First and foremost one would probably expect the film to feature both cannibals and an apocalypse, but is this the reality? Well yes and no; CANNIBAL APOCALYPSE does feature cannibals, but is a bit lacking in the apocalypse department, apocalypse being, according to dictionary.com, "great or total devastation". It is more along the lines of minor cannibal outbreak with the possibility of a mass outbreak - stress possibility. Now ask yourself, is this important? Do you need a full cannibal apocalypse to enjoy this film? If so, step away from the title, let it go, do not return.
If the film continues to hold one's interest in spite of the lacking of an apocalypse, the next step is to find out what the movie is about, so that one can discern if the plot is something they would find engaging for 96 minutes of their life. CANNIBAL APOCALYPSE is a film that deals with three Vietnam vets who are afflicted with a virus, not unlike rabies, that causes its victims to indulge in eating their fellow human beings, or more often taking a nice bite out of them. Persons infected with this virus sometimes immediately indulge in these urges and in other cases eventually succumb after a long period of time. In some circumstances, but not all, the victim will retain a great deal of rational thought, able to function on the surface like a normal human being, but prone from time to time to treat a loved one or a complete stranger like a snack pack. However, when the plot dictates it, a victim may, in a matter of hours, turn into a raving lunatic ready to chow down, Romero zombie style, on the nearest hunk of human meat - with a ferociousness and chest-cracking, heart-tearing-out superhuman strength common in all incidents of cannibalism everywhere at any time.
Norman Hopper (the ubiquitous John Saxon) is one of the delayed-response cannibals. Having been bitten by infected friends during Vietnam, his affliction remained dormant for about an hour into the film, approx 10 years "reel" time. In the meanwhile a good friend of his, Charlie Bukowski (the forlorn-looking and hideously dubbed Giovanni Lombardo Radice, a.k.a. John Morghen), a man stricken with the "cannibal" virus, is freed from a psych ward and gives Norman a call. Norman is, unfortunately, too busy biting the midsections of teenage seductresses to take Charlie up on his offer, promising to read BARFLY when he gets the chance. A rejected Charlie takes in a film, and as a person with his ailment is wont to do, takes a sizeable bite out of the throat of the girl having sex in the row in front of him. The patrons of the theater are less than understanding and Charlie is forced to hole up in closed flea market, too busy holding back the cops to take advantage of the remarkably good deals in the surrounding booths. Things, as they say, fall apart from there.
If one finds the above description holds their interest, then the next question is how do you like your gore? If you like it light, well hold on to your three dollars, cause CANNIBAL APOCALYPSE is the blood bath equivalent of a pastrami sandwich at a real Jewish Deli, overstuffed with a pickle on the side, with the goyim addition of a hunk of cheese. There's eyes being gouged out, arms being bitten, necks being scratched, perfect geometric circles being blown into stomachs, tongues being bitten, mouths gushing blood, and John Saxon.
The final question, if interest still holds, is the most important: can you tolerate John Saxon? For kids raised on ENTER THE DRAGON and select episodes of THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN the answer is an easy yes, but for others... well, think it through. Saxon's bland leading man status may have made him a third tier star of the '70s, but for many today he's about as accessible as the concept of the "pet rock." If unsure, it may help your decision to know that he appears sans shirt in a few scenes. His appearance clad only in boxer shorts at one point in the film has been cited by several sources as the main reason that American males switched to nut-crushing briefs.
Now that you've made your decision, if it remains a yes... you Saxon fan, you... then you will be delighted by Image's release, under their Euroshock collection banner, of this immortal classic also known as INVASION OF THE FLESH HUNTERS, CANNIBALS IN THE STREETS, and SCOOBY DOO IN THE MYSTERY OF FRED HAVING HIS EYES GOUGED IN, HIS INTESTINES PULLED OUT AND HIS DANDY NECK THING USED AS A NAPKIN.
First off you will be delighted by the practically pristine widescreen (1.66:1) transfer of the film; CANNIBAL APOCALYPSE looks as good as if it was rejected by Troma yesterday. Then you will marvel at Alexander Blonksteiner's ode to the incidental music of CHARLIE'S ANGELS in living mono. Laughter and tears are to be had in the droll "Apocalypse in the Streets" video tour of the various Atlanta, Georgia shooting locations. Trailer aficionados will delight at the European and Japanese trailers along with bonus, Easter egg trailers for children's favorites THE GIRL WHO KNEW TOO MUCH (a.k.a. THE EVIL EYE, a Mario Bava classic) and MAKE THEM DIE SLOWLY (a.k.a. CANNIBAL FEROX, a piece of crap). People who like alternate opening sequences will delight that this DVD has one!!! Cast and crew filmographies are included along with a text essay entitled "The Butchering of cannibal apocalypse," which talks of why the film was edited and is presented widescreen for God knows what reason - the tiny text causes much strain on the eyes for those bereft of a 32" screen. Oh yeah, there's a stills gallery too.
Of all these glorious additions, and they are glorious, the toppermost of the poppermost is the documentary CANNIBAL APOCALYPSE REDUX which provides interviews with John Saxon, John Morghen (see above for real name), and Antonio Margheriti. Here one gets the ins and outs on this Oscar winning triumph, a must see for fans and people tied to chairs awaiting torture.
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