What the writers Antonio Margheriti, who also directed, and Dardano Sacchetti give the viewers of Cannibal Apocalypse is a cannibalistic thriller with a twist of zombie fetish... and it works.While fighting in the Vietnam war Charlie Buckowski and Tom Thompson are captured and imprisoned in a pit with very little to eat. During a rescue by Norman Hopper a Vietcong falls into the pit; unfortunately for her, the prisoners are ravenous and start to tear her apart with their teeth as they feast. Once back in the USA all of the team are subject to psychological tests. Though it's only when Charlie is released that things start to take a darker turn. As he's trying to kill time by going to the cinema he has the urge to devour the woman in the seat in front of him. As she and her amorous boyfriend start to make out Charlie leans forward and takes a bite... Meanwhile, Hopper who was bitten by Charlie during the rescue is starting to feel the hunger too... Can the apocalypse be stopped before everybody become infected?However, it's the rest of the pieces which deter from the film. The acting, on the whole, is above average, even Giovanni Lombardo Radice (Charlie) performs better than he did in Cannibal Ferox. John Saxon does a more than passable portrayal as Hopper, a man trying to help his friend while trying to resolve the mystery. There's even a shining light in the shape of Cinzia De Carolis who is brilliant as the blossoming teenager Mary who has a crush on Hopper. Even Luca Venantini as Bobby (Mary's younger brother) gives a few good creepy kid scares. However, it's Tony King's over-the-top acting as Thompson that hinders the film, as well as the actors representing the bike gang, and most of the extra's.The direction, though above average could have been helped by adding a little more action as well as tension to the atmosphere of the film as the pace of the story is pretty regular throughout, another drawback to this type of movie. A few iconic shots and differing camera angles wouldn't have gone amiss either. However, the bad lines in the film actually help to keep the audience unintentionally entertained. I loved the scene where the cop transforms into a Cannibal and when his superior officer confronts him, while he's devouring a colleagues hand, he says in a caring tone, "My God son, put it down." Awesome scene.This is an enjoyable film and I would definitely recommend it to everyone especially if you like Zombies or Cannibals. This is, in fact, storywise, one of the strongest Cannibal movies made. Since it doesn't feel like a horror film, as there's not enough eeriness (which is harder to create due to it being shot mainly in daylight) you can enjoy it in the full daylight - no need to watch at night or in the darkness behind closed curtains. Well worth one viewing, though you may just find yourself coming back to it again... and again...

In this Italian horror classic, the war in 'Nam drove some people so mad they turn into cannibals. Like rabies, cannibalism is contracted through a bite and spread to others. This is a great premise for a horror film I think, but sold somewhat short due to inconsistent storytelling and a low budget. Even so director Antonio Marghetiti made an interesting and entertaining horror flick. Mostly a horrific post war cannibal movie, there is a good deal of action here also. John Saxon is the lead and gives a very, grim, somber performance. Frequent Italian horror actor Giovanni Lombardo Radice is cool here also as crazed vet ''Charles Bukowski". Although very controversial for the time for gore and violence other cannibal movies like Cannibal Holocaust and Cannibal Ferox are way more nasty then this. I would say this has much more in common with Dawn Of The Dead and Rabid, but with less money and less talent than George Romero and David Cronenberg. In summary Cannibal Apocalpse is a flawed ,but original war/horror flick. Cool movie in my opinion.

This video nastie was eventually released in Britain with 2 seconds cut. Those two seconds must have had all of the action because there was really nothing left in this movie that would qualify it as a nasty.Some Vietnam soldiers are trapped in a cage and they get an opportunity to gnaw on some flesh. That is the only nudity you see in the film - 2 seconds. One of them bites his Captain's (John Saxon) arm when being rescued and he has the dormant virus that will come to haunt him in later years.For some reason, the two soldiers never fully recover and they go on a rampage that is tame by cannibal standards. The police end up chasing them all in a sewer, but our hero escapes and puts on his uniform for an honorable death.You can be sure they did not get them all, but I don't know if there was an Apocalypse II.

I am a great fan of director Antonio Margheriti, whose impressive repertoire includes brilliant Horror as well as great Spaghetti Westerns. His doubtlessly greatest film is the Gothic masterpiece "Danza Macabra" aka. "Castle of Blood" of 1964, starring the great Barbara Steele, followed by the brilliant revenge Western "E Dio disse A Caino" ("And God said to Cain", 1970) with Klaus Kinski, and "La Vergine Di Norimberga" ("Castle of Terror", 1963"). Even though not one of his masterpieces, "Apocalypse Domani" aka. "Cannibal Apocalypse" of 1980 is an original and highly entertaining film. This is quite different to other Italian Cannibal movies that are set in the jungle, as it takes place in the city almost entirely (only the first five minutes take place in the Vietnamese jungle). This film was banned in several countries after its release, but it is not nearly as gruesome as one might expect. It is full of nauseating gore, no doubt, but compared to other contemporary Cannibal-films such as "Cannibal Holocaust" (1980), "Cannibal Ferox (1981) ore "Eaten Alive" (1980), "Cannibal Apocalypse" is actually quite tame."Cannibal Apocalypse" is about a mysterious virus that gives people an irresitible hunger for human flesh. American soldiers have been infected with the virus in Vietnam, and have brought it back home with them... The greatest aspect of "Cannibal Apocalypse" is arguably the brilliant casting of John Saxon and Giovanni Lombardo Radice. Saxon is, as always, great in his typical stoic manner. The best performance, however, comes from Radice who is once again excellent in his role here. Giovanni Lombardo Radice enjoys a deserved cult-status among fans of Italian Horror/Gore films and his role here perfectly illustrates why - his character (of the name Charles Bukowski!) is one of the first infected with the cannibal virus, and Radice excellently portrays the Vietnam veteran's blood-lust and insanity. The film often resembles a Zombie-flick more than the Cannibal-flicks of the time. The people infected, however, are not brain-dead flesh-eaters, but intelligent, thinking people - only with the unconquerable hunger for human flesh... One of the greatest elements of Italian Cannibal flicks were their scores, and even not quite typical, Alexander Blonkensteiner's score is great. "Cannibal Apocalypse" may not be one of the greatest Italian Cannibal films, but it is definitely highly original. Lovers of Italian Horror/Gore cinema can not afford to miss this!