Anthropophagous

 



Director - Joe D'Amato (Porno Holocaust, Absurd)
Starring - Tisa Farrow (Zombie, The Last Hunter), Saverio Vallone (Passion of Love, The Dark Side of Love), and Serena Grandi (Lady of the Night, Bride of Violence)
Release Date - 1980
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "It's not fear that tears you apart...It's him"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

 

     I call myself a fan of Italian horror but I'm not a very good fan.  I've liked so many Italian horror films over the years but I have to admit that I've not seen that many.  It has picked up in recent years with classic and long forgotten giallos getting blu releases from companies like Arrow Video, Severin, and Blue Underground.  When I first started watching Italian horror films I came across artwork for the 1980 video nasty Anthropophagous which was directed by Joe D'Amato.  The film is known through the horror community for being gruesome.  Recently the film received a blu release through Severin Films.  I had always wanted to check it out so I reached out to them for a review copy and they were kind enough to send one my way.  Thanks guys!

     The film follows a tourist group who visit a secluded Greek island when the discover that the town there is deserted.  Their getaway turns deadly when they discover a mad cannibal has murdered and ate the entire town and now they are on the menu.

     I went into this one expecting an early 80s extreme Italian horror film that brought the gore and shock value.  I was greeted with a pretty bloody horror flick but it wasn't as extreme and brutal as I had imagined.  I'm sure it was for the early 80s but compared to other Severin releases it isn't that brutal.  The acting in this one is fun.  The characters are traditional Italian horror characters and it they work very well for the film.  The story for this one is simple and works for the film.  It is a bit of a stretch but its still fun for what it is.  The movie has great pacing and the actions works very well to break up the slower scenes.  Finally, this is a bloody and gory one.  We have plenty of blood and amazing gore.  The kills are fairly brutal but the film doesn't really give you something that you haven't seen before.  Overall, Anthropophagous is a fantastic early 80s Italian horror film.  It isn't as gruesome as I was expecting but it is still a must for any horror fan.  Check it out on blu now from Severin.