MOUNTAIN OF THE CANNIBAL GOD

Directed by Sergio Martino
Written by Cesare Frugoni & Sergio Martino
Produced by Luciano Martino
Cinematography by Giancarlo Ferrando
Music by Guido De Angelis & Maurizio De Angelis
Cast: Ursula Andress, Stacy Keach, Claudio Cassinelli & Antonio Marsina

1978/103 mins/Color/Dolby Digital Mono
2.35:1 anamorphic/English/Italy/NTSC Region 1

Review from the Anchor Bay DVD

The wealthy Susan Stevenson (the lovely Ursula Andress) wants to go into a mission in the New Guinea to find her missing husband. She is joined by her annoying and arrogant brother, Arthur. To make it across the deep jungle all the way to the mysterious mountain named Ra Ra Me, she enlist the help of one of her husband's good friend and renowed adventurer, Edward Foster (Stacy Keach). But things aren't always what they seem... especially when everyone has their own reasons as to why they want to reach the top of that cursed mountain.

Before the International success of Ruggero Deodato's CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST and Umberto Lenzi's CANNIBAL FEROX, Sergio Martino directed his own cannibal movie. Visually the movie is very interesting but storywise this is more of the same. Unfortunately, Martino had to rely on some useless animal cruelties. The python and monkey scene is especially brutal and disgusting. And not surprisingly the natives are onced again portrayed as primitive ignorant savages. Not even the fact that Ursula Andress gets naked could actually save this one. Still, keep in mind that I am not much of a fan of the whole cannibal genre. And the scene with the native fucking a buffalo won't help changing my opinion about this one.

Actor Claudio Cassinelli, who also was in Sergio Martino's BIG RIVER ALLIGATOR and ISLAND OF THE FISHMEN, died in a helicopter crash while acting in another Martino flick, HANDS OF STEEL. The cave the movie's climax takes place was the same one where Ruggero Deodato had earlier filmed JUNGLE HOLOCAUST.

Anchor Bay released MOUNTAIN OF THE CANNIBAL GOD on DVD in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio and it is anamorphic. For a 1978 movie, the image is surprisingly good! The colors are sharp, nicely saturated and without any defects. The English Mono track isn't anything special but does the job. Still it could have been a little clearer. This uncut edition of the movie actually features re-inserted scenes that are part of Martino's own collection making it the most complete version ever containing 4 more minutes of footage.

As for the extras, we get the trailer. "Legacy of the Cannibal God" is a 13 minutes Blue Underground produced interview with Sergio Martino. The director talks about the lead in the film and the useless animal cruelties, especially the python and monkey scene which he says was an accident... yeah right! The featurette even show us frame by frame how it was staged making Martino's comment a lie. Personnaly I find it totally ridiculous and fustrating that he can't even admit it especially after all these years. Martino has lost lots of respect from me, that's for sure.

We get a very nice stills and posters gallery which features some cool behind-the-scenes photos. There are also some very informative talent bios for Sergio Martino, Ursula Andress and Stacy Keach. The movie is separated in 27 chapters, features static menus with music on the main one, comes in a keep case along with a very informative 4 pages booklet.

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Review by Kim Dubuisson. All Right Reserved. 2006. ©

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