Three friends find themselves in a life or death situation when they meet two men trying to escape a vicious cannibal tribe in the Amazonian jungle.
Cannibal Ferox opens strongly with a great 70s sounding score by Roberto Donati and Fiamma Maglione (credited under their joint alias Budy Maglione) as a drug addict makes his way to Mike Logan's apartment to score, sadly the build up is wasted when the character is killed off pretty quickly by a mobster.
Like Lucio Fulci's efforts this Italian cannibal exploitation horror film written and directed by Umberto Lenzi is bookended with scenes in New York and has a few littered throughout to overtly explain why cocaine dealer Mike has fled to the jungle. It's also a flimsy excuse for actress Fiamma Maglione to appear as the travel guide apartment owner.
Meanwhile in the jungle, Lorraine De Selle Gloria Davis goes about to disprove cannibals exist for her dissertation. When they come across Mike and his friend, who explain that cannibals do exist what follows is showcase for Gianetto de Rossi's gory special-effects.
Lucky for me I viewed the edited version with the depictions of animal abuse mostly off screen. Still, it's a pity they were filmed at all, as while it doesn't reach the fun of Zombie or Zombie Holocaust, the animal scenes are an unwelcome distraction. The real cruelty taints the film as it would have been strong enough with its on screen violence and cannibal antics.
Expect the nudity, bad lines and sexism short comings synonymous with Italian exploitation films of the day. It’s not all bad acting, both Danilo Mattei (as Bryan Redford) as Rudy and Zora Kerova (as Zora Kerowa) as Pat Johnson are solid enough. The on location Amazon Rainforest and New York scenery is impressive.
Sadly, the aforementioned issue, ruins the experience and prevents it being a guilty pleasure. Watch if only for curiosity.
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