Cannibal Apocalypse (1980) John Saxon, Elizabeth Turner, Giovanni Lombardo Radice, Cinzia De Carolis Movie Review

Cannibal Apocalypse (1980)   2/52/52/52/52/5


John Saxon in Cannibal Apocalypse (1980)

Viral Cannibal

It's been a while since he was in Vietnam but Norman (John Saxon) is still haunted by what he encountered and when he was bitten by one of his buddies, Charlie (Giovanni Lombardo Radice) who he found being held as a prisoner. It is Charlie who not only tries to get in touch with Norman all these years later but also becomes news when he turns cannibal and attacks a woman in the theatre. And it is not just Charlie who turns Cannibal as Norman starts to turn as does their buddy Tom (Tony King) and they go on the rampage.

Well what was all the fuss about? That is the feeling I have after watching "Cannibal Apocalypse" a movie which once upon a time was in the select group known as video nasties which were banned in the UK. Maybe back in 1980 the gore and violence in this Antonio Margheriti was hard hitting but now it has no impact what so ever. In fact it made me wonder what it would be like for someone who has been in a coma since 1980 to experience a modern gore fest horror having not watched the evolution of horror in the years in-between.

Anyway there isn't much to "Cannibal Apocalypse" other than to say we have an infection on the loose, passed on through someone being bitten and it makes them a cannibal as well. Then as a few people end up bitten they go on the rampage, attacking others and so on often in the midst of something sexual going on be it two young lovers getting it on in the theatre or a young girl flirting with the man next door. So yes there is some nudity and there is some blood spurting and flesh ripping but it all seems so tame when watched now and to be honest I watched movie back in the 80s which were more graphic than this but not banned.

What this all boils down to is that considering this movies notoriety I don't see why "Cannibal Apocalypse" ended up being banned and classed as a video nasty. There is little to it and it certainly doesn't deliver much either in the form of scares or graphic horror.


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