Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.5

Slave of the Cannibal God Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf October 14, 2018

The killer cannibal subgenre receives another workout with 1978’s “Slave of the Cannibal God,” but director Sergio Martino has a tad more to share with the audience than a routine of ugliness and suffering. There’s decent acting for a change in the picture, with Stacy Keach leading co-stars Ursula Andress and Claudio Cassinelli into the thick of Sri Lanka locations to sell the stuffing out of a jungle adventure that periodically stops to watch horrible things happen to animals and humans.

Plot is somewhat prized by Martino, who’s trying to tell a story about New Guinea expedition to a cursed mountain where everyone involved has their own motive for the trip. Mystery initially powers the endeavor, but it doesn’t take long for lurid material to make an appearance, including the cannibal movie’s BFF: animal death. Lovers of the natural world should keep their distance from “Slave of the Cannibal God,” which includes animal sacrifices and sequences that showcase battles between predator and prey, including an absurdly long scene simply devoted to watching a monkey slowly die in the jaws of a python, shot in extreme close-up. Why is this even in the film? Only Martino knows for sure, but exploitation is common in the effort, which also takes a few moments to admire Andress as she’s stripped of clothing. And fans of “Am I really watching this?” cinema will delight in a climatic orgy sequence that includes bestiality, with one cannibal cautiously thrusting away behind a pig (mercifully, the animal doesn’t seem to know what’s going on).

Slave of the Cannibal God Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"Slave of the Cannibal God" comes to Blu-ray billed as a "Brand new HD scan with hours of restoration done in the U.S." The results are appealing, with the AVC encoded image (2.35:1 aspect ratio) presentation capturing the limited reach of the original cinematography, providing some level of clarity to best extract frame detail, which survives. Jungle elements are distinct, with defined animal fur and skin, while human particulars are open for study, including bodily surfaces and make-up design. Colors are healthy, leading with pronounced greenery and golden skintones, reflecting time in the sun. Costuming adds some livelier hues. Delineation is secure, handling evening events well. Some minor blemishes and scratches are present. More distracting is a two-minute-long switch to an SD source at the 90-minute mark, possibly used to fill in for missing footage.

Slave of the Cannibal God Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix falls in line with other Italian productions from the era, delivering sustained dubbing efforts, keeping dialogue exchanges defined. Scoring is also satisfactory, and while it lacks precision, musical moods are set through sheer force. Damage is present, with intermitted pops and fuzziness, and hiss is constant throughout.

Slave of the Cannibal God Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Intro (1:35, HD) pairs Stacy Keach with a man in a banana costume who has no prepared questions. Awkwardness ensues.

• U.S. Theatrical Cut (84:23, HD) is presented with a 2.0 Dolby Digital mix.

• Interview (14:31, HD) returns to Keach, who burns through his thoughts on the filming of "Slave of the Cannibal God," which is a job he took to visit Sri Lanka and spend time with Ursula Andress. Keach shares a few anecdotes about co-star Claudio Cassinelli's cobra taming (saving Andress's life in the process), other actors and director Sergio Martino, and offers strong opinions on the yellow dummy the production employed to sell his character's fate. Keach also digs into the thrilling dangers of working with Italian crews, and offers memories from his career, including "Street People," "Road Games," "The Traveling Executioner," "The Squeeze," and "Luther."

• Interview (24:30, SD) sits down with Martino, who tracks his early career ambition and entrance into the Italian movie business. He walks through his filmography, discussing efforts such as "Torso," "2019, After the Fall of New York," and "Island of the Fishmen." Anecdotes are provided and influences are identified, and some closing thoughts on the state of the Italian industry are shared.

• "Cannibal Nightmare" (20:26, SD) is a more direct discussion of "Slave of the Cannibal God" with Martino.

• A Theatrical Trailer has not been included.

Slave of the Cannibal God Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Slave of the Cannibal God" hits all the subgenre highlights, including battles with rushing water, a sampling of spit-based liquor, and a close-up of a castration. It's a weird one, offering violence and melodrama, but there's filmmaking polish here that not found in competing pictures. And when all else fails the movie, there's Keach giving it his all, trying to make something out of a B-movie assignment.