10 Best Cannibal Movies of All Time, Ranked

Although they are not only Horror films, Films about cannibalism have remained popular due to the taboo subject and graphic violence that entices audiences. More cannibal TV shows and movies are being made, and that may be because it’s still a shocking and grotesque act that fewer filmmakers are willing to engage with. Additionally, cannibalism was made famous by one of the most high-profile films in the genre, The silence of the lambsAnd has been a more significant part of horror since then. However, incorporating cannibalism into comedy, fantasy and even romance can set a movie apart.

In an era when gore and cruelty are seen throughout visual media and the Internet, it is difficult for horror movies to shock audiences, but cannibalism can usually achieve this. Cannibalism can be used as a metaphor for deep social and cultural themes which are often overlooked. It is an effective tool for filmmakers to use and has evolved over the past few decades. More recent films that use cannibalism take it further with direct social commentary, showing audiences sides of the cannibal archetype never seen before.

10

Fresh (2022)

Directed by Mimi Cave

Daisy Edgar-Jones starred in fresh Before Twisters became a box-office success several years later. Edgar-Jones has always had excellent character dynamics with her screen counterparts, from Glen Powell to Paul Mescal, and her twisted chemistry with co-star Sebastian Stan. fresh An underrated cult horror movie. 2022 was a big year for cannibal stories with fresh Being just one of the movies and TV shows that tackled the subject. However, the female revenge plot in fresh Made it stand out.

Edgar-Jones’ character, Noah, meets the charming Steve (Stan) at the grocery store one day and gives him a chance. However, Steve soon reveals himself to be someone else entirely, and She discovers a ring of cannibals who harvest the flesh of young women What is kept in life to keep the meat “fresh”. fresh Delve into the complex world of dating in the 21st century and sees Noah put in a terrifying situation, only to fight back and not let Steve win.

9

Cannibal Holocaust (1980)

Directed by Ruggero Deodato

The controversial and terrifying Cannibal destruction Must be mentioned when discussing the memorable and quality films in the canon canon. One of the earliest films to use the found-footage technique, Many audiences at the time thought the events depicted in the “documentary” film reel Cannibal destruction was real. Even though they were a fabrication, that doesn’t make this gruesome and gory movie any easier to watch. Today, the film is remembered for its influence and the sharp cultural criticism it makes.

Due to the intensity of the filming and the rumors swirling about the brutal realities of the making of the film, The director, Ruggero Deodato, of Cannibal destructionwas charged with murder (via Collider). From the initial inception of the project to the publicity surrounding it, Cannibal destruction is a blunt and brutal indictment of how far the media and filmmakers will go for graphic and attention-grabbing stories, even perpetuating the violence itself. Even the characters in the film have to admit that there are scenes too horrific to be shown on screen.

8

Bones and All (2022)

Directed by Luca Guadagnino

Cannibalism is used as a metaphor in Bones and allWhich features another collaboration between Timothée Chalamet and Luca Guadagnino after their work on Call me by your name. Also with Taylor Russell, Bones and all was adapted from the novel by Camille DeAngelis and Follows the story of Maren (Russell), a young woman who seeks to understand her urge to eat human flesh. She searches for her mother after being abandoned by her father and meets Lee (Chalamet), another cannibal who encourages her to embrace their lifestyle.

Although Lee and Maren engage in a lot of cannibalism, the moments of violence are not the driving force behind the plot. Both characters feel alienated and isolated from their families and homes and are drawn to each other because of this. Their love story and the doomed nature of their romance is what Bones and all is really about. Their road trip across the US it. And pit stops in the Midwest are reminiscent of classic road and thriller movies like Bonnie and Clyde And Badlands.

7

Soylent Green (1973)

Directed by Richard Fleischer

Charlton Heston stars in Soylent GreenA dystopian sci-fi film with a tragic cannibalistic twist that would make any viewer cringe. He plays Robert Thorne, a detective in New York City in 2022, in an imagined future where the human population has reached tens of billions and climate change has rendered the earth practically inhospitable. Although Soylent Green portends a more intensely tragic future than the realities of the 2020s, It is still highly relevant when it comes to discussions of climate change and the scarcity of resources.

After Torn’s investigation of a murder leads him to the food company Soylent Corporation, the film takes a turn from dystopia to a nightmare. The discovery that the Soylent Green food product is actually made of human flesh is later referenced and paralleled in Bong Joon-ho’s Snowpiercer. Although cannibalism plays into the tragedy of Soylent GreenThe real thrust of the film unpacks the havoc that greed wreaks on the earth and people.

6

Eat Raoul (1982)

Directed by Paul Bartle

The dark comedy Eat Raoul doesn’t descend into cannibalism until later in the story, And even then, the cruel act is successfully played for laughs in the understated 1980s satire. It follows the story of Paul and Mary, a straight-laced couple who need money and realize that killing the richer swingers who live in their building will allow them to pocket the money and save for their restaurant. However, things are complicated by the thief Raul, who wants in on their scheme.

