Marian Dora's Cannibal review - "Can I eat you?"

Marian Dora’s Cannibal

Reviewed by : Michael K. Snyder 

Based on the gruesome criminal case of Armin Mewes, Cannibal is a strange venture into the macabre world of sex, violence, and of course flesh eating. Clearly a very artistic piece, Cannibal doesn’t provide its viewers with any comedic elements nor does it force-feed you the gore. The film starts out very quietly, with little dialogue, as it follows the main character around his hometown doing his normal duties. Then, the true horror begins when our lead starts searching the Internet for consenting victims who want to be eaten. 

One of the things I liked most about this small film is the sexual and emotional aspect the filmmakers touched upon. They don’t just show him meeting some guy and then eating him but rather they build up the fact that it is a huge sexual release for him. He wants this other person to be a part of him, not just a no strings attached lover. The film brings you deep into his psyche and helps you understand why someone would eat another person. 

When the film finally progresses to the gore, it doesn’t let up. Each disgusting scene involves some sort of strange mutilation fetish as well as a lot of male nudity. The effects were spot on and very convincing. When Armin severs his “lover’s” penis and then sautés it in a pan, I gagged multiple times. Along with great effects, the script was strong enough for a film of its size and I loved the various angles the filmmakers used. They didn’t just throw this film together; they intricately pieced it together, which is refreshing for an arthouse-ish film. 

The scariest part about this film is that it is a very accurate account of what actually happened. There are some sick people in this world, and then there are people like me who love exploiting those sickos. Overall, Cannibal is an interesting and psychological film that should be viewed by intellectuals and gorehounds alike.

Michael K. Snyder is a student filmmaker in Winter Park, Florida. When he's not in class he is working on screenplays, short films, working with Rob and the Late Night Crew and anything film related to keep him busy. He is always looking for work and is currently seeking an agent or any form of representation. If you are interested in working with Michael please email him at mksnyder1990@gmail.com

Cannibal Flesh Riot - It's a Riot baby!!!!

It's a Riot, baby!

Cannibal Flesh Riot (2006)

 

Reviewed by :Pigamortis Wrex

Director: Gris Grimly

Time: 29-35 minutes (depending on which cut you get)

This is one of thee most original and entertaining movies your ole pal Pigamortis has seen in quite a long time. The directorial debut of a talented fella, Gris Grimly and Mad Creator Productions. Made on a humble budget of approximately $6,000 it reaches and delivers far beyond what its budget would normally allow.
This film has more to offer in its 30 minutes than most "Big Budget/Studio" films have delivered in recent years.





Its a loving tale of two backwoods, good ole boys, Stash and Hub out in search of a meal... Did i mention that they are ghouls? Thats right, eaters of the dead. They travel into the local graveyard in hopes of digging up some freshly buried eats. I won't give any spoilers here but needless to say, hilarity ensues. Along with some well written Kevin Smithian dialog about condiments, the movie delivers on every level.



What most got my attention was the stylized, slick look of the whole movie. Shot in black and white and even the use of some outstanding animation, this was a mix of the fantasy/horror elements of Tim Burton meets Cabinet of Dr. Caligary meets Lovecraft. Along with a kick ass soundtrack featuring an original score composed by Peter Sandorff (Mad Sin/Nekromantix) and Jeppe Jessen of Hola Ghost. PLUS the discs are LOADED with extras! Commentaries (not 1 but 2!), bloopers, music, featurettes, this one has got it all, piglets! Did I mention Blitzkid doing the title track "CANNIBAL FLESH RIOT"?


Now this pig hardly ever does this but I say you all need to get your asses over to www.madcreator.com pick up a copy of this film. Whether you're a fan of horror, or an aspiring filmmaker. This is a MUST! It shows you just what you can do with some originality, talent and some drive in a genre which needs all 3. Head on over and give Gris a shout, check out his art and other projects they are workin on. Give them your love and support... and your money! We need to support those who genuinely deserve it and basing my opinion on this project, Gris and the folks at Mad Creator Productions indeed deserve it!

Pigamortis visits Flesh, TX ...and reviews it

So we allllll know "The Saw is Family". This however does not mean that all cannibalistic kinfolk from Texas use the saw for family business.
Enter Guy Crawford's "FLESH,Tx".


