Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death (1989)

Director:

J.F. Lawton

Writer:

J.F. Lawton (written by)

Genre:

Action | Comedy

Tagline:

These women are serious about their taste in men!

Plot:

The government hires a feminist at the local university to track down the Piranha Women living in the...

Plot Keywords:

Piranha | Feminist | Professor | Avocado | Leader

Cast

Shannon Tweed	...	Dr. Margo Hunt
Bill Maher	...	Jim
Karen M. Waldron	...	Bunny (as Karen Mistal)
Adrienne Barbeau	...	Dr. Kurtz
Brett Stimely	...	Jean-Pierre
Barry Primus	...	Ford Maddox
Jim McKrell	...	Dean Stockwell
Paul Ross	...	Col. Mattel
Vicky Varner	...	Barracuda Leader
Alan David Gelman	...	Donnahew Leader
Pat Crawford Brown	...	Secretary
Christopher Doyle	...	Fred
Lloyd Gordon	...	Sam
James Trenton	...	Unsavory
Steve Reid	...	Bushito
Jim Maniaci	...	Black Masked Avenger
Junero Jennings	...	Anvil
Andrew Benne	...	Frat Rat (as Andy David)

Directed by
J.F. Lawton		(as J.D. Athens)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
J.F. Lawton		written by (as J.D. Athens)

Produced by
Gary W. Goldstein	....	producer
Jeanne Stack	....	line producer
Charles Band	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Carl Dante

Cinematography by
Robert Knouse		(as Robert G. Knouse)

Film Editing by
King Louis
King Wilder

Casting by
Dorian Dunas

Art Direction by
Kimberly Charles Rees

Costume Design by
Barbara Anne Klein

Makeup Department
Patty Beigel	....	makeup artist
Peggy Teague	....	hair stylist supervisor (as Peggy Teague-Tamme)
Peggy Teague	....	makeup artist (as Peggy Teague-Tamme)

Production Management
Thomas Calabrese	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Diana L. Hayes	....	second assistant director
Debra Piazzie	....	second second assistant director
Mike Snyder	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Chet Hilgers	....	property master
Jill Jacobson	....	art department
Dino Kovas	....	property assistant
Mathew 'Cory' Kroyer	....	art department
Hannes Tamme	....	art department

Sound Department
Sarah Brady	....	adr editor
Sarah Brady	....	foley editor
Mark Cookson	....	sound effects editor
Jeff Johnson	....	boom operator
Ted Kosiusko	....	sound re-recording mixer
Adriane Marfiak	....	sound effects editor (as Adrianne Marfiak)
Andy Napell	....	adr recordist
Andy Napell	....	foley recordist
Lars Nelson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Doug Reed	....	foley artist
Doug Reed	....	foley editor (as Douglas Reed)
Jesse Turajski	....	sound recordist
Gerald B. Wolfe	....	sound mixer (as Jerry Wolfe)

Camera and Electrical Department
Nancy Lee Andrews	....	publicity still photographer
Daniel Coscia	....	dolly grip (as Danny Coscia)
Bam-Bam Crow	....	best boy electric
Anthony T. Mazzola	....	second assistant camera (as Anthony Mazzola)
Lloyd Moriarity	....	gaffer
Lloyd Moriarity	....	key grip
Mike O'Brien	....	grip
J.R. Reischling	....	chief electrician
Jan Sessler	....	still photographer: production stills (as Jan Marie Sessler)
Lynn Smith	....	first assistant camera (as Lynn L. Smith)

Casting Department
Elaine J. Huzzar	....	casting assistant (as Elaine Huzzar)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Tammy Hashery	....	key wardrobe assistant
Jacqueline Trost	....	dresser (as Jackie Trost)

Editorial Department
Juliet Avola	....	post-production
Pamela Reisenleiter	....	assistant editor
Chris Weber	....	negative cutter
Gary Weber	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Carl Dante	....	conductor
Carl Dante	....	orchestrator
Carl Dante	....	score producer
Mark Ettel	....	score engineer
Clayton Woolley	....	music editor

Other crew
Russ Anderson	....	production assistant
Jeanette Bellwood	....	assistant to producer
Heather Bryga	....	python wrangler
Dick Fisher	....	copyist
Chris Howard	....	production assistant
Oliver Hoyos	....	production assistant
Harry Lawton	....	location manager: Riverside
Jennifer Love	....	production assistant
Judd H. Maslansky	....	production assistant (as Judd Maslansky)
David 'Castro' Spears	....	production assistant
Sabrina S. Sutherland	....	production coordinator (as Sabrina Nathanson)
Denise Wheeler	....	permits
Corey B. Yugler	....	script supervisor (as Corey Yugler)

Production Companies

• Beyond Infinity
• Gaucamolle Pictures
• Phantom Productions

Distributors

• Colourbox (1989) (UK) (VHS)
• Cult Video (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (video)

Other Companies

• Albert G. Ruben and Company  insurance
• Bud Isenberg Insurance Associates  insurance
• Cast & Crew Payroll Services  payroll services
• JFA  sound post-production
• Katy's Catering  recording sessions caterer
• Motion Opticals  titles and opticals
• Phantom Publishing  score publisher
• Superior Casting  extras casting

Also Known As:

"Jungle Heat" - USA (alternative title)
"Piranha Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death" - USA (alternative title)

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

UK:15 | New Zealand:R18 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Hollyhock House, Barnsdall Art Park - 4800 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Beyond Infinity

Trivia:

The film was shot primarily in the avocado groves maintained by the University of California at Riverside (UCR), which the university uses for horticultural experiments.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Jim "turns off" the harmonica playing, he's actually adjusting the graphic equalizer on the boom box.

Quotes:

[first lines]
[Fred and Sam are hacking their way through the Avocado Jungle with machetes, then pause to take stock of their situation]
Fred:We're lost.
Sam:No, we're not - look! Over there!
[the camera zooms in on an avocado hanging from a twig. The two guys approach it, and Sam pulls the avocado into his hand. Fred takes it and stashes away]
Fred:Sam.
Sam:Yeah?
Fred:I think we should head back. We're getting in too deep.
Sam:Oh, don't - Wait a second. What's that I hear? It sounds like... women! Laughing!
Fred:Let's get outta here.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in A Conversation with Quentin Tarantino & Scott Spiegel (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

Boleggo

A great satire on feminism and male/female relations

"Cannibal Women" is not only a movie that's so bad, it's good, it delivers right-on satirical jabs at feminism, machoism, and male/female relations. Not only do we have a conniving military and warring factions of cannibal women, but a local male tribe, "the Donahues".

The chemistry between Shannon Tweed and Bill Maher is perfect--this is definitely Tweed's best performance anywhere, and Maher is perfect as a chauvinistic, directionally-challenged jungle guide. Karen Mistal, who has the thankless job of playing college student/mindless bimbo/aspiring feminist/aspiring cannibal woman, plays her role without flaw, as well. Only Adrienne Barbeau, in a cameo role, seems stiff. But somehow, even her performance works.

For a low-budget comedy, this film surprisingly packs a lot of laughs and even a message or two. Great fun.