Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Anthropophagous 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov July 9, 2024

Joe D'Amato's "Anthropophagous" a.k.a. "The Savage Island" (1980) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors 88 Films. The supplemental features on the release include new program with George Eastman; new audio commentary by critics Eugenio Ercolani and Nanni Cobretti; new program with actress Zora Kerowa; multiple vintage trailers; and more. In English and Italian, with optional English and English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

The doomed

This film became very popular for one simple reason: it was so graphic that a lot of official entities that were involved with film rating either demanded that footage from it was removed in order for the film to get their stamp of approval, or simply refused to let it in the distribution system. (In the United Kingdom, it appeared on the notorious ‘video nasty’ list and that’s where it gathered a lot of attention, but it was also denied access to some other European markets). It was directed by the prolific Italian helmer Joe D’Amato in the early 1980s, which was right around the time when he started realizing that there is quite a bit of money to be made from a very different type of explicit genre films and slowly began moving away from horror/exploitation projects.

The plot is not only disappointingly straightforward but also quite silly, which is almost certainly why the graphic footage was added up. Without it, the entire film instantly loses its ‘charm’ and becomes an amateurish mess that even distributors that had previously invested in D’Amato’s work most likely would have ignored. It follows a group of close friends on vacation in Greece and a local girl that joins them who decide to visit a remote island known for its beautiful beaches and great authentic food. Along the way, a stack of cards ‘accidentally’ reveals that their trip may turn out to be very dangerous, but they ignore the warning and soon after reach their destination. Almost immediately, they are attacked by some flesh-eating maniac -- it is the guy that you see on the original poster art for the film -- who then drives them insane while they try to stay alive. Of course, the only way to contact anyone from the nearby islands that could potentially help them is by sending a telegram, but it just so happens that the only telegraph has been destroyed by the maniac. So the entire trip very quickly evolves into a prolonged but quite predictable game of survival.

The original concept for the film apparently came from George Eastman, who plays the maniac, and D’Amato, but it is rather difficult to believe that they actually spent a lot of time developing it. Frankly, it is sort of a hybrid that blends elements from Island of Lost Souls and Shock Waves but adds a cannibal that can do all the crazy things that apparently shocked censors back in the 1980s. The end product not only lacks the important ambience that these types of films desperately need to be effective, but more often than not, it also looks disappointingly cheap.

It is probably worth mentioning that after this film the sexy Italian actress Serena Grandi gradually started receiving a lot of job offers. Here, she plays a pregnant girl who remains on the yacht after the travelers reach the island, but quickly dies after the maniac beheads her friend.

*This recent release of Anthropophagous is sourced from a new restoration which was completed after a 2K scan of the original camera negative. More importantly, however, the film is presented fully uncut and uncensored. Keep in mind that there is an earlier release, again from 88 Films, which is sourced from an older master.

Anthropophagous 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

88 Films' release of Anthropophagous is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. The 4K Blu-ray is Region-Free. The Blu-ray is Region-Free, too.

Please note that some of the screencaptures that appear with this article are taken from the 4K Blu-ray and downscaled to 1080p. Therefore, they do not accurately reflect the quality of the 4K content on the 4K Blu-ray disc, including the actual color values of this content.

Screencaptures #1-23 are from the Blu-ray.
Screencaptures #25-30 are from the 4K Blu-ray.

In 2017, we reviewed this Blu-ray release of Anthropophagous from 88 Films, which introduced a very nice 2K restoration of the film. This combo pack introduces a new 4K restoration sourced from the original 16mm camera negative. In native 4K, the 4K resotration can be viewed with Dolby Vision and HDR grades. I viewed the entire film in native 4K with Dolby Vision, and then sampled various areas of the 1080p presentation.

In native 4K, the film has a very healthy and attractive organic appearance. On the previous 2K restoration, there were some small nicks and blemishes that I thought could have been removed, and on the 4K restoration virtually all are eliminated. This is the first obvious improvement. I noticed some color adjustments, too. They are small. However, anyone that has seen the previous 2K restoration will spot areas where these adjustments were made. I think that they are effective because they do not alter the proper values of the primaries. Rather, they strengthen them in some areas, but without altering the temperature. The daylight footage from Athens, but elsewhere as well, boasts a terrific dynamic range, so I would say that this is another obvious improvement. In 1080p, I do not think that the difference is meaningful. The darker and indoor footage from the island reveals a lot of inconsistencies, but this is an inherited limitation. However, there is one segment where some additional encoding optimizations could have been made. The native 4K presentation handles it quite well, but the 1080p presentation looks a tad shaky. You can see an example here. This is a shaky spot on the 2K restoration as well. The Dolby Vision grade is convincing. It helps tighten up the visuals, which is a meaningful improvement because the 16mm original material produces plenty of grain spikes, and in native 4K some of the grain could appear overexposed. Darker areas with different shadow nuances are handled nicely, too. All in all, I think that the native 4K presentation is clearly the most attractive one, so it should be your preferred presentation of the film. My score is 4.75/5.00.

