Papaya dei Caraibi (1978)

Director:

Joe D'Amato

Writer:

Roberto Gandus (story)

Release Date:

16 November 1978 (Italy)

Genre:

Horror

Plot:

A team of geologists attempt to remove a native cannibal population from an island to perform atomic research, but the cannibals' female leader disposes of them one by one by seduction. |

Plot Keywords:

Erotica | Oral Sex | Caribbean | Vampire | Fruit In Title

Cast

Dakar	...	Ceremony Leader
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Melissa Chimenti	...	Papaya (as Melissa)
Sirpa Lane	...	Sara
Maurice Poli	...	Vincent

Also Known As:

Caribbean Papaya (International: English title)
Die of Pleasure (Europe: English title)
Papaya: Love Goddess of the Cannibals (Europe: English title) (video title)

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color (Telecolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Not Rated (Severin films DVD) | Italy:VM18 | West Germany:18

Company:

Mercury Cinematografica

Trivia:

German Import DVD has a Super-8mm Version (German language only), as a special feature on the disc.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Joe D'Amato Totally Uncut (1999)

Fair Love Goddess

Papaya: Love Goddess of the Cannibals (1978)

** (out of 4)

Director D'Amato takes his sleaze to the Caribbean for the first time but this in turn would lead to a long line of films shot there including the infamous Porno Holocaust and Erotic Nights of the Living Dead. Unlike those two films this one here remains softcore throughout but, as with many of the director's films, the subject matter bounces all around. A reporter and a nuclear power scientist are on the island having some fun when they meet the strange but beautiful Papaya (Melissa Chimenti). What the two don't know is that Papaya might be a voodoo goddess ready to use her sexuality to have things do her own way and lets just say she doesn't want any nuclear power plant on her island. Whether or not you're going to like a film like this solely depends on what you feel about the genre at hand. D'Amato not only mixes the voodoo and horror genres with the sex and nudity but he also throws in some action, drama and even a silly ritual dance. Those expecting to see a cannibal film are going to be disappointed because that title was pretty much thrown on with the exception of one guy who takes a bite out of a human heart. The only other way this is connected to other cannibal movies is the fact that many animals here are slaughtered on camera. Two dead pigs are gutted and a chicken dies during a cockfight so animals lovers might want to stay away. As is also usual, the director throws in all sorts of sex and nudity but none of it is overly erotic and after a while it gets rather tiresome. The director also lets scenes roll on and on for way too long and this includes one where our couple is walking around with nothing happening for at least ten minutes. With that said, the women are attractive here and the story is mildly entertaining if you know what to expect. The opening sex scene/murder is ultra violent with a big splash of gore so these reasons might make people want to see the movie.