One of the funniest parts of Eat Raoul is the fact that Mary and Paul’s actions differ so strongly from their moral sensibility. The pair believe themselves to be superior to the people they kill, making the juxtaposition between the reality of their situation and their mental gymnastics rife with opportunities for comedy. over the years, Eat Raoulhas become a cult hit, and the dry nature of the humor translates well to the present day.

5

Bone Tomahawk (2015)

Directed by S. Craig Zahler

Bone tomahawk is an incredibly dark western movie to watch and a highlight of the 2010s western revival season. With Kurt Russell, Patrick Wilson and Richard Jenkins, The story takes many of the classic Western tropes and subverts them In a gritty and unforgiving story about the invasion of white settlers in the American West. A notable aspect of Bone tomahawk is the casual cruelty with which the white characters treat the indigenous characters in the film.

Violence and dramatic action sequences unfold many times throughout Bone tomahawkAnd there are distinctly upsetting moments throughout the film that make it difficult to watch. The cannibalistic sect that the main characters fight against in the story is a stand-in for the fear of the unknown. Although it takes place in the West, Bone tomahawk Has more in common with traditional horror and grindhouse movies of the late 20th century.

4

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

Directed by Tobe Hopper

One of the most influential and well-known additions to the slasher genre, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Revolutionized the horror genre. The movie features an iconic final girl, Sally, played by Marilyn Burns, What makes it out of the nightmare of the plot after going through everything the movie can throw at you. what made The Texas Chainsaw Massacre So distinctive is its lack of plot or conflict outside of the antagonists chasing the main characters.

Without movies like The Texas Chainsaw MassacreIt wouldn’t be traditional horror genre tropes to subvert, As the film originated many of them for wider audience. The villain, Leatherface, and his horrible family are shocking and traumatizing to the characters, but their legacy as horror antagonists has outlived them, especially in the cannibal genre. Humans are treated and characterized like animals in a slaughterhouse, bringing new meaning to the intersection between cannibalism narratives and discussions of animal rights.

3

The Hills Have Eyes (1977)

Directed by Wes Craven

Before Wes Craven directed classic horror movies like screamHe accepted The hills have eyes, which explores questions of what the veneer of civilization is and what it takes to fall away. The movie follows a typical family on vacation in the Nevada desert who are attacked and imprisoned by a family of cannibals. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre came out a few years earlier The hills have eyesAnd there are many similarities between the two. however, The hills have eyes Takes a more specific political stance.

Craven’s later stylistic choices can be seen in The hills have eyes, And his interest in unpacking the false ideal nature of the American family is present in The hills have eyes. Although it is more intensely violent and traumatic than some of his later work, The hills have eyes subtly undermines the slasher formula throughout its runtime. The exploration of why characters live and die in the horror genre would become a trademark of Craven’s work.

2

Roy (2016)

Directed by Julia Ducournau

The sexuality and maturation of the protagonist of RoyJustine (Garance Marillier), is kick-started when she is forced to eat raw meat during a college hazing ritual. But, after that moment, She doesn’t just crave animal flesh and finds herself unable to control her desire for human flesh. Movies like Roy That unfold from the perspective of the cannibals are always interesting because the act of consuming people is not framed as pure horror.

Justine’s deep need to cannibalize others stems from repression of her true desires, Which also plays out in her sexual relationship with Adrienne (Rabah Naït Oufella) and Justin’s combative dynamic with her sister, Alexia (Ella Rumpf). The act of trying to ignore her cravings and behave like everyone around her is unsustainable, but when her peers discover her strange behavior, she is ostracized. This makes Roy Clearly in conversation with the period of early adulthood when an individual’s will and the pull to fit in war.

1

The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Directed by Jonathan Demme

Based on the iconic novels by Thomas Harris, The silence of the lambs Features some of the best performances from Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins Like Claire Starling and the infamous Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Clarice is an FBI agent who is tasked with investigating the imprisoned Lecter for help in catching a new killer. This is the relationship and rapport that is built between Clarice and Lecter. which keeps the audience engaged until the film’s thrilling conclusion. While Clarice’s efforts to track down the killer are compelling, her dynamic with the cannibalistic Lecter is Unforgettable.

There are just too many criticisms to be made about The silence of the lambsMainly in its depictions of the LGBTQ+ community, but the central relationship between Lecter and Clarice is what makes it so enduring. Inside the thriller and Horror sing, The silence of the lambs was highly influential and can be credited with popularizing the cannibal narrative In the present era. As a character, Lecter will go down in history as one of the most notorious cannibals and complex people in fiction.