Directed by Guy Crawford


On screen deaths: 5*
Best Death: Sugar's (if i HAVE to pick one)



*I am not counting the "reported deaths" or "eluded to deaths" just the ones shown onscreen.



So where do i begin? The movie starts off like a shot with a pair of door to door bible thumpers spreadin the good word of Jesus. They come to a rundown house out in the midst of what you would assume to be nowhere and come across a momma and her her daughters. After an all too friendly welcome we are treated to a slashed throat and a stabbing for apparently no reason. (Although do you EVER really need a reason to hack and slash door to door God Squad types?) So far... the movie is off to a good start.


We jump on over to the local bar, where 2 "biker" fellas(Neither guy had a HARLEY)after what we can only assume was a long ride stop in for a couple of brews only to find that this place in the middle of nowhere only serves PABST BLUE RIBBON! (ain't nothin wrong with that!)

Its then that they are approached by Sugar Barley. A sexy lil number who had this low budget,Baby Firefly thing going on. She starts flirting and hits on one of the biker guys and of course easily gets him to ditch his friend and take her home.
I'd like to interrupt this review for just a moment for a lil piggy pop quiz:



You're an average (at best) Joe and a gal who you probably could never PAY to pee on you if you were on fire, let alone touch you in a sexual manner (Dimension knows what I mean) comes up to you and propositions you... She is what?



A) She is a poor, lost, soul who needs your help her and you'd
better take her home before some other guy with less morals
than you takes advantage of her.



B) She is simply blown away by your big city charms and down to
earth demeanor and simply MUST be yours!


C) She is a crazy bitch who will take you home and butcher you.



I know as men we are hardwired to think with the little head but,c'mon...
If you answered any answer but C) you are a tool and you deserve what you get.
We now return you to our review, already in progress.



So fella gets brought back to the rundown house we saw earlier and Sugar (who keeps doing this really cute thing with her eyebrow) introduces this moe to the rest of the BARLEY clan: Momma, Jonas(Pa), Fancy, Butter, and Woody, the mullet wig wearin, beefy,studdering,swearing jacktard. As you my dear reader can already assume, things do not end well for our biker shmuck.

So far, its been a decent movie, i mean we are only 1/4 way in and although i don't mind low-budget movies, the low budget feel is clearly here. Its here that we are introduced to the unlovable mother/daughter team of Donna and Tabitha Parker. Traveling cross country to get to California to "start over" after an ugly divorce, where Tabitha blames her mom for the problems with her dad. Or at least that is the back story laid out in an awkward conversation between the mother/daughter in the car.


This conversation's awkward level is only compounded by the heaping shovel loads of attitude both characters give off, making them both rather unlikeable.
They pull into a gas station for a pee break and it is here that Sugar Barley runs into our duo and Tabitha ends up on the back of a milk carton. Upon calling the local sheriff, who turns out to be Sugar's pa,Jonas Barley, who really doesn't help her at all.


With her daughter gone, and little help from the locals, Donna begins her own investigation. One that leads her to the local bar, (the one that only served PABST)where we are treated to a cameo by B-movie staple, JOE ESTEVEZ. He plays the town drunkard, Henry who in a alcohol induced, pre-passout babble gives Donna some clues(?) that something sinister may have happened to her daughter and that Sugar and the Family maybe involved. Henry goes on (and on and on and on) about forgiveness and turning his back on evils and blah blah blah. (the filmmakers squeezed every cent they paid for this cameo out of Estevez) The sheriff shows up to chase Donna off and to "take Henry home" (to see his maker).

SPOILER ALERT! (I say this with a fairly decent amount of sarcasm because i feel that the movie has been fairly predictable) We find out that Tabitha has not yet befallen the fate of the other folks in this movie but is being saved for SUNDAY SUPPER and needs to be fattened up. (Although how fat can they get her in a week feeding her a handful of ritz and an apple half?) Woody, is the family kick around as demonstrated throughout the movie by the other family members, especially Sugar. When Woody needs to bring Tabitha her meal, she plucks at his big, dumb heartstrings and not since "Milo and Otis" has a more unconventional friendship been formed. Also not since that movie has there been such an overwhelming amount of ADR in one scene. Pretty much the rest of their conversation is all overdubbed which really works well with Woody's stuttering(note sarcasm) And when things get fouled up and Donna gets closer to finding her daughter, when Pa gives Woody the order to "Kill Tabitha"... well we all know where this is heading.


