When you think of movies about cannibals, the first ones that come to mind are usually set in the jungle, depicting cannibalism in a primitive way. Films from the 70s and 80s like “Cannibal Holocaust” and “Fierce Cannibal” created a subgenre of exploitation cannibal films. However, the exploration of cannibalism in cinema goes far beyond the jungle. More recently, it has been used in coming-of-age stories like “Raw” and “We Are What We Are.” Some of the most entertaining films in this subgenre add dark humor or haute cuisine to their menus.
Today, we want to bring you the best of our recipe book so that no one goes hungry, presenting a delicacy for lovers of the cannibalism subgenre. And of course, there will be plenty of meat on the menu…
The Cave (2014, Alfredo Montero)
Combining the best aspects of two legendary films, “The Descent” and “The Blair Witch Project,” Alfredo Montero’s “The Cave” follows five friends as they venture into the narrow and countless passages of a cave in search of adventure. As they try to find their way out, the young people discover that they are trapped. With no food or water, not enough flashlight batteries, and no means of communicating with the outside world, the five are forced to survive at any cost.
While the movie begins by documenting the typical antics of any young group of tourists, such as skinny-dipping on exotic beaches and sharing scary stories around a bonfire, Montero ensures that it is not just another family vacation video that is watched once and forgotten. With a stellar cast, the performances of the five leads are truly authentic, making the audience feel the same emotions and fears as them when they find themselves lost in a labyrinth of caves.
Trouble Every Day (2001, Claire Denis)
This controversial film is one of the best cannibal movies we have seen in the last 15 years. Vincent Gallo and Beatrice Dalle star in this movie, playing two normal and moral people who are infected with a condition that compels them to eat human flesh during moments of carnal intimacy. Since their hunger is linked to their lust, “Trouble Every Day” connects the repulsive with the seductive, resulting in a sensual and deeply disturbing cinematic experience. It is true that this film can be challenging to watch if you don’t have the patience for slow-paced movies, but its profound sensuality and its most explicit (and almost unbearable) moments of savagery make it worth seeking out.
Sub-Humans (1972, Gary Sherman)
The cannibals in this tale set in the London Underground inspire compassion among the audience. Descendants of Victorian railway workers who were buried alive during construction, they adapted to cannibalism and inbreeding to survive. Ultimately, it is the outrage and the pain of the death of their cannibal lover that drives “The Man” to embark on a killing spree.
Between the tragic portrayal of cannibals and the humorous element added by Donald Pleasence’s role, it is strange that this underrated gem doesn’t appear on more lists of the best cannibal movies. As a curiosity, Pleasence shares a scene with Christopher Lee, making the film even more enticing, as Lee was John Carpenter’s first choice to play Dr. Loomis in “Halloween.”
Parents (1989, Bob Balaban)
This pitch-black comedy by Bob Balaban is undoubtedly one of the most entertaining of them all. Randy Quaid and Mary Beth Hurt play Nick and Lilly, the cheerful parents of Michael, who try to keep up appearances and climb the social ladder. They are, or seem to be, the typical American middle-class family of the 1950s. However, it soon becomes apparent to young Michael that the family is skating on a fragile surface of reality. His parents lie to him, hiding a dark and dirty secret related to suspicious delicacies that Dad brings home and Mom keeps in the refrigerator. Nick only wants Michael to follow in his footsteps, resorting to authoritarian measures to make Michael “participate” in the family diet. But when Michael becomes rebellious, Dad doesn’t take it well.
The Last Horror Movie (2003, Julian Richards)
And we end with a very special dessert made from viscera: “The Last Horror Movie,” directed by Julian Richards (“Darklands,” “Shiver”). A dangerous psychopath appears out of nowhere and brutally stabs a young waitress. Fed up with the same old horror movie clichés? That’s what Max Parry, a London serial killer, seems to think. He films all his murders to show the world the truth about his profession in the ultimate horror film. What starts as a typical slasher film turns into a disturbing journey through Max’s criminal mind, a cordial wedding photographer with a particular taste for human flesh.
If you’re craving something different from mainstream cinema, these lesser-known cannibal films offer unique perspectives on the subgenre. So, grab some popcorn, turn off the lights, and enjoy these deliciously macabre movies.
For more exciting content, visit Ratingperson.