The Cannibal Man

I saw this for the first time recently.

I think Abel Ferrara's The Driller Killer borrowed idea from this movie n improved on the idea of an ordinary fella slowly descending into madness.

Coincidentally both the movies landed in the "video nasties" list.

I found both the movies darkly comical n at times poignant too.

The stress list n reasons for going bonkers were too many for the lead character in Driller Killer, whereas in this movie Marcos was just trying to hide his crime.

UPDATE January 2018: Code Red Releasing has released this film on Blu-ray fully restored to 107 minutes under the title THE APARTMENT ON THE 13TH FLOOR. Unfortunately the only audio option is the English dub, but at least it's the longer cut. So I'll just set aside my 98-minute Anchor Bay (and Blue Underground) copy of "Cannibal Man" and have this Code Red edition be my main choice.

WEEK OF THE KILLER is definitely a more satisfying title for this film, it is at least an honest title as well. It's a shame that those marketing this film to help it gain a profit opted for the title CANNIBAL MAN (as here in the U.S.), and its trailer trying to make it look more horrific than it really is, with chipper sounding narration in a "nice weather we're having" tone!!

That is a shame because it's useless to try and lure in horror/gore hounds for a film that's basically a nice moody drama that will leave one with a saddened, downbeat mood rather than thrills. The "Cannibal Man" title is silly particularly because there really isn't any cannibalism in the film. The closest thing to that is found to be a coincidence and even upsets the main character when he realizes what was in his soup.

Though I'd rather have seen it in the original language with subtitles, I'm still happy Anchor Bay has rescued it and released it on DVD, and now Code Red on Blu-ray (restored to the full 107) minutes for folks like me who enjoy obscure films.

The story is basically about a slaughterhouse worker who accidentally starts a downward spiral of killing and madness in his life, unable to cope with what he's done and finding it's just easier to off the people who get too close to his secret. The wide, open landscapes of yet to be developed land and the minimal score add amazing scope to the loneliness Marcos (Vicente Parra) feels, and mirrors the loneliness of his newfound friend that lives in the high-rise literally next door to his little house. Even the swimming scene had a quiet beauty to it. Considering the time and politics for 1971 in that area, there's more to this story than just a man not able to cope with his murderous actions.

The neighbor's sexuality is handled in a rather refreshingly basic manner, not being stereotypically gay nor lecherous. It's also great how throughout the film, we wonder if he really knows more about what Marcos is doing than we can guess, with lines like "You better bury them," is he talking about Marcos' memories or the bodies starting to add up in Marcos' bedroom? Their interactions are always fascinating, and were very much highpoints of the film. It was wonderful to see a scene like the swimming scene with these two men; somehow I get the feeling that if this film were to have been made today, the powers that be in Hollywood would have tried to work that scene with two women.

An increasing depressing tone sets in up through to the end, but some nice dialogues keep the story in check and moving despite the slower tone of the film. The violence works in context to the situations, rather than seeming gratuitous to satisfy those who feel they need to see that in order to enjoy a film. For me, I was far more disturbed by the first minute of the film, seeing the animal slaughtered. It was difficult getting through that. The sexual element is surprisingly minimal, not as much nudity as you'd think a film of this storyline would have, but since it's not really an exploitive film, having less breasts to gawk at works in its favor. Like many films of that European source and time, having no end credits leaves the viewer in a more affected mood with the film's rather abrupt ending.

LA SEMANA DEL ASESINO is great viewing for fans of drama, but horror seekers should stay clear. It's good to see other people commenting about the film's interesting qualities instead of reading comments that they felt ripped off that it wasn't about cannibals or full of tense scary scenes. It's pure drama, and I'm glad some people are managing to get around the unfortunate marketing ploys this film was given and see how worthwhile it really is! Indeed a nice discovery.

I would have to agree with the previous comment regarding THE CANNIBAL MAN. It's an excellent film in the vein of DERANGED (1974), HENRY and CONFESSIONS OF A SERIAL KILLER, though it predates all three.

