Horror : Cannibal (2006)

Cannibal (2006)

I just got done watching "Hostel 2". I do not like this movie one bit. I think it's pretty vile (I saw it in the theater) and extremely unpleasant and I skipped past Lorna's death scene, which was so upsetting the first time I saw it that I almost cried.

But it's been over ten years since I saw it and I was curious about the "human auctioning" culture. So I watched it again, with the exception of a couple of scenes.

And watching this movie reminded me of a friend I had who was a real gore hound. Growing up, he and his family would watch "Happy Birthday To Me" whenever a family member had a birthday. At least that's what he told me. And I can remember going out and partying with him this one time and coming home around seven in the morning and watching "Mother's Day" with him! This was not my idea and it was exceedingly unpleasant. What a terrible movie to watch as the sun comes up. Bleccchh!

His favorite movie was "Sleepaway Camp". His favorite director was Herschell Gordon Lewis.

My friend was always looking for a new high in horror/graphic violence. His threshold for unpleasant graphic violence is unprecedented from what I've been able to tell. Nothing was ever too much for him.

Until the time we went to this horror/b-movie convention and he came across the movie "Cannibal" at one of the booths and it caught his interest and the guy standing next to him said it was the grossest, most disturbing film he'd ever seen and of course my friend saw that as a challenge, so he bought a copy.

I love scary movies, but am not a fan of gore (The Friday the 13th movies are about as much as I can take and still enjoy myself) and I have never seen this German film based on the unbelievable true story and I never will. I'm not sure if I'd watch it if somebody offered me 500 dollars. It sounds hauntingly gruesome.

edit: Toasted Cheese just brought up Dario Argento in a posting. I'd forgotten about Dario Argento's violence. The violence in his 70s/80s movies is so abstract it is often times beautiful. The murder scenes in "Deep Red" are all exquisite set pieces. The arm lopping murder in "Tenebre" is fascinating. Woah!

Anyway, my friend said it's the only movie that disturbed him so much that he would never watch it again. And I just wanted to know if anybody here has seen this movie and what they thought of it! Thanks!

"My life is over. I might as well dance with Johnny Slash!"

Re: Cannibal (2006)

His favorite movie was "Sleepaway Camp". His favorite director was Herschell Gordon Lewis.
Being the extreme gore hound your friend is, its surprising that his favorite film is Sleepaway Camp - '83, because it is nothing but camp and the gore in this cheapozoid slasher is only mild and cruddy. There is not much skill or art to this film.

Herschell's gore was fake and cheap looking and by no means disturbing, unless one considers butchers offal gross which most people who eat meat don't seem to have an issue with. Not to mention the fake blood which was likely red paint.

I haven't seen Cannibal and I never will either.

Norman! What did you put in my tea?

Re: Cannibal (2006)

"Sleepaway Camp" was very cheap and did have the campy stuff, too. But Alan loved those elements as well. The cheaper, the better.

He thought of HGL as a genius. My friend was smart and I'm sure he had some compelling reasons, even if I don't like the guy's films. Actually, I did like "She Devils on Wheels". That one was fun, but it wasn't one of his gorefests, either.

Alan also adored professional wrestling. So, I do think he had a real appreciation for showmanship, which professional wrestling and some of the cheap, gaudy slashers had.

That's interesting what you said about HGL's films and butchers and people who eat meat. Alan was a near lifelong vegetarian. When I asked him if there was a reason for his vegetarianism he said it was because he had an aunt who he used to stay with a lot and she was always boiling headcheese and Alan said it was revolting. I never put that together and you might have just done that for me.

He also liked "Cannibal Holocaust", which I've heard is very gruesome and I will never watch it.

"My life is over. I might as well dance with Johnny Slash!"

Re: Cannibal (2006)

Your friend must enjoy the fun and tacky elements of things and professional wrestling is all about sensationalism and showcasing like you said.

I may have been keen to see Cannibal Holocaust when I was in my teens and early 20', but now I would never venture near it. It contains real animal cruelty, have never seen and never will.

Norman! What did you put in my tea?
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