Antropophagus (1980)

User Rating:

5.2/10   

Director:

Joe D'Amato

Writers:

Joe D'Amato (writer)
George Eastman (writer)

Release Date:

9 October 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

...He's coming for you

Plot:

A group of tourists become stranded on an uninhabited island where they are stalked by an insane, violent, and grotesque killer that slaughtered the town's former residents.

Plot Keywords:

Island | Tourist | Boat | Killer | Mansion

Cast

Tisa Farrow	...	Julie
Saverio Vallone	...	Andy
Serena Grandi	...	Maggie (as Vanessa Steiger)
Margaret Mazzantini	...	Henriette 'Rita' (as Margaret Donnelly)
Mark Bodin	...	Daniel
Bob Larsen	...	Arnold
Rubina Rey	...	Irina Karamanlis
Simone Baker	...	First Victim
Mark Logan	...	Second Victim
George Eastman	...	Nikos Karamanlis
Zora Kerova	...	Carol
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Joe D'Amato	...	Bearded man exiting the cable car (uncredited)
Carolyn De Fonseca	...	Julie (voice: English version) (uncredited)
Ted Rusoff	...	Andy (voice: English version) (uncredited)
Susan Spafford	...	Maggie (voice: English version) (uncredited)
Pat Starke	...	Carol (voice: English version) (uncredited)

Directed by
Joe D'Amato

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Joe D'Amato		writer (as Aristide Massaccesi)
George Eastman		writer (as Louis Montefiori)

Produced by
Joe D'Amato	....	producer
George Eastman	....	producer
Edward L. Montoro	....	executive producer: Film Ventures International
Oscar Santaniello	....	producer

Original Music by
Marcello Giombini

Cinematography by
Enrico Biribicchi

Film Editing by
Ornella Micheli

Set Decoration by
Ennio Michettoni

Costume Design by
Ennio Michettoni

Makeup Department
Pietro Tenoglio	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Tommaso Pantano	....	production supervisor
Oscar Santaniello	....	production manager

Camera and Electrical Department
Antonio Benetti	....	still photographer
Enrico Biribicchi	....	camera operator
Enzo Frattari	....	assistant camera

Editorial Department
Bruno Micheli	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Giovanni Ferrucci	....	production secretary
Daniele Tommaso	....	continuity
Walter Zoi	....	administrator

Production Companies

• Filmirage S.r.l.
• Produzioni Cinematografiche Massaccesi (PCM) International

Distributors

• Cinedaf (1980) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Film Ventures International (FVI) (1981) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Eurogroup (1982) (France) (theatrical)
• Filmhansa (1981) (West Germany) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Cinépix Film Properties (CFP) (1982) (Canada) (theatrical) (Québec)
• Monterey Home Video (1984) (USA) (VHS)
• Fries Entertainment (198?) (USA) (VHS)
• Astro Distribution (2000) (Germany) (DVD)
• Big Fish (2005) (Italy) (DVD) (uncut)
• Cinefear (????) (USA) (video)
• Hollywood DVD Ltd. (????) (UK) (DVD) (as "The Grim Reaper")
• Media Blasters (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Shriek Show (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Threat Theatre (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Video Alsen (????) (Greece) (VHS)
• Video Film Promotions (VFP) (????) (UK) (VHS) (Betamax) (as "Anthropophagous: The Beast")
• Video Shack Productions (????) (UK) (VHS) (as "Anthropophagous: The Beast")

Also Known As:

Anthropophagous: The Beast (UK) (video title)
Anthropophagus: The Grim Reaper (USA) (DVD box title)
Antropofago (Italy)
Man Beast
The Grim Reaper (USA) (censored version)
The Savage Island
The Zombie's Rage (USA) (reissue title)
L'anthropophage (Canada: French title) (France) (TV title) [fr]
Anthropophagous (France) [fr]
Anthropophalus (Canada: French title) (alternative spelling) [fr]
Der Menschenfresser (West Germany) [de]
Gomia, terror en el Mar Egeo (Spain) [es]
Man Eater - Der Menschenfresser (West Germany) (X-rated version) [de]
Man-Eater (West Germany) [de]

Runtime:

90 min | USA:87 min (R-rated version)

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian | English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-18 | UK:18 (heavily cut) | Norway:(Banned) | UK:(Banned) (1984-2002) | USA:R (heavily cut) | USA:Unrated (uncut) | Italy:VM18 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Germany:(Banned) | Chile:14 (uncut DVD version) | Australia:R | France:-16 | Singapore:PG | Canada:R | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Athens, Greece

Company:

Filmirage S.r.l.

Trivia:

When submitted for re-classification in the UK (after being banned for 18 years), the uncut version of this film was never brought before the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification). Rather, the heavily cut, R-rated version was submitted, possibly by mistake.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Nikos (2003) (V)

For the fans of truly sick stuff....

This is a pretty cool movie, although I do reckon that you need to be a little sick in the head in order to truly enjoy Joe D'Amato's wicked imagination. "Antropophagus" (LOVE the title!!) is a notorious video-nasty because it contains shock-sequences that ...well...aren't exactly for the squeamish! The pivot figure is a savage and bloodthirsty man that prowls a Greek island (Greek islands are dangerous tourist places apparently...anyone remember 'Island of Death'?) and devours pretty much everything and everyone that crosses his path. The film focuses on the encounter between this maniac and a group of young tourists that coincidentally strand on the island. Apart from the downright nauseating gore (he eats a fetus, for Christ's sake!), this is a rather suspenseful and atmospheric Italian horror film that surely ranks among D'Amato's best work, alongside "Beyond the Darkness" and "Death Smiles at Murder". In case you're a fellow Italian horror fanatic, you'll love the cast that includes George Eastman, Tisa Farrow and Serena Grandi. True, there are some really tedious moments to sit through but the gore is rewarding and the music is terrific. There equally is some gratuitous sleaze to enjoy, as well as some nice photography. Due to its violent and raw nature, "Antropophagus" is one of the most cut films ever. Avoid any version that says "Grim Reaper" on the cover because that's the version that leaves out all the sweet nastiness you're so desperately looking for :)