Being a product of the 1980s, the decade of my adolescence, the biggest comedies I remember going to the theater in pure adulation were Ghostbusters, Twins, and Stripes. What do these films have in common? They were all directed by Ivan Reitman. While I adore these movies now, the fact that he procreated the man who would later direct Juno hinders my affection for him now, Reitman has earned my respect again with his first ever film, which has just been released courtesy of Shout Factory. With a title like Cannibal Girls, you get what the title pays for. It’s part Herschell Gordon Lewis, part SCTV, and thanks to the new DVD, its homage to William Castle is restored.
The film, when released in 1973, contained the gimmick of “The Warning Bell.” Now when the bell rings, close your eyes as a gory scene is about to happen. Thanks to the magic of DVD, the bell returns!
OK, now that we have that out of the way, the film’s premise is very simple: three beautiful girls get naked and eat men. That’s really all you need to know but according to the DVD box, there is a story. Apparently, these three girls lived at a bed and breakfast, where they feasted on the flesh of men. After stopping in the town, a young hippie couple (Eugene Levy, with one of the best afros you will see, and Andrea Martin, who would later be a part of SCTV) learn of this legend and want to see the inn for themselves. Of course, they learn that the legend is true and they become the next targets of the girls… or are they?
The film itself is a rare capsule of early 1970s Canadian horror (pre-Cronenberg?) and its low budget most definitely shows. Even in the film transfer, the movie is grainy and there are many long takes (some of which doesn’t make any real sense) however there are a few moments that show the talent Reitman has. It’s hard to believe this is from the same man who just five years later produced Animal House. His humor is shown well here (big proof is that it looks like in one scene one of the female cannibals is ravenously eating what appears to be a sausage, and yes, that kind of sausage!)
Believe it or not, the bell helps the movie! Granted, most of the scenes where it rings the gore isn’t too shocking or explicit, but there are a couple of bloody scenes that for 1973 is a little ahead of its time. It’s not as much as a bell sound as it is an air horn. It is funny. The girls are hot, no surprise (even for Canada), and breasts aplenty for those looking for that. In that area, you will not be disappointed. The film itself storywise does fall in the last part, suggesting high amounts of cannabis were smoked during the making of this film. It is recommend to watch with said cannabis especially for the bell.
The special features are very good. The best is “Meat Eugene,” a recent interview as film critic Richard Crouse interviews Eugene Levy inside a butcher’s shop to talk about the film. Levy gives some pretty funny anecdotes in this 15 minute long feature. “Cannibal Guys,” a half hour retrospective focuses on Reitman and co-writer/producer/editor (even back then they did many jobs) Daniel Goldberg. For any first time filmmaker looking to make their first film, I would recommend they watch this. Reitman went on to have one of the most successful careers in film and this shows the risks he was willing to take in making this film. The original trailer and radio spots fill the bonus features. You can also play the film without “The Warning Bell” but it’s not the same film. It really isn’t.
Cannibal Girls is exactly what you get: a schlocky, low budget horror/comedy that showcases the beginning of three great careers in comedy. For a history lesson, it’s worth buying alone. The film is actually quite good for what it is despite the story getting murky at times. Reitman even back then was smart enough to hide his flaws with a clever gimmick that makes the film more noticeable than its contemporaries for its time. It’s more scary than funny but it’s just an interesting look all around.
– Alan G. Richter
- Interview with J.R. Bookwalter - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
