The first thing I should point out is that I'm very much a cannibal movie apologist/enthusiast. That being said, I still think that MOUNTAIN OF THE CANNIBAL GOD stands out as one of the more distinctive, and watchable, entries into the genre. Released at a time when extreme violence was very much at the forefront of the cannibal movie (thanks to the previous year's CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST, which in turn inspired producers to force Umberto Lenzi to make CANNIBAL FEROX and EATEN ALIVE), this particular piece is far more derivative of the first two genre entries. It was Lenzi's DEEP RIVER SAVAGES (1972) and Ruggero Deodato's ULTIMO MONDO CANNIBALE (1976) that got the genre rolling and both films were more concerned about recreating the action and ideas from movies such as MAN CALLED HORSE and DELIVERANCE than packing in the cynical exploitation. MOUNTAIN OF THE CANNIBAL GOD fits into a very similar mould.
Relying more on melodrama, violent "Boys Own" styled jungle adventure and character interplay than extreme violence, Martino's entry remains interestingly watchable. The "social commentary" that made CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST so special but made CANNIBAL FEROX so utterly laughable isn't even considered here. Despite the more "traditional" feel, Martino still manages to work in some really quite unpleasant moments, including a castration sequence (extremely unrealistic none-the-less!) and the requisite animal killings. Interestingly many of the gore/animal killing sequences in this film were "borrowed" by Lenzi for his unintentionally hilarious EATEN ALIVE...
If you are looking for gore and gore only, this film will disappoint. However, if you are looking for a relatively exciting, tightly constructed violent adventure to pass an hour and a half, give this one a look. It is often overlooked as a genre entry, which seems strange when it is far superior on EVERY level to Lenzi's "trilogy" of cannibal movies. However, it is still a good distance away from the "auto-critique" level obtained by Deodato's efforts.
Relying more on melodrama, violent "Boys Own" styled jungle adventure and character interplay than extreme violence, Martino's entry remains interestingly watchable. The "social commentary" that made CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST so special but made CANNIBAL FEROX so utterly laughable isn't even considered here. Despite the more "traditional" feel, Martino still manages to work in some really quite unpleasant moments, including a castration sequence (extremely unrealistic none-the-less!) and the requisite animal killings. Interestingly many of the gore/animal killing sequences in this film were "borrowed" by Lenzi for his unintentionally hilarious EATEN ALIVE...
If you are looking for gore and gore only, this film will disappoint. However, if you are looking for a relatively exciting, tightly constructed violent adventure to pass an hour and a half, give this one a look. It is often overlooked as a genre entry, which seems strange when it is far superior on EVERY level to Lenzi's "trilogy" of cannibal movies. However, it is still a good distance away from the "auto-critique" level obtained by Deodato's efforts.