Anthropophagus (1980)

Director:

Joe D'Amato

Writers:

Joe D'Amato
George Eastman

Release Date:

9 October 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

...He's coming for you

Plot:

A group of tourists become stranded on an uninhabited island where they are stalked by an insane, violent, and grotesque killer that slaughtered the town's former residents.

Plot Keywords:

Island | Tourist | Mansion | Diary | Killer

Cast

Tisa Farrow	...	Julie
Saverio Vallone	...	Andy
Serena Grandi	...	Maggie (as Vanessa Steiger)
Margaret Mazzantini	...	Henriette 'Rita' (as Margaret Donnelly)
Mark Bodin	...	Daniel
Bob Larson	...	Arnold
Rubina Rey	...	Irina Karamanlis
Simone Baker	...	First Victim
Mark Logan	...	Second Victim
George Eastman	...	Nikos Karamanlis
Zora Kerova	...	Carol
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Joe D'Amato	...	Bearded man exiting the cable car (uncredited)
Carolyn De Fonseca	...	Julie (voice: English version) (uncredited)
Susan Spafford	...	Maggie (voice: English version) (uncredited)
Pat Starke	...	Carol (voice: English version) (uncredited)

Directed by
Joe D'Amato

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Joe D'Amato		(as Aristide Massaccesi)
George Eastman		(as Louis Montefiori)

Produced by
Joe D'Amato	....	producer
George Eastman	....	producer
Edward L. Montoro	....	executive producer: Film Ventures International
Oscar Santaniello	....	producer

Original Music by
Marcello Giombini

Cinematography by
Enrico Biribicchi

Film Editing by
Ornella Micheli

Set Decoration by
Ennio Michettoni

Costume Design by
Ennio Michettoni

Makeup Department
Pietro Tenoglio	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Christian Alexander Moran	....	post-production manager (restored version)
Tommaso Pantano	....	production supervisor
Oscar Santaniello	....	production manager

Camera and Electrical Department
Antonio Benetti	....	still photographer
Enrico Biribicchi	....	camera operator
Enzo Frattari	....	assistant camera

Editorial Department
Bruno Micheli	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Giovanni Ferrucci	....	production secretary
Daniele Tommaso	....	continuity
Walter Zoi	....	administrator

Production Companies

• Filmirage
• Produzioni Cinematografiche Massaccesi (PCM) International

Distributors

• Cinedaf (1980) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Film Ventures International (FVI) (1981) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Eurogroup (1982) (France) (theatrical)
• Filmhansa (1981) (West Germany) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Cinépix Film Properties (CFP) (1982) (Canada) (theatrical) (Québec)
• Monterey Home Video (1984) (USA) (VHS)
• Fries Entertainment (198?) (USA) (VHS)
• Astro Distribution (2000) (Germany) (DVD)
• Big Fish (2005) (Italy) (DVD) (uncut)
• Cinefear (????) (USA) (video)
• Hollywood DVD Ltd. (????) (UK) (DVD) (as "The Grim Reaper")
• Media Blasters (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Shriek Show (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Sum Mei Video Co (19??) (Hong Kong) (VHS) (as "Man-Eater")
• Threat Theatre (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Video Alsen (????) (Greece) (VHS)
• Video Film Promotions (VFP) (????) (UK) (VHS) (Betamax) (as "Anthropophagous: The Beast")
• Video Shack Productions (????) (UK) (VHS) (as "Anthropophagous: The Beast")

Also Known As:

"Anthropophagus: The Grim Reaper" - USA (DVD box title)
"The Grim Reaper" - USA (censored version)
"The Zombie's Rage" - USA (reissue title)

Runtime:

90 min | USA:87 min (R-rated version)

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian | German

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:R | France:-16 | Singapore:PG | Canada:R | Germany:BPjM Restricted | Finland:K-18 | Norway:(Banned) | UK:(Banned) (1984-2002) | UK:18 (heavily cut) | USA:R (heavily cut) | USA:Unrated (uncut) | Italy:VM18 | Germany:(Banned) | Chile:18 (uncut DVD version) | Spain:18 | Peru:18 | Argentina:18 | Hong Kong:III

Filming Locations:

Athens, Greece

Company:

Filmirage

Trivia:

Director Cameo: [Joe D'Amato]Bearded man exiting cable car.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Cinema Snob: Anthropophagus (#4.2)" (2012)

Probably One of My All Time Favorites

I first watched this movie under the title of The Grim Reaper. Most of us fans of the movie probably have as well. Surprisingly, I had never heard about this movie until a few years ago. I remember watching it and think that there was something about this movie that was above most of its competition. Of course, I hadn't seen the uncut version of the film yet so I was just going off of the atmosphere. When I was told what I was missing in the uncut version I had to find it. Obviously, I did. And it wasn't through Shriek Shows new DVD.

A group of people, including Tisa Farrow of Zombi 2 fame, set sail to a secluded island. Upon setting shore, they notice that no one is in site and begin to find dead mummified bodies throughout the town. They don't realize that an extremely impending figure has murdered everyone on the island and they are next.

Sounds simple and it is. George Eastman who plays The Monster even says in an interview that this movie was only made to make money. There was nothing artistic about it. But, nevertheless, the movie is great. Obviously, this movie is not for everyone as some find it boring and over-hyped. I happen to love this film. The sense of impending doom covers this movie from top to bottom. And the 2 particular controversial scenes are great. Sure, the special effects are terrible but it is the thought of what is happening that makes you realize how sick this really is.

I am not a huge fan of D'amato's works but this movie is excellent. For any real collector of horror, this is a must have. By the way, I did end up picking up The Shiek Show release of the movie. It is well worth having. But, if you can find the original American version of the movie I would get it also, under the title of The Grim Reaper. The music selection in certain scenes are different. 10/10