Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		3.5

Anthropophagous 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 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.

This film became very popular for one simple reason: it was so graphic that a lot of official entities 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 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.66:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Anthropophagous arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of 88 Films.

The release introduces an exclusive new 4K restoration of Anthropophagous, which is also available on 4K Blu-ray. You can see our listing and review of this release here.

If you can play 4K Blu-rays, I suggest that you consider picking up the 4K Blu-ray release because it offers a more convincing presentation of the new 4K restoration. What exactly makes the native 4K presentation more convincing? It tightens up several areas where the 1080p presentation reveals grain that appears a tad too loose. While to a certain extent this is an unavoidable development given that the new 4K restoration is sourced from the 16mm camera negative, I feel that additional encoding optimization could have been introduced on the 1080p presentation. In native 4K, the superior encode and Dolby Vision grade strengthen these areas and grain exposure is more convincing. Also, the new 4K restoration introduces some minor color adjustments, In native 4K, these adjustments, together with a superior dynamic range in daylight visuals, can produce more attractive and convincing organic visuals. To be clear, the new 4K restoration looks very good in 1080p too, but it is more convincing when seen in native 4K. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

Anthropophagous 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.

The following comments are from our review of the 4K Blu-ray release of Anthropophagous.

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 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• 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),

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

• Poster - original Italian poster for Anthropophagous .

Anthropophagous Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

88 Films' new 4K restoration is also available on 4K Blu-ray. If you can play 4K content, I suggest that you consider picking up the 4K Blu-ray release because it offers a more convincing technical presentation of the 4K restoration. The 4K Blu-ray release has a Blu-ray copy of it too, and both discs are Region-Free.