Eaten Alive

Year, director and cast

1980, directed by Umberto Lenzi, with Robert Kerman, Janet Agren and Ivan Rassimov.

Also known as

Doomed to die, Eaten Alive by the Cannibals, Emerald Jungle, Mangiati Vivi, Mangiati Vivi dai Cannibali

Review

There were a lot of cannibal movies made in Italy, during that time there were more horror movies made then man could imagine. Umberto Lenzi started it with Deep River Savages, then made this one and would later make the infamous Cannibal Ferox. I'm not a fan of cannibal movies but because I am a fan of horror movies and cult movies, I decided to pick up the video of this one I found in some shop. Although I have smashed Cannibal Holocaust to bits in another review, this one will be saved from that fate. But I will explain why soon.

3 assassinations happen in the USA. The assassin seems to be a hitman from a religious cult, located in the jungle. At the same time, a woman goes to the police because her sister has been gone for about 6 months. These 2 things seem to be connected, as it is rumoured that her sister is a member of the religious cult. She and a Vietnam vet go on a search in the jungle.

That's in short the story, not so important for this kind of movie. Although Cannibal Holocaust is hailed as the best of cannibal movies, this one is more amusing. The movie isn't as long as CH, it's much stupider and sillier and it gets more directly to the point (cannibals munching on people). This doesn't mean that this is a good movie. Like CH, everything is cheap and amateurish, especially the acting and dialogue, which is far worse then in CH.

But now the department of the gore and animal killings. Because I have purchased an import version by Vipco UK, the animal killings are cut (except for a snake getting cut in half) and most of the other gore is gone too (scenes are less violent or are completely removed). After seeing what is inside this movie, I can say that the uncut version is as sick as other cannibal movies (lots of animals getting cut or stabbed) but that the gore is awesome. So I'm giving points for the uncut version AS I THINK IT WILL BE. This means that, instead of 2 skulls for the gore, it gets 4 on that department. Normally, this one would get 3 skulls (because the movie itself is quite amusing in its stupidity) but because of the animal killings, it gets a penalty of 1 skull. When I give points on the uncut version, why have I bothered to nag about my edited version?? 

Even when this version is more watchable because of being animal friendly, I'm completely against censorship. In the UK, the BBFC is a real pain in the ass. For more information, read the interesting section of Dark Angel's Realm of Horror about the BBFC. I want to decide what I watch. Period. Even when what is cut out is sick stuff. Therefore : when you're gonna buy an import version of a horror movie by Vipco, and it has a BBFC certificate, leave it on the shelves. The uncut version is always better, even when it's a sick and vile movie. People who buy movies are capable enough to decide what they want to see and what not.

To round this up : this movie is slightly better then Cannibal Holocaust, but it has the same animal cruelty that offends many people. For horror completists worthwile, for others forgetable. 

Did you know...

* that lead actor Robert Kerman also appeared in Cannibal Holocaust and is mainly known for his porn movies.

*Lenzi would later make the infamous Cannibal Ferox, banned in 31 countries? 

Conclusion

STORY : 

GORE :

ATMOSPHERE : 

HUMOR : (really bad acting, dialogue and dubbing!!)

ACTING : 

TOTAL : (minus 1 skull for the animal cruelty)

STUPID AND SILLY BUT FUN CANNIBAL FLICK. IT'S A SHAME ANIMAL VIOLENCE RUINS THE FUN A LOT.