A double dose of early 1980s Italo-sploitation, blending an account of crazy Vietnam veterans on the loose with cannibal movie nastiness. The result is pretty much what you’d expect.
The Italian exploitation maestro Antonio Margheriti (1930–2002), here credited under his Americanized pseudonym “Anthony Dawson,” was among the most prolific such filmmakers of his time. Mr. Margheriti/Dawson churned out over fifty films in the course of his four-decade career, including trash classics like THE VIRGIN OF NUREMBERG/LA VERGINE DI NORIMBERGA (1963), THE LONG HAIR OF DEATH/IL LUNGHI CAPELLI DELLA MORTE (1965) and YOR, THE HUNTER FROM THE FUTURE/IL MUNDO DI YOR (1983). CANNIBAL APOCALYPSE/APOCALYPSE DOMANI (1980) is among the best known of Dawson’s films, and one of the more diverting products of the Italian cannibal movie cycle of the late seventies and early eighties (which includes CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST, CANNIBAL FEROX, MOUNTAIN OF THE CANNIBAL GOD, THE EMERALD JUNGLE, etc.).
Among sleaze buffs this film has attained near-legendary status due to several factors: it features the late exploitation legend John Saxon (1936-2020) in the lead role, was released under a multitude of lurid titles (including CANNIBALS IN THE STREETS and INVASION OF THE FLESH HUNTERS) and was heavily recut for its initial American release. Quite a few essential gore effects were shorn, including the most famous shot, of a see-through hole in a man’s stomach. The film has since been pieced back together, and is now available on DVD (from Image Entertainment) in uncut form.
Norman Hopper (the late John Saxon) is a Vietnam vet suffering from an uncontrollable craving for human flesh. It appears to have something to do with his experiences in the jungle, where he witnessed two guys cannibalizing a woman’s corpse, which then sat up and bit Hopper.
Hopper’s cannibalistic compulsions come into play when a young woman living next door comes on to him. He gives in to her advances but can’t stop himself from biting her, thus passing on the cannibal contagion. More trouble occurs in the form of two Nam buddies, who are likewise afflicted with the cannibal virus, and with whom Hopper ends up on the run. This motley crew unwisely venture into a sewer, where Hopper’s companions are shot and burned to death. Hopper makes his way to the surface and back to his home, where he finally reveals his dark secret to his loving wife—and has a final showdown with the cops. And let’s not forget the neighbor woman who was turned into a cannibal early on and still lurks nearby, waiting…
Is this film trashy? Of course! Is it dated? Absolutely, with its funkadelic score and cut-rate soundtrack, which in tried-and-true Italian movie fashion is comprised of poorly dubbed English language dialogue (even with the English speaking performers). This has the effect of blunting the performances of John Saxon and his fellow cast members, although I’m unconvinced there’s much in the way of fine acting on display.
The film contains enough inspired moments to nearly convince me that Dawson/ Margheriti might have actually cared about what he was doing. The editing is punchy, and at times downright (intentionally) jarring, ensuring the viewer never grows entirely disinterested. The action sequences are reasonably well staged and there are some memorable over-the-top touches (like the abovementioned see-through shotgun blast). The whole thing is enlivened by the simple fact that Dawson clearly knew full well how ridiculous it all is, and the film, while never descending into outright parody or camp, maintains an unassuming tempo that works quite well.
Vital Statistics
CANNIBAL APOCALYPSE (a.k.a. INVASION OF THE FLESH EATERS, APOCALYPSE DOMANI, CANNIBALS IN THE STREET)
José Frade Producciones Cinematográficas S.A.
Director: “Anthony M. Dawson” (Antonio Margheriti)
Producer: Edmondo Amati, Maurizio Amati, Sandro Amati
Screenplay: “Anthony M. Dawson” (Antonio Margheriti), “Jimmy Gould” (Dardano Sacchetti)
Cinematography: Fernando Arribas
Editing: “George Serralonga” (Giorgio Serrallonga)
Cast: John Saxon, Elizabeth Turner, “John Morghen” (Giovanni Lombardo Radice), “Cindy Hamilton” (Cinzia De Carolis), “Ray Williams” (Ramiro Oliveros), Tony King, Wallace Wilkinson, John Geroson, May Heatherly, Ronnie Sanders, Vic Perkins, Jere Beery, Joan Riodan, Laura Deen, Lonnie Smith, Don Ruffin