Ravenous (1999)

Director:

Antonia Bird

Writer (WGA):

Ted Griffin (written by)

Release Date:

19 March 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Survival is the only option.

Plot:

Captain John Boyd's promotion stations him at a fort where a rescued man tells a disturbing tale of cannibalism.

Plot Keywords:

Fort | Mexican American War | Cannibalism | Cave | Windigo

Awards:

1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Guy Pearce	...	Capt. John Boyd
Robert Carlyle	...	Col. Ives / F.W. Colqhoun
David Arquette	...	Pvt. Cleaves
Jeremy Davies	...	Pvt. Toffler
Jeffrey Jones	...	Col. Hart
John Spencer	...	Gen. Slauson
Stephen Spinella	...	Knox
Neal McDonough	...	Pvt. Reich
Joseph Runningfox	...	George (as Joseph Running Fox)
Bill Brochtrup	...	Lindus
Sheila Tousey	...	Martha
Fernando Becerril	...	Mexican Commander
Gabriel Berthier	...	Mexican Commander
Pedro Altamirano	...	Mexican Commander
Joseph Boyle	...	U.S. Blonde Soldier

MPAA:

Rated R for considerable gore and strong violence.

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

Czech Republic | UK | USA

Language:

English | Italian | Spanish | Washoe

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Finland:K-16 (2000) (cut) (video rating) | Finland:K-18 (2001) (uncut) (DVD rating) | Finland:K-18 (1999) (uncut) | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Ontario) | Iceland:16 | South Korea:18 | New Zealand:R18 | Argentina:18 | Australia:MA | France:-12 | Germany:18 (nf) | Ireland:18 | Japan:PG-12 | Norway:18 | Peru:18 | Portugal:M/18 | Singapore:PG | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Philippines:R-18

Filming Locations:

Barrandov Studios, Krizeneckeho namesti, Prague, Czech Republic

Company:

ETIC Films

Trivia:

John Spencer's last film.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Boyd and Reich enter the cave, Ives remains outside with hands tied. But, mysteriously, when the movie cuts back to Ives his hands are free and he is gesturing madly.

Quotes:

[Looking through a spyglass as three people approach the fort]
Colhoun: Breakfast... lunch... and reinforcements.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Blood Pact: The Making of 'Blade II' (2002) (V)

During the Spanish-American War, a soldier, driven to extremes by hardship, grapples with cannibalistic urges in himself while confronting a vicious serial killer who is joyously living the cannibal lifestyl

Too tempting to make bad puns here, such as saying this film is "strong meat," but I'll try not to.

Ravenous is not for the faint of heart (or of stomach), but if you can deal with the disturbing subject matter, this movie will reward you with a sardonic, intelligent script, slick direction, compelling performances, gorgeously haunting images and even--surprise!--a few laughs (albeit through clenched teeth). Tall order though it may be, this film leaps nimbly and unselfconsciously back and forth across the gulf separating humor and horror, taking the viewer breathlessly along for the ride. Not your tacky, run-of-the-mill slashfest, Ravenous draws you in with a skillful blend of psychological conflict, bone-gnawing (sorry) suspense, three-dimensional characters and real wit. Insofar as it defies ready classification, it has perhaps a tiny bit of spiritual kinship with An American Werewolf in London, which must have been every bit as challenging to market as this one apparently was. Don't let the amorphous nature of the ads stop you--this one is worth the trip.

Just be sure to stock up on vegetarian food beforehand.