When you think of cannibal films, the first ones that come to mind are usually jungle set films that depict cannibalism primitively. Films from the ‘70s and ‘80s like Cannibal Holocaust, Cannibal Ferox, and Emanuelle and the Last Cannibals, that created a subgenre of exploitation cannibal films. Yet, the exploration of cannibalism extends much further than the jungle, and while it’s more recently been used in coming of age stories like Raw and We Are What We Are, some of the most fun man-eating horror films inject humor or delectable edible delights into their tales. So while you’re firing up your grill this summer, here are five cannibal films that invoke that sense of summer fun or perhaps inspire your summer menu:
Parents
This Vestron horror comedy makes for a perfect summer viewing; it’s ‘50s suburban setting sees 10-year-old Michael struggling with the suspicion that his parents might be cannibals. His suspicions are spot on, of course, with dad Nick Laemle (Randy Quaid) bringing home the human bits and mom Lily Laemle (Mary Beth Hurt) cooking them up in ways that would make Martha Stewart proud. Tonally, it’s a strange movie, never quite knowing where to land in the horror and comedy spectrum, but it’s unique and weird enough to be worth the watch. Quaid and Hurt deliver delightfully creepy performances, and Lily’s dinner creations make you curious what long-pin meatloaf would taste like. That’s totally normal, right?
Motel Hell
This fun horror comedy, in which a friendly farmer and his sister kidnap travelers, bury them alive up to their necks, and then harvest them for creating their famous smoked meat, elicited a positive review from Roger Ebert. It seems Farmer Vincent’s plucky charm and the tongue-in-cheek humor managed to woo the tough to please film critic, despite the “disgusting” cannibalism that would typically turn him off from the genre. Even the film’s tagline is tough to beat, “It takes all kinds of critters to make Farmer Vincent Fritters.” While we know what kind of critters it takes, it’s too much fun to watch Farmer Vincent in action to really care. Harry Dean Stanton was initially offered the role of Farmer Vincent, but I’m glad he turned it down; Rory Calhoun made the best type of scene-chewing villain worth cheering for.
Death Line/Raw Meat
This 1972 British horror film was recut and released as Raw Meat in the U.S., and might seem like an odd fit for a summer themed list considering its cannibals dwell underground in the London Underground transit system, where much of the film takes place. Yet, despite its not very summer inspired setting, this film’s cannibals share a common theme among the rest on this list; they provoke a level of sympathy from their audience. The cannibals in Death Line descended from Victorian railway workers who were buried alive during construction and adapted to cannibalism and inbreeding to survive. It’s death of The Man’s cannibal mate that prompts him to go on a murderous spree in outrage and grief. Though Death Line isn’t a comedy, it does mark a very rare turn for Donald Pleasence as the comic relief in the form of goofball Inspector Calhoun. Between the tragic take on the cannibals and Pleasence’s levity, this underseen gem should be on more cannibal themed lists than it has been thus far. Bonus: Donald Pleasence shares a scene with Christopher Lee, making this all the most interesting considering that Lee was John Carpenter’s first choice to place Sam Loomis in Halloween.
Lucky Stiff
From writer Pat Proft, the man behind comedies Police Academy, Real Genius, and Scary Movie parts 3 through 5, this one is way more comedy than horror. Directed by Norman Bates himself, Anthony Perkins, the plot sets up like a cute rom com. You know, where a down on his luck guy meets a very attractive woman who is so smitten she instantly invites him to home for Christmas dinner. Except, her family is a bunch of backwoods cannibals descended from the Donner Party. So of course, it turns out that he’s what’s for dinner. It’s wacky and the humor doesn’t always stick its landing, but it’s a fun concept and notable for being only one of two features that Perkins ever directed. Those that want more gore in their cannibal comedies should steer clear though, as this one is light on the horror.
Delicatessen
Ok, technically not horror, but this post-apocalyptic dark comedy is so pitch black and so surreal, that genre lovers will find much to appreciate here regardless. Written and directed by Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Alien: Resurrection), the plot revolves around an apartment building with a butcher’s shop on the first floor, where the landlord lures victims to slaughter by way of help wanted ads and then sells the meat to his tenants. Throw in an unemployed circus clown as the protagonist, and a feared vegetarian rebel group known as Troglodistes, and you have the makings of a very strange cannibal comedy. While most films on this list tend to entice with its long-pig offerings, Delicatessen is the sole stand out as one that makes a case for vegetarianism.
Bonus: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
It would be in poor taste (pun intended) to not include this formative classic, especially on a list that’s centered around family, summer heat, and barbecue. The film was shot in late July and August, smack in the middle of the oppressive Texas heat. With temperatures consistently hovering around 100 degrees daily, that summer heat is palpable on screen. While the cannibalistic family that spawned Leatherface is terrifying, there’s a tragic undercurrent to their existence. Life and advancements in meat processing have left the family’s trade at the old slaughterhouse obsolete, forcing them to acquire new means of survival. The family patriarch proved he still knows how to barbecue, though. For fans willing to get a first-hand experience, you can book a cabin at the site of the gas station featured in the film, and enjoy some Texas BBQ while you’re there.