Written by: Michael Den Boer on September 2nd, 2008
Theatrical Release Date: France, 1981
Director: Alain Deruelle
Writers: Julio Pérez Tabernero, H.L. Rostaine
Cast: Silvia Solar, Gérard Lemaire, Pamela Stanford, Olivier Mathot, Burt Altman, Stan Hamilton, Antoine Fontaine, Antonio Mayans, Michel Laury, Annabelle
DVD released: September 2nd, 2008
Approximate running time: 94 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Digital Stereo English
Subtitles: N/A
DVD Release: Severin Films
Region Coding: Region 0 NTSC
Retail Price: $19.95
Synopsis: Three small time crooks kidnap the daughter of a wealthy businessman. When things start to unravel they are forced to go into hiding with the little girl. Unknown to the kidnappers that the secluded hideout they are staying at is located near a tribe of cannibals.
After having suffered through the excruciating painful Zombie Lake which was also made by Eurociné I went into Cannibal Terror with very low expectations. Cannibal Terror fails in every way with its tedious plot that is woefully stretched out, dialog that makes porn dialog sounds Shakespearian and acting that is lifeless and inept.
Cannibal Terror was directed by Alain Deruelle under the alias Allan W. Steeve. Visually Alain Deruelle is unable to create any stylish moments and his overall direction is among the worst that I have seen in a very long time. Think Ed Wood but worse. The only thing that he even does semi well are the scenes involving nudity. The Cannibals are not that prominent in the story and when they eat and disembowel their victims these scenes are the tamest that I have seen for a cannibal film.
Finding something enjoyable in this film is an almost insurmountable feat. Even the usual it is so bad it is good doesn’t apply with this film. The most laughable part of this film is it cannibals who look nothing like jungle tribesmen. Most of them are far to pale and have hair styles that just stand out like a sore thumb. One has to wonder where the hell the producers found these actors to plays their cannibals. The only thing that I enjoyed was the films funky score which was Jean-Jacques Lemètre.
The DVD:
Cannibal Terror is presented in an anamorphic widescreen that preserves the film’s original aspect ratio. Outside of some nicks and scratches the transfers is in great shape with nicely saturated colors and solli8d black levels. This release has been flagged for progressive scan playback.
This release comes with one audio option a Dolby Digital stereo mix in English. The audio is clear, evenly balanced and there are no audio defects.
Extras for this release are limited to a trailer for Cannibal Terror and a deleted scene that features some topless dancing.
Overall Cannibal Terror gets a superb DVD release that is on par with Severin Films previous releases.