RyanPC
04-19-2003, 07:37 AM
I wrote this review for my MSN Group Euro Horror DVDs (http://www.msnusers.com/eurohorrordvds) and decided I should post it here, too. Here goes:
Let's face it-- there were a lot of cannibal movies in the 70's and 80's. Some of them were so cruel they were almost unbareable (i.e. Cannibal Holocaust), and Cannibal Ferox falls somewhat into this category. It is cruel, but also very enjoyable to watch. This is probably one of the goriest films I have ever seen, and also one of the most interesting, so let's take a look at Grindhouse's version of Cannibal Ferox (aka Make Them Die Slowly).
The Plot
A group of explorers-- Gloria (Lorainne De Selle), her brother Rudy (Danilo Mattei), and their friend Pat (Zora Kerova)-- set out to the jungle in order to prove that cannibalism does not exist. Along the way, their jeep gets stuck in the mud, and they are forced to travel by foot in the mighty jungle. They meet a couple of drug dealers, Mike (Giovanni Lombardo Radice, aka John Morghen) and his friend Joe (Vanantino Vanantini), who say they narrowly escaped being killed by a local cannibal tribe. They walk along until they come to the village where the cannibals live. Joe was severely wounded, and is about to die, when he tells Gloria, Rudy, and Pat the real story. It was actually the other way around-- Mike tortured and humilated the cannibals. After Rudy dies, they decide they must get out of the jungle for fear the cannibals will torture them because of what Mike did. But the natives get to them before they can even leave, killing them off one by one in most brutal ways until there is only one left...
Cannibal Ferox (also known as Make Them Die Slowly) is probably my favorite cannibal film because I remember watching it when I was younger... it totally freaked me out! But I still loved it, and although it may sound morbid, my heart has a special place reserved for it. Sure, it is extremely gory, but that is what is so fun about it! Some of the deaths will have you cringing (especially the guys!), but the special effects are awesome, although some of them look fake. The only thing I have against the film are the animal deaths... I have always hated them and felt it was not needed in order to make this a good film. I think they weaken it, but that's up to you.
I also must say that this film has one of the best soundtracks... EVER. It is simply awesome and fits into the film perfectly. You will still have that little jungle tune stuck in your head for days afterward.
This film is definitely one of the more primitive cannibal films, although some of it takes place in New York City where a cop is trying to locate Mike for dealing drugs. These scenes certainly weaken the movie, but aren't all that bad... at least it's something to hold the plot together! I highly recommend this film to anyone who loves Italian cannibal movies!
Rating: 5/5
Video Quality
The video quality on Grindhouse's DVD is excellent, although it is non-anamorphic. It is so much better than past VHS releases, and although I have not seen Sazuma's DVD, it is also better than it, too. There are some minor problems like specks and glitches, but they are very minor and not too noticeable since you will be totally fixed on the movie and nothing else. The film is also colorful and the does the film justice. There is no doubt in my mind that this is the best Cannibal Ferox has ever looked.
Rating: 4/5
Sound Quality
The film is presented in Dolby Digital Stereo and sounds very good, although it's not the best track I've ever heard. Overall it is pretty weak but somewhat effective, especially when it comes to the film's score. You also have the choice of an Italian track, which is also fairly good although I wouldn't say it is better than the English.
Rating: 3/5
Special Features
First off is a commentary with director Umberto Lenzi and star John Morghen. It seems as if two tracks were spliced together to create this, because at times it feels they are not in the same room. But then other times it seems they are talking to each other. Overall, the commentary was very good and it was nice to hear comments from the both of them, despite the fact that Morghen hates this film and any other horror films he has done. I have grown to love Morghen in films such as Cannibal Apocalypse and City of the Living Dead, so it was great to see him participating. He seems like a very likeable guy and very pleasant, although he was very digusted with this film. It was also wonderful to hear from Lenzi although it was hard to understand him some of the times because of his accent.
Also included are the Italian, German, and U.S. trailers for this film. All of them contain major spoilers so it is recommended that you view them after watching the film. There is also a great still gallery, liner notes from Bill Landis, and an interview with Umberto Lenzi, which is interesting. Also included is an Easter Egg, which is included in the "Grindhouse Releasing" menu. Click on the small "Banned in 31 Countries" icon and you will find a videotaped segment of a showing of Cannibal Ferox in a theater and the reaction of the audience before and after the showing. It is really interesting and a wonderful addition to this already excellent DVD of a classic film. I also have to mention the wonderful menus which are included... check out the Biographies section for a great laugh!
Rating: 5/5
Overall
Overall, this is a wonderful DVD and a great addition to anyone's film library. It is definitely worth the price, so I highly recommend that you go out and buy it now! If you haven't seen the film, you may need to rent it first as it is really vicious and brutal, and it is a taste you need to acquire. Just make sure you have a strong stomach!!
