Cannibal

"Cannibal" (2013 release from Spain; 117 min.) brings the story of Carlos, a well-respected tailor for the 1% in Grenada at day, but a cold-blooded murderer and cannibal at night. As the movie opens, we see a couple at a gas station and when they drive away, Carlos follows them, and causes their car to crash. He takes the woman with him, and does what he does. Carlos has a lovely new neighbor in his building, a Romanian girl named Alexandra who moved to Spain with her sister Nina to make money and support their parents financially back home. When Alexandra also "is disappeared" by Carlos, Nina comes looking for her sister. To tell you more would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.

Couple of comments: first and foremost, don't be fooled by or intimidated by the movie's title. This is MILES away from "Silence of the Lambs" and its sequels, as this is NOT a horror movie or an action movie. Yes there are several harrowing scenes in it, but the focus of the movie is on a much deeper level, namely how one man can find himself in this position and just when you think you've figured him out, you are taken into a new direction. Second, kudos to director Manuel Martín Cuenca, whose previous movies (including "Malas temporadas" and "The Weakness of the Bolshevik" are now on my "want-to-see-badly" list. Third, the pacing of the moving is glacier-like, and I mean this as a complement. Check out the opening scene at the gas station, which takes several minutes and the camera doesn't change angles or zooms in, it simply lets you take it all in (this comes back a number of times in the movie). In keeping with the deliberate slow pace, there equally is no musical score for the movie (the only occasional music we hear is from the radio in Carlos' tailor shop). Last but certainly not least, the 2 main actors, Antonio de la Torre as Carlos and Olimpia Melinte in the dual role of Alexandra and Nina, give towering performances which will stay with you long after you've seen the movie.

"Cannibal" is the June, 2014 release in Film Movement's DVD-of-the-Month Club, and the DVD will become generally available to the public later this yea. As is usually the case, the DVD comes with a bonus shortie, and this month we get "Ogre" (18 min., from France), about a heavy-set man who encounters an all-too-kind young lady at the beach. Equally worth checking out! Meanwhile, "Cannibal" is a fantastic addition to Film Movement's ever-growing library of foreign and indie movies. HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

I have to laugh at how overly sensitive and easily triggered people are any more. My word. If you don't (or can't) appreciate a specific style of film making, then why watch such a film? So you can be triggered by a film snob? I'm thinking someone needs a life.

It's the 2013 one, directed by manuel cuenca ! There are several films with the same name, so it is confusing. The film opens with the viewer watching a couple from a distance. From the viewpoint of carlos (antonio de la torre), observing the couple get back in the car, and leaving the petrol station. This seems to be his m o ..... he follows people in cars, causes an accident, and commits horrible crimes on them. But carlos also has a respectable day job! A tailor. When carlos meets his new, sexy, beautiful neighbor (olimpia molinte), can he stop himself from committing his crimes ? It's a very simple script...not much dialog. And what dialog there is, had to be put up to almost maximum volume on the roku channel version. Several languages are spoken throughout, but fortunately, there are perfectly fine english subtitles to read. Slow, sparse script. The big, obvious question seems to be can carlos change his ways for the right person? Other unanswered questions are ... what caused carlos to start doing this? And why did nina do what she does at the end? Those two questions are not answered by the script, so the viewer will have to come up with their own answers. It's good! Long, at almost two hours.

Very good movie. Strong and deep acting of Antonio de la Torre. As usual. A very good script, very artistic and disturbingly aesthetic. Because there is not a lot of things going on story wise it seems like a psychological study of the character. You are almost wanting this monstrous man to get away with what he does and ultimately find happiness. You are going to be rooting for a sociopath.... For a psychopath. Very intriguing about the Human nature and behavior...

This is an incredible story that you can't miss if you like movies with deep emotions that will make you tremble about the idea of love and death. The actors are mysterious and the story starts with very surprising images that will make you be prepare to close your eyes for anything that could lead you a possible trauma, but nothing happen but stunning takes and surprising twists. The photography is amazing and you can't take your eyes out of the screen enjoying the views. Initially, the main character is cold and it can feel quite intimidating. But while the story keeps running forwards, you can feel even like you where in their skins. The passion between the characters may not be seen at first, but it's obvious at the end, and it can make you even cry of despair. The loneliness in this movie is very important and without it the film would be meaningless. The emotions of the people involve are represented in beautiful takes. There's few sounds of music in the background but this makes the movie more dark and realistic. This movie explain despair and the possession of the body with the most original way that you can imagine.