When we hear the word cannibal, one can’t help but think of Hannibal Lecter. Dr. Lecter is to suspense movies what Count Dracula is to the horror genre. Besides Hannibal, there are many stereotypes and riveting images attached to the word. We generally imagine indigenous, isolated tribes when we talk about cannibalism. There are some cultures that do eat human meat, like the Korowai tribe in Indonesia, where they eat people who died of mysterious causes. Yet our love for generalizations in movies and fictional accounts that we associate cannibalism with whatever tribe the creators see fit. There are tons of movies of white people going on holiday, getting lost in the jungle, and being captured by a fearsome tribe that coincidentally happens to eat human flesh. These generalizations are very comfortable for a western, “civilized” audience, after all, only an isolated tribe would follow such dietary requirements. But let me tell you, there are quite a few cases of western, modern people engaging in cannibalistic practices.
Today’s offering is quite varied, not everything is Hannibal Lecter or tourists captured by fearsome tribes. Here, we offer you a full menu of the most exquisite selection of cannibal films that are finger licking good. Enjoy!
STARTERS
Ravenous (1999) Dir. Antonia Bird
A disturbing Western that tells the story of John Boy, a young Captain that’s sent into exile. While he is traveling to his last destination in the Sierra Nevada, he meets Colqhoun, an odd explorer with a shocking story. While leading a group of people to explore the lands, an avalanche traps them, forcing them to find shelter in a cave. How did he survive? Well, by eating the corpses of the deceased. This movie with tinges of black humor, horror, and western elements, goes beyond the theme of cannibalism for survival. Colqhoun, in fact, is a believer of an ancient Indian myth that states that by eating human flesh, one acquires the essence and strength of the person being eaten.
– Parents (1989) Dir. Bob Balaban
It’s just me or the ideal of the fifties suburb family is kind of shady? No, I’m not the only one. Parents shows us the tormented life of Michael, a young boy who starts suspecting his parents are feeding themselves, and him, with human meat. Through satire and horror elements, Balaban takes us on a terrifying journey to the past, where we’ll learn that we can’t trust anyone.–
MAIN COURSES
Raw Meat (1972) Dir. Gary Sherman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r97IHkxbU8A
In the depths of the London Underground lives a sect of people that are descendants of a group of miners that were trapped there during the construction of the subway in Victorian London. The terrible accident left two survivors, a man and a woman, and naturally, their only way to survive was to eat the corpses and procreate. Later on, in the liberal days of the seventies, Inspector Calhoun investigates the disappearance of an important politician. His investigations will lead him to the horrors hidden in the depths of the Underground.
–
We Are What We Are (2013) Dir. Jim Mickle
A woman goes to buy groceries in the middle of a storm, but before she can get to the car, blood starts bubbling out of her mouth. She faints and drowns in a puddle of murky water. The police identify the body and the autopsy reveals a dark and perverted secret. The woman, Emma Parker, comes from a long dynasty that can be traced back to the first settlers in America. How did this family manage to survive the harsh weather conditions? You guessed it, by eating human flesh. Each generation must engage in this practices to keep the tradition alive.
Will Emma Parker’s daughters honor her legacy?
–Motel Hell (1980) Dir. Kevin Connor
I know what you’re gonna say, “a film about a hotel in which guests never check out is so cliché,” and you’re right. But with a pinch of comedy and a tablespoon of gore, Motel Hell has become a classic cult film. It tells the story of two disturbed siblings who think the world is overpopulated. They sedate their guests and plant them in their back garden? Yes, you read correctly; they bury their victims in the ground leaving only their heads exposed. They feed them, and once they’re well fed, they harvest and cook them.
–
DESSERT
Delicatessen (1991) Dir. Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Marc Caro
This movie has become a banner by those who claim to love foreign movies. Delicatessen shows the stories of a building’s tenants in a post-apocalyptic France. The landlord, Clapet, who also owns the butchery, makes a living out of tracking and luring people to come into his building. As it happens in these films, he kills them and sells the meat in his shop. However, the appearance of a young man will change the course of this creepy story.
–Raw (2017) Dir. Julia Ducournau
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHLJ7TH4ybw
This menu could not end without including the last cannibal film hit, Raw. What happens when a vegetarian is forced to eat raw animal meat? Nothing really, but if that vegetarian is Justine (a vet student), things can get really awful. In this intriguing and disturbing film, we become witnesses of
human’s darkest urges and their incapability to stop seeking them. Clearly, Justine’s twisted desire is her sudden addiction and need to consume raw meat, no matter the source.
–
I hope you enjoyed your meals and hope this menu left a good impression on you. If you’re not satisfied, we can offer some after-dinner delicacies that will make your mouth water:
td {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;} –> –>
The Cannibal That Inspired The Rolling Stones To Write Too Much Blood
td {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;} –> –>
8 Stories About Cannibalism You’ll Want To Devour
***Sources:Smithsonian Magazine
Business Insider
Indie Wire
