‘Cannibal Apocalypse’ Munches Its Way to Blu-ray for March 2020 Release
Forget the corned beef this Saint Paddy’s Day! US label Kino Lorber has revealed details and street date for its previously announced Blu-ray of Antonio Margheriti’s Cannibal Apocalypse. The 1980 gutmuncher stars John Saxon, Tony King, and Italian horror’s favorite whipping boy, Giovanni Lombardo Radice, as a trio of Vietnam vets who return home carrying a strange virus which causes them to crave human flesh.
Although the film has its fair share of gory FX (courtesy of Giannetto De Rossi), Cannibal Apocalypse never quite gained the same level of notoriety as some of its brethren from the Italian cannibal cycle that made its mark in the late 1970s and early 1980s (in particular Ruggero Deodato’s Cannibal Holocaust). This is mainly due to its comparative lack of animal cruelty that was a staple of the genre at the time. Rat lovers, however, may want to steer clear of one brief scene. What also stands out about Cannibal Apocalypse is its departure from the typical jungle setting for the majority of the film, as well as the exclusion of primitive tribes of flesh eating natives. Instead we have a film largely set in Georgia revolving around the idea that cannibalism can be spread by a human being’s bite. In that sense the movie plays more like some of the zombie flicks that were also popular at the time. Still, Cannibal Apocalypse was deemed violent enough to require some trimming for its American VHS release under the title Invasion of the Flesh Hunters.
Kino’s new Blu-ray of Cannibal Apocalypse will hit the streets March 17, 2020 and will carry over most of the special features from Image’s 2002 DVD, in addition to some new material.
Full synopsis and specs from Blu-ray.com:
Kino Lorber have detailed their upcoming Blu-ray release of Antonio Margheriti’s film Cannibal Apocalypse a.k.a. Apocalypse Domani (1980), starring John Saxon, Elizabeth Turner, Giovanni Lombardo Radice, Cinzia De Carolis, and Ramiro Oliveros. The release will be available for purchase on March 17.
The horrors of war take on a whole new meaning for Vietnam vet Norman Hopper (John Saxon, Nightmare Beach, Evil Eye, Queen of Blood), whose quiet domestic life in Atlanta is shattered by the return of Charlie Bukowski, a combat buddy who dredges up terrifying flashbacks of flesh eating and bloodshed in the war-torn jungles. Now on the run from the law after taking a bite out of an unwilling victim, Charlie begs Norman to help him get out of town with another fellow veteran, Tom (Tony King, Report to the Commissioner, The Raiders of Atlantis). Soon the ragtag team of cannibals are fighting for their lives, spreading a deadly contagion through the city before heading into the sewers for a gut-wrenching climax no one will soon forget! One of the most infamous Italian horror films of all time, Cannibal Apocalypse was heavily censored in many countries where it played under such titles as Cannibals in the Streets and Invasion of the Flesh Hunters. Now you can finally experience this thrilling collision of action-packed combat and monstrous horror from cult director Antonio Margheriti (The Long Hair of Death, Castle of Blood, Take a Hard Ride, Killer Fish) in its original gory splendor for the first time in fully restored HD! Not for the faint of heart or those with full stomachs!
Special Features and Technical Specs:
- NEW 4K RESTORATION OF THE UNRATED UNCUT VERSION OF THE FILM
- NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian Tim Lucas
- Cannibal Apocalypse Redux: Documentary Featuring John Saxon, John Morghen (Giovanni Lombardo Radice) and director Antonio Margheriti
- Apocalypse in the Streets A Video Tour of Filming Locations
- European Theatrical Trailer
- Japanese Teaser
- Alternate Title Opening Sequence
- Reversible Art
- Optional English Subtitles
