Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.5

Cannibal Apocalypse 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov July 23, 2024

Antonio Margheriti's "Cannibal Apocalypse" (1980) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include new program with actor Tony King; vintage documentary on the production history of the film; audio commentary by novelist and critic Tim Lucas; and more. In English, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Like most Italian genre films that emerged during the late ‘70s and ‘80s this film was promoted to the public with a number of different and quite colorful titles -- Cannibal Apocalypse, Cannibals in the Streets, Invasion of the Flesh Hunters, Savage Holocaust, etc. The VHS release of the film that I remember used the current title from the Blu-ray release, with the vintage cover art that is featured on the back side of the main Blu-ray cover.

The action begins in the jungles of Vietnam, where veteran soldier Norman Hopper (John Saxon) and his boys attack a Vietcong camp and after an intense shootout release a few captives who have suffered greatly and no longer look human. (Just moments before they are pulled out of a giant pit, the captives are seen devouring a bloodied human body). The horrors of the rescue mission then invade Hopper’s mind and become a permanent part of his nighttime dreams. Years later, one of the captives, Charlie Bukowski (Giovanni Lombardo Rasdice), emerges in the area where Hopper lives and attempts to contact him, and after they fail to establish contact goes on a killing spree. When the news reaches Hopper he rushes to calm down Bukowski and make him surrender to the authorities, but soon after becomes just as deranged.

Director Antonio Margheriti, who is credited on the film as Anthony Dawson, uses a fairly unimpressive story to deliver a very familiar mix of Italian genre thrills. What this means is that his film does a lot of work to build a very particular type of atmosphere, which is supposed to become its greatest strength.

Unfortunately, while certain parts -- like the ones where Hopper struggles to suppress his transformation -- bring proper chills, there is plenty of material that works against them. For example, the young girl that attempts to seduce the vet brings in completely different energy that causes permanent damage to his integrity. Another good example is the street fight with the thugs, where the film essentially doubles down on conventional action and then loses its ability to build and control the crucial atmosphere that is supposed to make it attractive.

The technical merits of the production are something of a mixed bag as well, though in the ‘80s this was a common weakness that wasn’t easy to avoid because of budget limitations. Margheriti likely had a decent budget to work with, but as noted earlier there is plenty of material that isn’t managed particularly well and as a result a lot of it looks uneven. Also, the more elaborate action sequences where supporting actors and stuntmen have important work to do often look rushed, with peripheral activity that can appear flat-out suspicious as well.

Alexander Blonksteiner, who worked with Umberto Lenzi on a number of high-profile action films, is responsible for the great music that routinely floods the action.

*Kino Lorber’s 4K Blu-ray release of Cannibal Apocalypse is sourced from a recent 4K master supplied by StudioCanal, which was also used to produce this Blu-ray release. The version of the film that is included on it is fully uncut and is approximately 97 minutes long (01:36:47).

Cannibal Apocalypse 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Kino Lorber's release of Cannibal Apocalypse is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. The 4K Blu-ray is Region-Free. However, the Blu-ray is Region-A "locked".

Please note that all screencaptures included with this article are taken from the 4K Blu-ray and downscaled to 1080p. Therefore, they do not accurately reflect the quality of the content on the 4K Blu-ray.

In 2020, Kino Lorber produced this Blu-ray release of Cannibal Apocalypse, which was sourced from a 4K master supplied by StudioCanal. This combo pack offers native 4K and 1080p presentations of the film sourced from the same 4K master. The native 4K presentation is not graded with Dolby Vision or HDR.

The party that prepared the 4K master did an outstanding job, which is why I liked how the film looked on Blu-ray a lot. What about the quality of the native 4K presentation? It is excellent. In fact, I like it so much, I do not know how a Dolby Vision or HDR grade could have improved the quality of the visuals I saw on my system. Darker visuals with plenty of darker nuances, like the ones that emerge from the tunnel footage, already look terrific. All primaries and all supporting nuances look very healthy and are wonderfully set as well. There are no traces of problematic digital corrections. Image stability is excellent. So, should you consider an upgrade if you already have the original Blu-ray release in your library? If you have a very large screen and like the film a lot, yes. I think that the native 4K presentation has a consistent tight appearance that I like a lot. The 1080p presentation is beautiful as well, but on a large screen, trained eyes will be able to tell that in some areas it cannot maintain the same tight appearance.

Cannibal Apocalypse 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The lossless track is the same track that was used on the original Blu-ray release of Cannibal Apocalypse. I do not have anything new to add. It is very healthy and stable. During the action footage, its dynamic intensity is pretty good, too. Of course, its potency cannot be compared to that of audio tracks reproducing the native qualities of contemporary big-budget action films.

Cannibal Apocalypse 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

4K BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary - this exclusive audio commentary was recorded by novelist and critic Tim Lucas.

BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary - this exclusive audio commentary was recorded by novelist and critic Tim Lucas.

• Cannibal Apocalypse Redux - this vintage documentary focuses on the production history of Cannibal Apocalypse and the evolution of Italian genre (horror) films during the '80s. Ir features clips from archival interviews with director Antonio Margheriti, John Saxon, and Giovanni Lombardo Radice. In English and Italian, with imposed English subtitles where necessary. In English, not subtitled. (55 min).

• Cannibal King - in this new video interview, actor Tony King recalls how he landed his role in Cannibal Apocalypse and what it was like working on the film under Antonio Margheriti's direction. The interview was produced by Walt Olsen. In English, not subtitled. (10 min).

• Apocalypse in the Streets - a video tour of Atlanta, Georgia, featuring many key locations that are seen in Cannibal Apocalypse. In English, not subtitled. (7 min).

• Alternate Title Opening Sequence - using the Invasion of the Flesh Hunters title. Sourced from a VHS. In English, not subtitled. (9 min).

• Trailer - a vintage trailer for Cannibal Apocalypse, sourced from a VHS. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Teaser - a vintage Japanese teaser for Cannibal Apocalypse, sourced from a VHS. (1 min)

• Cover - reversible cover with vintage poster art.

Cannibal Apocalypse 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It is pretty easy to tell why John Saxon was not particularly impressed with Cannibal Apocalypse. This film attempts to be a couple of different things -- a cannibal chiller, a horror film with a social conscience, and something of an exotic action thriller on steroids -- but ends up being only a collage of ideas that struggle to coexist and eventually compromise each other. It has its moments, but it feels like it should have been a much more coherent, and possibly even wilder, film. I still think that it could be somewhat attractive if seen in the wee hours of the night, but it is a small film that ultimately only seasoned connoisseurs of Italian genre cinema would appreciate.

This combo pack release allows you to see the recent 4K restoration of Cannibal Apocalypse in native 4K. I like this restoration a lot and think that it looks great in native 4K. If you have a very big TV or project and want the best presentation of the film, I suggest that you consider picking up the combo pack. RECOMMENDED to the fans.