Cannibal Campout Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		2.0
Audio		2.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.0

Cannibal Campout Blu-ray Movie Review

Cannibal Campout is a shot-on-video (SOV) horror feature that gained a cult following as a video store staple. Produced by Tom Fisher and Jon McBride, Cannibal Campout developed its cult status despite also earning a reputation as a somewhat silly and over- the-top low-budget horror production. The feature-film was a regional success and Cannibal Campout began the directing career of Jon McBride, who went on to create more low-budget horror films. An example of 1980s independent filmmaking and the low-fi quality of the time- period, Cannibal Campout is the type of film that gets made by friends getting together to make a movie.

Jon (Jon McBride), Carrie (Carrie Lindell), Amy (Amy Chludzinski), and Chris (Christopher A. Granger) decide to head out to Redston woods in order to have a fun camping trip over a lazy weekend. The teenagers are ready for some relaxation and instead meet a trio of bloodthirsty men: Gene (Gene Robbins), Joe (Joseph Salheb), and Rich (Richard Marcus) are deranged cannibals who want the teenagers blood dripping into their own veins.

The performances in Cannibal Campout are amateurish and feel like something one would only find with unprofessional actors. The acting in the film feels as though it was done without rehearsals, practice, or any method. Regardless, the actors seem to have plenty of fun with their respective roles. Gene Robbins is the lead cannibal, Joseph Salheb is the disfigured cannibal, and Richard Marcus is the third cannibal – each character having a frenzied time attacking the victims.

The special makeup effects by Joseph Salheb are impressive looking for a low-budget feature-film even if the effects are over-the-top and unrealistic. The effects make the film more entertaining and help the production to stand-out. Gore aficionados (Fangoria readers, you know who you are), the film is one that unquestionably delivers gobs of gore. The effects work is one of the fundamentals of the film.

The cinematography by Tom Fisher is low-fi and unrefined but there is a certain charm to the low budget nature of the film. While Cannibal Campout looks completely amateurish with its shot on video visuals, the style of the photography feels well-done for a horror film. The cinematography was clearly done by someone with a love of genre filmmaking.

Edited by Jon McBride (Woodchipper Massacre), Cannibal Campout isn’t perfectly paced or edited but the rhythm of the filmmaking is still entertaining. The film could have used some more refined editing. Even so, the effort is still commendable for what it is – low-budget horror.

Written by Jon McBride (Woodchipper Massacre), Cannibal Campout is a far cry from an inventive and inspired script. The dialogue is average and the characters are mostly fodder for the plot. Even so, the script is surprisingly fun for a cheesy low-budget horror film. There are no deep character developments and the plot could have been done in two minutes time but despite some weaknesses in the storytelling department (and the generally silly vibe the film creates), McBride made a passable script for a shot-on-video indie with low aspirations.

Directed by Tom Fisher and Jon McBride (Woodchipper Massacre, Feeders), Cannibal Campout isn’t a forgotten classic by any means but it did gain a cult following with horror fans for being a notorious “bad movie” in the horror genre. The film is more entertaining than one might expect and it certainly feels like there was a passion behind the project – even though it never materializes into a great film. Entertaining, nonetheless, and worth watching. Cannibal Campout is a so-bad-its-good movie, providing audiences with something ridiculous and silly but that is still somehow entertaining despite the inherent silliness of the filmmaking.

I look forward to seeing the ongoing direction of Terror Vision as the label continues to acquire cult horror and genre films for distribution on physical media. Where will boutique label Terror Vision go next? Horror aficionados have a lot to look forward to with Terror Vision shaping up to be something special with genre films like this one.

Cannibal Campout Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray by Terror Vision, Cannibal Campout is presented in 1080i MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition. The release is sourced from standard-definition material. The film has received an upscaled high-definition presentation. The film was transferred from the original master tapes and then upscaled for the Blu-ray presentation. The presentation looks average-at-best for a shot-on-video (SOV) production and the picture-quality leaves a lot to be desired. The image quality has plenty of soft shots, which lack the clarity of native high-definition material. The image can appear a bit fuzzy at times and is reminiscent of watching an actual VHS tape. The presentation quality is limited because of inherent limitations within the source material. Terror Vision provides a faithful SOV presentation.

Cannibal Campout Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The audio is presented in English uncompressed PCM 2.0. The audio quality on the release lacks any high-fidelity refinement and sounds exactly as one might expect to find for a low-budget shot-on-video (SOV) feature-film. Dialogue and clarity are average but acceptable given source limitations. Viewers will need to keep their expectations in check on this one but the audio capably provides the authentic SOV audio presentation. It would nice if the audio presentation quality was better and more in line with a feature-film made in the modern era but as a relic of its time the audio quality shows considerable age given the modest source elements. Even with lossless audio encoding, one can't help but wonder if there's even any actual difference on a SOV title like this one – it doesn't sound too crisp or clear.

Cannibal Campout Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The release comes with an outstanding o-card slipcover. The front art on the slip is fantastic and makes a big impression. The package design looks great and stands out – making one want to check out the movie. The sleeve art underneath the slipcover is great, too. The art stands out as something that is special. Terror Vision always does something special with the packaging designs and this isn't any exception to that rule. The packaging looks great in hand and will make a great display piece on a collector's shelf. The release certainly has a nostalgic vibe to it that recalls the video store era days, something which fans of the video store experience will appreciate with the quality package design.

On disc supplements include:

Audio Commentary with Jon McBride

Audio Commentary w/ Zack Carlson and Brad Henderson

Shocktail Hour w/ Aurora Gorealis Present "Cannibal Campout" (HD, 1:38:04)

Friends Don't Let Friends Eat Friends – Making Of Documentary (SD, 33:24) explores the production of Cannibal Campout. Serious fans of the film may wish to consider checking out this documentary, with over 30 minutes of material for fans to explore.

The Homicidal Homemaker – Cannibal Campout Smokehouse Chili Recipe (HD, 2:26)

Photo Gallery (SD, 3:45)

Deleted Scenes (SD, 3:31) removed from the final cut of the feature-film presentation.

Cannibal Campout Trailers (SD, 2:00)

Raw Gore Footage (SD, 19:21)

The Vladimirs "Cannibal Campout" Music Video (SD, 6:31)

Jon McBride On The Brice Kennedy Show (SD, 4:26)

Cannibal Campout Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Cannibal Campout is a horror film with a cult following as an over-the-top cannibal movie. The film has a somewhat cartoonish way about it and can be a bit goofy at times but the film feels like it came from a group of enthusiastic film fans wanting to make their own horror film become a reality regardless of production budget or limitations. Shot-on-video (SOV), Terror Vision provides Cannibal Campout a presentation sourced from the original master tapes. Cannibal Campout is ridiculous but it’s also bizarrely entertaining for a low-fi independent horror film. The release comes jam packed with an abundance of bonus features. The release also includes a stunningly designed o-card slipcover. A collector’s edition well worth consideration. Terror Vision fans won’t want to miss this release.