Donna eventually follows the trail back to the FAMILY house and with ninja like skills, silently enters and is treated to a house of horrors. where various other "children" of the family live and apparently baby bird each other for meals.
[I would like to at this point give kudos to CARL HAWKE the set designer for the kick ass poster of WAYNE NEWTON in the murder house!]In a confrontation, Donna knocks out Fancy Barley, the oversexed mute and is confronted by Momma Barley and learns the "secret" (that we all knew from the opening scenes) of the cannibal clan and that her daughter was next on the menu, as well as being given some really helpful tips on parenting by Momma. Our still unlikeable, Donna is knocked out and Woody is to take her out back and strip her of her clothes and burn em. No one get excited, there is 0 nudity in this film. Its here that we learn that Woody and Tabitha's friendship has blossomed and he reunites mother and daughter, only to be stopped by Sugar. This culminates into what is possibly thee weakest, unsexy cat fight ever ending in someone getting pitchforked in the guts.


What is really odd is the message they try to convey (kind of beating you over the head with it really) that sometimes we don't always like our family but we should always love them because after all they are family.
I am leaving out some of the "twists and turns" of the film, that didn't really add much in my opinion.


Flesh,Tx had potential. The cinematography (Guy Crawford) was actually rather impressive as there were some great shots throughout the movie. For its low-budget roots the movie was rather well acted, I've seen worse in bigger budget flicks. The FAMILY seemed to be a bit cliched. We've seen this redneck, cannibal family before in various inceptions. The characters were very two dimensional and aside from Sugar being amazing eye candy, the rest of the cast really had nothing to offer. The characters of Donna and Tabitha just hoping that they would have both been Lunch and Dinner for the Family. That's saying something when you're actually less likable than the CANNIBAL, INBRED, PSYCHOPATHS in the movie. You just couldn't get behind them at all. I also think the air of conspiracy the movie wanted to convey just fell short. Who do you trust? Who in town is in on it or worse yet, part of the Family? You just really didn't care.


The main gripe of the movie was the terrible sound. The poor ADR, the background noise which at one point drowned out the dialog,some glaring editing slip ups, all in all it simply detracted from the over-all film. The FX (Randy Arbogast)and Make up FX (Michael Peterson, Sarah Catherine Renshaw) were rather mediocre, although there wasn't all that much blood in this, sadly.


The moral of the story, don't talk to hot girls at gas stations or bars, better yet take a map and avoid FLESH,Tx all together.

Long Pigs Film review - our biggest and best yet!!

Long Pigs: Movie Review

This time around for the movie review, the Late Night crew (John Cannon and Rob Dimension) decided to pull double duty and review the Independent Underground Horror hit film, Long Pigs. After viewing the film, they were both blown away by how much fun and well put together the film really is. Gearing up for the official DVD release on June 7th, this is what they had to say about Long Pigs: 

John - Long Pigs is a movie based around an independent film crew following around a modern day cannibal serial killer not unlike Ed Gein and Jeffery Dahmer. The serial killer is Anthony who is a basic simple man who puts the art of cannibalism as well as the act of killing into the same category of people eating meat such as cows and pigs. In one scene it shows him cutting apart a recently killed victim as he has the corpse hung by their feet as you would in a butcher shop. However as he goes about his deed he is talking with the film crew in a simple monotone sound with such a look on innocence on his face that you tend to forget that he has just killed this person and is preparing them to be eaten. He meticulously butchers the individual as a normal butcher would take pride in his cuts of beef/meat. 

Rob -  The film crew played by writers-directors, Nathan Hynes and Chris Power, come across extremely eager, thinking this is the "big break" they have been waiting for. The term Long Pigs (laung pig) is the Culinary term for the human corpse, which is established early on. Our killer, Anthony McAlister (Anthony Alviano), like John said, comes across as "professional", almost teaching a "How to kill, cut and cook" your meal class. McAlister's nonchalant approach to his rituals make disliking him a task....I would hang with this guy, based on his public appeal, but behind closed doors you can see the unfolding of a madman.

