The term “Video Nasty” is a term you used to hear a lot on the 80s, The Mountain of the Cannibal God (aka Slave of the Cannibal God – La montagna del dio cannibale), released in 1978, is one of the many titles that was given the title and was subsequently banned in the UK until 2001. The Mountain of the Cannibal God has now found its way on to Blu-ray with a 2k restoration to bring the horror to a new generation of horror fans in the UK.
The blu-ray starts with an introduction about the movie from director, Sergio Martino, and a text screen explaining, “this Shameless rebuild reinstates the long-missing original dramatic gore and the complete extended orgiastic pandemonium, yet despite very best efforts the quality of a few reinserted scenes will vary“.
It goes on to state, “Together with the filmmakers, we elected to soften the animal suffering visuals which were patently inserted, completely out of context, to cater for commercial stipulations of the day“.
Ursula Andress (The 10th Victim) goes under attack from the Green Inferno as she travels to the jungles of New Guinea in search of her husband in The Mountain of the Cannibal God, a scientist who’s vanished in the untamed wilderness. Soon the poisonous spiders and deadly snakes bare their teeth, as her exploration party journeys towards the sacred mountain of Ra Ra Me, where death awaits. Erupting in an insane climax of frenzied flesh-eating, Sergio Martino’s (All the Colours of the Dark) deranged vision of horror will have you wincing until the credits roll.
The Mountain of the Cannibal God – Gore in 2K!
So, besides that, the “video nasty” is one of those films that takes us back to the times of movies that may even shock us in today’s standards, The Mountain of the Cannibal God looks stunning in its 2K restoration, the screen is so clear that you can see every detail, which may or may not be a good thing when it comes to the films subject matter.
With all good horror movies of the time, we are taken on an unnerving journey from the start of the film, with the dramatic music and build up as we are introduced to the characters that will be joining us on this gory journey.
It really doesn’t take long before the stomach-churning moments start on the screen as natives need a sacrifice and take a lizard, slice it open, drip the blood from the gaping wound on their arms, before skinning it and eating its organs! Now you know why movies like this were frowned upon so much all those years ago, nowadays it would be an extremely extravagant special effect to give the same to the storyline.
So after the initial animal shocks, except that monkey and snake scene which has been removed from this edition, The Mountain of the Cannibal God moves along at a somewhat steady pace, as we follow the intrepid explorers trying to find Stevenson’s (Ursula Adress) husband.
It’s not really until we get to the final act of the movie that the cannibalism goes for crazy! I suppose you could only describe various scenes as soft porn and cannibalism! Andress certainly gets a rather sensual mud bath and to add to the proceedings, followed by scenes of sex, masturbation, and to help give the movie its “Video Nasty” title, there is some rather disturbing bestiality brought into the story (including that pig stuffing scene! Even I thought that would have been removed from this cut!).
And just to take your journey that one final step to complete shock and craziness with a WTF moment, there is a scene that leaves you completely speechless, no wait, there are loads of scenes that do that anyway.
The Mountain of the Cannibal God SPECIAL FEATURES
- UK Blu-ray debut
- Limited numbered edition
- Documentary: Cannibal Nightmare – Return to The Mountain of the Cannibal God
- Sergio Martino on filming animal cruelty
- Theatrical trailer
- Italian credits
The Mountain of the Cannibal God (aka Slave of the Cannibal God) is out now on Blu-ray and DVD.
An Original Video Nasty
Movie title: The Mountain of the Cannibal God
Movie description: A girl and her brother fly to New Guinea to look for a lost expedition, led by her husband, which has vanished in the great jungle
Country: UK
Director(s): Sergio Martino
Actor(s): Ursula Andress, Stacy Keach, Claudio Cassinelli |
Genre: Adventure, Horror
Summary
Putting aside the content material, the sex, bestiality and the other controversial stuff that makes The Mountain of the Cannibal God a Video Nasty, the movie looks great on Bl-ray, it’s so clear. A crazy movie that horror fans will love!
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
