Released 1996
Directed by Trey Parker
Starring:
Trey Parker (billed as Juan Schwartz)
Matt Stone
Dian Bachar
Ian Hardin
In my life there is a small list of movies that are continual inspirations to me. Schindler's List, for it's ability to tell a horrible story in a way that leaves you inspired; Dancer In the Dark, because it shows how movies can truly be works of art; and Cannibal! The Musical because it shows that a bunch of film students with no budget and no idea what they're doing can make a truly funny and entertaining movie.Yes, I just put a bloody and gory musical about Alferd Packer in the same paragraph with Schindler's List. Al Packer is an icon of Colorado history. In urban myth it is said that he was the only person to be convicted of cannibalism. That's not true. He was convicted of murder. Cannibalism was not, and in most states still is not illegal. Anyway, back to the movie.
The movie is styled just like an old movie musical. The songs are catchy and fun, including "Schpedoinkel Day" and "Hang the Bastard". It foreshadows Trey Parker's later work on the South Park movie and also, in a few places features Matt Stone speaking in a voice that can only be described as "proto-Cartman".
The story is based on Al Packer's version of what took place, which isn't necessarily how things actually transpired. But it does make for a funny movie. The stuff about the horse, Liane, was put in as a slam against Parker's ex-girlfriend who left him for an acapella singer, according to the drunken commentary on the DVD.
With most of the Parker/Stone works, you need to include a warning that it is going to be deeply offensive. This movie has a lot of cheesy scenes of gore-fest type killings. They're shot in a way that they come off more like an episode of "Itchy and Scratchy" than a real murder. The swearing is toned down compared to most episodes of South Park. In their other musical ventures, there was always one song that would get stuck in your head, but was not repeatable in polite company. Cannibal! doesn't really have one of those. The worst of them is "Hang the Bastard".
This is one of my favorite comedies. It shows what some kids with an imagination and a camera can accomplish. If you've ever laughed at a horror film, this movie is made for you.