John - The character Anthony himself is actually such a sympathetic character that you begin to feel for him and realize that this is a normal everyday occurrence that to him is like a person going to a grocery store to buy food in order to live. This simple average man works a regular job and even plays in beer league style hockey games. As you always hear in every serial killer report you see on the news “you never would expect him to be a gruesome monster because he always seemed so nice.

Rob -  Once the story begins to unfold, you can see the deeper issues with McAlister, problems with "Mommy" and how truly sick he really is. Having his Mom in a retirement home, she is unnerving and losing her mind. Seems Anthony has a few problems...

One sequence during the film, the crew meets up with the Father of a little girl who has gone missing. Digging deeper, you begin to realize that McAlister was responsible, admitting how the playground is a "super-market", he goes into detail about how the meat was tender. In the most ballsy move, the crew interviews the Father with McAllister holding the boom mic, I admit, this made me uncomfortable and want to see Anthony get caught.

John - One point I enjoyed in the film is where, due to a flat tire, Anthony and the film crew go to a farm to secure a spare tire for them to get home. The farm turns out to be a pig farm and as you walk through their butchering area and see the pigs you can see more how Anthony views his ways as being that of a normal pig farmer.

Rob -  I enjoyed the way the film was pieced together, a lot of great editing. Well lit when needed and also some very clever use of music along with a fast forward sequence that shows how to dismantle a body. I also enjoyed the how to use the Kiln to get rid of the bones....fun stuff. Guess I now know what to buy for my basement smoker.

John - The movie is sprinkled with a police detective and behavioral psychologist explaining what goes through a serial killers head and just after they finish their speech it shows Anthony doing and being the exact opposite. 

Rob -  I agree John, the detective scenes were insightful, since they help the pace of the film and grant you a view from both sides of the fence.

John - Now, half way through the film though you begin to look at him more as a monster and a disturbed individual that he really is. You can begin to see the symptoms, which were described by the experts, come out more and more in Anthony towards the end of the film until the final climax.

Rob -  What really gets me during the course of the film is the role the film crew plays. Not only witnessing murders, but partaking in them as well. The realism of their reactions was priceless, from the uneasiness of watching Anthony kill and cut up his victims to witnessing Anthony feeding his friends Ribs hot off the grill.

John - I don’t normally enjoy sitting down to watch movies and tend to sometime fast forward through parts that I feel are drawn out, but in this case I watched the film from start to finish without once thinking about hitting the fast forward button. This movie kept me wanting to see more and I was glad that I did not skip anything in this film. 

Rob - I had my reserves going in, since this film had been compared to the August Underground series and even Leslie Vernon: Behind the Mask, but after watching and giving it a chance, I can honestly say, this film is not like them at all. While the films has similar themes, they are pulled off completely different. I ranted about this once I watched it, even congratulating the film makers, they have really done something fantastic. Long Pigs has won countless Independent film festival awards, if you are a fan of horror, this film is worth watching.

John - There were only a few things that I saw with this film that I would change. While the ending of the movie was good it did become a bit predictable towards the end. As well I thought there was a bit too much closure at the end as you see what happens to all the characters you met through the film ala Animal House.

I did enjoy this movie and they say never leave until the credits are done, well this is no exception. No, there isn’t a special surprise after the credits, but there is a conversation between Anthony and a radio show host, who interjects some points during the movie, that says to Anthony everything you would want to say to cannibalistic serial killer

Rob -  Yep John, I agree about the ending. The ending is predictable but I actually enjoyed the Radio interview during the credits, I thought it gives you both sides again...the Radio host expresses his disgust while Anthony claims he is reformed and looking to put out a cook book. Anthony continues to charm even to the bitter end. 

I highly recommend this film. We are submitted numerous films to review, some are very good while some are just awful. Long Pigs is one of my favorite films of the year. It just stuck a chord with me, maybe I'm crazy but I just found the film to be fun, creepy and it came across different for me. Huge thanks goes out to Chris Power, Nathan Hynes and Anthony Alviano, as they have all given this film a heart and made us all a little hungry for some Long Pig Stew.