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Anthropophagus (Joe D'Amato 1980)

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Il Commissario:
ANTHROPOPHAGUS 1980 aka ANTHROPOPHAGUS THE BEAST aka THE GRIM REAPER aka SAVAGE ISLAND

George Eastman, Tisa Farrow, Zora Kerova, Serena Grandi

Vacationers are stranded on a desolate Greek Isle and are stalked by a flesh eating madman who stalks them one by one. It is soon discovered exactly who the maniac is and how he came to be on the island.

Joe D'Amato does a sort-of slasher movie with this infamous horror flick that isn't quite as good as its reputation. I've always enjoyed it, but I find it hard to recommend it to anyone save for curiosity value. Too many slow stretches between the action even though the film picks up towards the end, it still has some seriously creepy moments. One of the best sequences is when the group stumble on a young blind girl who claims she can SMELL him coming. During a thunderstorm, she screams. When the others come upstairs and enter the room, she yells that "He's here, he's HERE!" As the people exit and close the door there's darkness. Then lightning flashes and you can see he was hiding behind the door the whole time!

Another bit deals with the controversial scene where the killer rips Grandi's unborn child from between her legs. It's understandable why such a scene would cause such a stir (I believe in Britain, censors thought this was snuff footage) as it is quite tasteless although you never really see him eat the fetus, you do see him bite down on it. In the trailer this scene is shown from a different angle that actually reveals a tad bit more footage. Supposedly this sequence was removed from US prints but in a review back in 1979 from the (in)famous drive-in critic Joe Bob Briggs, he mentions this and a later scene that was also supposedly trimmed. Perhaps theatrical prints were complete but cut for the video release? Or maybe some prints got out uncut? I don't know for sure.

The other scene that was removed at least for the US video release under the title THE GRIM REAPER (Great box art, BTW) is the final shot where the killer is stabbed with a pickaxe. His innards spill out and he then proceeds to chow down on them! In the video version, you see him stabbed then cut to him falling over cue THE END.

The effects in the film aren't that great but are serviceable for what must have been a very small budget. Actually, Eastman confirms this in the interview on Media Blasters 2 disc set. There's an axe in the head, a head in a bucket, a scalp is ripped off and a hanging among other things. Nothing overly special but Eastman brings a fervent voraciousness to the role and is clearly the best thing about this movie and the one aspect that holds it all together and the only reason to sit through the film.

The music in the original film is very pedestrian and uninteresting save for maybe one or two cues. In the US video version, the original score is supplanted by creepy stock music that can be heard in old TWILIGHT ZONE episodes, the films KINGDOM OF THE SPIDERS (1977), THE DARK (1979) and briefly in ALLIGATOR (1980). I actually prefer the music in the US cut as it definitely sets the mood much better than the humdrum original.

For some odd reason the first scene is all in German until after the second kill. In the US tape, this bit is in English. I assume the elements they had lacked English dialog for this opening sequence. This scene is interesting as well as it sort of sets the story up like the killer might truly be a monster. With the first kill recalling JAWS and the POV shot of something emerging from the ocean blood dripping onto the wet sand, an impression is given that this thing may not be human.

Another creepy story conceit is the appearance of an old woman who wanders around aimlessly never acknowledging when anyone has spoken to her. Also the seemingly abandoned villa. Everyone seems to have vanished without a trace. Director D'Amato sets the film up very well and is successful in certain areas but the near endless parading around by the cast members seems to go on for what seems like an eternity. With some of this trimmed down, the film could possibly flow better.

On the interview with Eastman and Kerova, it seems to be quite a laid back affair, although Eastman seems embarrassed to be still talking about this movie. He does mention that the film was not overly successful. Kerova, who looks more beautiful now than she did at the time of the film, seems to enjoy the attention the film has gotten. A bit more in depth discussion on this film would have been nice. There's also a continuation of a Joe D'Amato documentary that covers his career and not this film in particular. An audio commentary would have been great. I'm sure judging by Kerova's enthusiastic responses, she would have gladly participated in one.

The sequel, ABSURD (1981) is a bit better and is a far gorier version of HALLOWEEN. It's unrelated other than the fact that it shares the same crew. As it stands, ANTHROPOPHAGUS is an enjoyable movie whose notoriety is more intriguing than the actual film itself.

Stephen Grimes:

--- Quote from: IL COMMISSARIO on 12 Sep 2007 - 06:00 ---For some odd reason the first scene is all in German until after the second kill. In the US tape, this bit is in English. I assume the elements they had lacked English dialog for this opening sequence.

--- End quote ---
This opening is also in German on the Italian ,English and Spanish tracks on the Beat Records 2 disc out of Italy,there are English subtitles supplied though.
Anyone else notice D'amato's blink and you'll miss him appearence as he comes out of the cable car?

Peter Neal:
Funnily enough, the opening scene got also totally redubbed into "proper" German for its release over there. Most fans prefer the silliness of the "original" German version of this scene though. "We" don't really talk like that, ya know.... ;D

There's actually an audio commentary on one of the Austrian releases - sadly only in German - by the guys, who created the "Antropophagus" homepage.

http://www.d-udo.de/antropophagus/index.html

The page has also a huge section in English and is highly recommended!

Il Commissario:
I'm really surprised MB didn't acquire the sequel. They must not have sold many of the first one. I was in conversation with some of these guys at the Lo Mang meet and greet a few weeks ago. I should have asked as MB was there discussing their Shaw acquisitions.

Stephen Grimes:

--- Quote from: IL COMMISSARIO on 13 Sep 2007 - 10:55 ---I'm really surprised MB didn't acquire the sequel. They must not have sold many of the first one.
--- End quote ---
I think the rights are held by some major label,i seem to remember Marc posting something about it ages ago.

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