Anthropophagous 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH (for the English track) and English (for the Italian track) subtitles are provided.

I prefer the original English track. The moody soundtrack is rather nice and sounds good, but all actors were overdubbed in English, so you should expect to hear plenty of unevenness. This is how many, many Italian genre films were shot. In other words, the lossless track accurately reproduces the native qualities of the original soundtrack. The upper register is healthy and stable. I did not notice any hiss, pops, cracks, etc.

Anthropophagous 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

4K BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary - this new audio commentary was recorded by critics Eugenio Ercolani and Nanni Cobretti. The two gentlemen explain how they discovered Anthropophagous and discuss their initial impressions of it, and comment on its reputation, its troubles with various censors in Europe, its production and special effects. Also, there are some interesting comments about the careers of Joe D'Amato, Serena Grandi, and a couple of other contributors.

• Trailer One - presented here is a vintage Italian trailer for Anthropophagous. With music. (4 min),

BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary - this new audio commentary was recorded by critics Eugenio Ercolani and Nanni Cobretti. The two gentlemen explain how they discovered Anthropophagous and discuss their initial impressions of it, and comment on its reputation, its troubles with various censors in Europe, its production and special effects. Also, there are some interesting comments about the careers of Joe D'Amato, Serena Grandi, and a couple of other contributors.

• Resurrecting the Monster - in this new program, Dario Germani, director of Anthropophagus II (2022), discusses his love for Italian genre films and specifically the ones Lucio Fulci and Pupi Avati made, transition into horror cinema, and creative methods. The production of Anthropophagus II is addressed as well. In Italian, with English subtitles. (13 min).

• The Sacrificial Lamb - in this new program, actress Zora Kerowa discusses her relocation from communist Czechoslovakia to Italy, her early days in the Italian film industry, the parts she was offered in various Italian genre films, and involvement with Anthropophagous. There are some particularly interesting comments about Ferdinando Baldi's shocker Terror Express and Lucio Fulci's The New York Ripper, as well as the Me Too movement. In Italian, with English subtitles. (24 min).

• The Grim Reaper - in this new program, Luigi Montefiori, better known as George Eastman, discusses the conception and production of Anthropophagous, as well as his interactions with Joe D'Amato and select cast members. Also, there are some interesting comments about the film's reception and the failed plan to shoot a "dirty" sequel of Anthropophagous. In Italian, with English subtitles. (17 min),

• Joe, The Monster and Me - in this archival program, Luigi Montefiori, better known as George Eastman, recalls his initial encounter with Joe D'Amato and discusses their professional relationship and the director's working methods and diverse cinematic legacy. In Italian, with English subtitles. (16 min),

• Deleted Scene - presented here is a deleted scene with an introduction by Eugenio Ercolani. In English, not subtitled. (4 min),

• The Guts of It All - this new visual essay was created by Eugenio Ercolani. In English, not subtitled. (26 min),

• Trailer One - presented here is a vintage Italian trailer for Anthropophagous. With music. (4 min),

• Trailer Two - presented here is a vintage international trailer for The Savage Island. With music. (4 min),

• Trailer Three - presented here is a vintage international trailer for Anthropophagous The Beast. With music. (3 min),

• Trailer Four - presented here is a vintage VHS Trailer for The Grim Reaper. In English, not subtitled. (1 min),

ADDITIONAL CONTENT

• Cover - reversible cover with new art by Graham Humphreys.

• Poster - original Italian poster for Anthropophagous .

• Booklet - a 40-page illustrated booklet featuring several essays and notes about the new 4K restoration of Anthropophagous. (Available only with 88 Films' website exclusive version).

Anthropophagous 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It is a bit surreal to see that Joe D'Amato's Anthropophagous appears to have received its definitive release on the home video market, which is a lavish combo pack. I recall tracking down this film during the VHS era, while exploring Serena Grandi's filmography, and having a pretty strange experience with it because it was dubbed in Polish. I had absolutely no idea what was said in it, but a few of its graphic visuals stayed with me. Even though it is not my kind of film, to have it fully restored in 4K and released on 4K Blu-ray is incredible. 88 Films' combo pack presents the new 4K restoration on 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray Region-Free discs with a great selection of exclusive new and archival bonus features. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to the fans.