Antropophagus (1980)

User Rating:

5.3/10   

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 | Mansion | Killer

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
• 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

Trivia:

The fetus that the Man Eater eats up is actually a skinned rabbit.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Joe D'Amato at Eurofest (2007) (V)

Probably One of My All Time Favorites

I first watched this movie under the title of The Grim Reaper. Most of us fans of the movie probably have as well. Surprisingly, I had never heard about this movie until a few years ago. I remember watching it and think that there was something about this movie that was above most of its competition. Of course, I hadn't seen the uncut version of the film yet so I was just going off of the atmosphere. When I was told what I was missing in the uncut version I had to find it. Obviously, I did. And it wasn't through Shriek Shows new DVD.

A group of people, including Tisa Farrow of Zombi 2 fame, set sail to a secluded island. Upon setting shore, they notice that no one is in site and begin to find dead mummified bodies throughout the town. They don't realize that an extremely impending figure has murdered everyone on the island and they are next.

Sounds simple and it is. George Eastman who plays The Monster even says in an interview that this movie was only made to make money. There was nothing artistic about it. But, nevertheless, the movie is great. Obviously, this movie is not for everyone as some find it boring and over-hyped. I happen to love this film. The sense of impending doom covers this movie from top to bottom. And the 2 particular controversial scenes are great. Sure, the special effects are terrible but it is the thought of what is happening that makes you realize how sick this really is.

I am not a huge fan of D'amato's works but this movie is excellent. For any real collector of horror, this is a must have. By the way, I did end up picking up The Shiek Show release of the movie. It is well worth having. But, if you can find the original American version of the movie I would get it also, under the title of The Grim Reaper. The music selection in certain scenes are different. 10/10