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Let's face it-- there were a lot of cannibal movies in the 70's and 80's. Some of them were so cruel they were almost unbareable (i.e. Cannibal Holocaust), and Cannibal Ferox falls somewhat into this category. It is cruel, but also very enjoyable to watch. This is probably one of the goriest films I have ever seen, and also one of the most interesting, so let's take a look at Grindhouse's version of Cannibal Ferox (aka Make Them Die Slowly).
The Plot
A group of explorers-- Gloria (Lorainne De Selle), her brother Rudy (Danilo Mattei), and their friend Pat (Zora Kerova)-- set out to the jungle in order to prove that cannibalism does not exist. Along the way, their jeep gets stuck in the mud, and they are forced to travel by foot in the mighty jungle. They meet a couple of drug dealers, Mike (Giovanni Lombardo Radice, aka John Morghen) and his friend Joe (Vanantino Vanantini), who say they narrowly escaped being killed by a local cannibal tribe. They walk along until they come to the village where the cannibals live. Joe was severely wounded, and is about to die, when he tells Gloria, Rudy, and Pat the real story. It was actually the other way around-- Mike tortured and humilated the cannibals. After Rudy dies, they decide they must get out of the jungle for fear the cannibals will torture them because of what Mike did. But the natives get to them before they can even leave, killing them off one by one in most brutal ways until there is only one left...
Cannibal Ferox (also known as Make Them Die Slowly) is probably my favorite cannibal film because I remember watching it when I was younger... it totally freaked me out! But I still loved it, and although it may sound morbid, my heart has a special place reserved for it. Sure, it is extremely gory, but that is what is so fun about it! Some of the deaths will have you cringing (especially the guys!), but the special effects are awesome, although some of them look fake. The only thing I have against the film are the animal deaths... I have always hated them and felt it was not needed in order to make this a good film. I think they weaken it, but that's up to you.
I also must say that this film has one of the best soundtracks... EVER. It is simply awesome and fits into the film perfectly. You will still have that little jungle tune stuck in your head for days afterward.
This film is definitely one of the more primitive cannibal films, although some of it takes place in New York City where a cop is trying to locate Mike for dealing drugs. These scenes certainly weaken the movie, but aren't all that bad... at least it's something to hold the plot together! I highly recommend this film to anyone who loves Italian cannibal movies!
Rating: 5/5
Video Quality
The video quality on Grindhouse's DVD is excellent, although it is non-anamorphic. It is so much better than past VHS releases, and although I have not seen Sazuma's DVD, it is also better than it, too. There are some minor problems like specks and glitches, but they are very minor and not too noticeable since you will be totally fixed on the movie and nothing else. The film is also colorful and the does the film justice. There is no doubt in my mind that this is the best Cannibal Ferox has ever looked.
Rating: 4/5
Sound Quality
The film is presented in Dolby Digital Stereo and sounds very good, although it's not the best track I've ever heard. Overall it is pretty weak but somewhat effective, especially when it comes to the film's score. You also have the choice of an Italian track, which is also fairly good although I wouldn't say it is better than the English.
Rating: 3/5
Special Features
First off is a commentary with director Umberto Lenzi and star John Morghen. It seems as if two tracks were spliced together to create this, because at times it feels they are not in the same room. But then other times it seems they are talking to each other. Overall, the commentary was very good and it was nice to hear comments from the both of them, despite the fact that Morghen hates this film and any other horror films he has done. I have grown to love Morghen in films such as Cannibal Apocalypse and City of the Living Dead, so it was great to see him participating. He seems like a very likeable guy and very pleasant, although he was very digusted with this film. It was also wonderful to hear from Lenzi although it was hard to understand him some of the times because of his accent.
Also included are the Italian, German, and U.S. trailers for this film. All of them contain major spoilers so it is recommended that you view them after watching the film. There is also a great still gallery, liner notes from Bill Landis, and an interview with Umberto Lenzi, which is interesting. Also included is an Easter Egg, which is included in the "Grindhouse Releasing" menu. Click on the small "Banned in 31 Countries" icon and you will find a videotaped segment of a showing of Cannibal Ferox in a theater and the reaction of the audience before and after the showing. It is really interesting and a wonderful addition to this already excellent DVD of a classic film. I also have to mention the wonderful menus which are included... check out the Biographies section for a great laugh!
Rating: 5/5
Overall
Overall, this is a wonderful DVD and a great addition to anyone's film library. It is definitely worth the price, so I highly recommend that you go out and buy it now! If you haven't seen the film, you may need to rent it first as it is really vicious and brutal, and it is a taste you need to acquire. Just make sure you have a strong stomach!!
Overall Rating: 4.5/5