was Norman Hopper (the man, the legend - John Saxon) who has successfully managed to have a normal life and control his cravings. His mates Charlie and Tommy, who suffer from the same taste for flesh, are not faring so well. They go on a bit of a rampage biting random people until they are caught and shipped back to the institution. The doctor in the institution phones up Norman's wife and bends her ear about Norman having possible cannibalistic tendencies. Norman ends up in the institution and to add insult to injury, the doctor is trying to bed Jane - his wife. There is a bust out from the institution, and Norman throws his lot in with the cannibals. There is a stand off between the cannibals and the lamest bikers I have ever seen. Charlie gets a shogun blast through his guts. Norman manages to escape and goes home to Jane where a twist ending leads to double suicide. Presumably the cannibal menace is under control - however we see the kids next door put bits of their aunt into the freezer. Without the jungle setting, Cannibal Apocalypse could play out as a straight adventure film with a bit of hard gore thrown in. Apparently lead actor John Saxon absolutely despises this film and refuses to discuss his part in making it. How could anyone complain about being in an Italian cannibal movie?? Blasphemy! Direction comes from Antonio Margheriti who paces the film well and raises its calibre far above many Italian exploitation directors working at the time. But it really is Saxon's show - devoted happily settled married man to unrepentant murdering cannibal. The film cleverly portrays the nuances of Saxon's complex character and the bind he finds himself in. A film that is a lot more intelligent than it superficially appears to be.