THE CANNIBAL MAN took a couple viewings to really come together and I think part of the problem was the English dubbing. Anchor Bay's recent release has superb picture quality, but unfortunately they didn't include the original language track with subs as they did with TOMBS OF THE BLIND DEAD.

Regardless, the acting is well-done - Vincente Parra plays a particularly relatable man, one with whom the viewer can sympathize. In accordance with the film's original title, WEEK OF THE KILLER, Parra takes the part of the titular role, slowly spiraling downward into insanity while dispatching one victim for each day of the week. Along the way, there are some interesting twists and turns as well as some restrained, well-used scenes of violence and gore.

There are also some truly surreal scenes, such as the swimming pool sequence and the tense denouement. And, as with any Spanish horror film, nearly all the women are gorgeous. All in all, this is a must-see for genre fans, but be warned, THE CANNIBAL MAN is a subtle film, not one that will immediately jump out at you.

Marcos is a poorly educated man who works as a butcher. When he's accidentally involved in a killing, his attempts to cover things up cause matters to spiral out of control. La Semana Del Asesino ('Killer's Week') makes far more sense as a title, as 'The Cannibal Man' isn't actually a cannibal. Although I must admit it made me want to watch the film, the UK trailer is quite misleading in this regard. And it's one of those films which I'm so glad was on the video nasty list, as without it having been included I might've missed it altogether.

There's a lot going on in the movie and I won't go into all of it in this review, but I suggest you approach the film not expecting a slasher film and try to keep an open mind. In many ways it's quite a beautiful film and not just in the way it's shot, which is particularly impressive, but also in the way the characters are depicted. Marcos himself is a fairly sympathetic character and without going into details, you feel he has been dealt a bad hand. The film deals with many themes and although my knowledge of Spanish history isn't particularly strong, it's clear there are a few swipes at Franco's regime. In one scene, the 'fuzz' (as they're bizarrely referred to) take the word of Néstor, simply because he lives in the fancy new high-rise building (thus proving Marcos correct in his comment early on in the movie, that he is less likely to be believed because of his social standing and education). A lot of use those ID cards are!

Other themes include change (not just in characters themselves - Marcos going full circle), but other more obvious ones. The visual representation of the huge new buildings towering over Marcos' old home illustrate this perfectly. The introduction of machines to automate work is another obvious example, although this isn't explored fully. The film itself is one of those great amalgamations of genres, bringing together black comedy, political satire, horror and quite a tender theme of friendship. You'll most likely laugh (a lot) as people describe to Marcos in minute detail the circumstances surrounding his mother's death. Then you'll feel so sorry for him when you realise he has been backed into another corner and the hole is getting deeper. It's such an impressive movie in this respect.

The music is impressive throughout, particularly the reverse bell sound (at this time I believe samplers weren't yet commercially available). There's a particularly beautiful piece which generally plays as it becomes clear somebody is about to die - it's a subtle prompt which makes what is about to happen seem almost unavoidable. Dubbing is solid and believable, including at least one comedy character (who claims Marcos is buying enough perfume for an entire navy!). On the Spanish Blu Ray I own there are sections of dialogue in Spanish with subtitles, presumably due to loss of the original recording (or perhaps the scenes weren't originally included in the international release?). The only dubbing which I suppose is questionable would be that of Marcos himself (he sounds erudite, considering it's suggested he lacks education). It doesn't really matter too much though and I suppose better that than someone putting on a strong regional accent, which could come across as comical.

Overall, if you like films which aren't too genre specific and are more character than event based, I think you'll enjoy this film. Without any spoilers, I must say I'm glad some of the deleted scenes didn't make it into the final cut. I feel the movie was more subtle without those included and it leaves things a little ambiguous, although others might disagree. Still, all in all - highly recommended!

I recently watched the Spanish film 🇪🇸 Cannibal Man (1972) on Shudder. The storyline follows a man and his girlfriend who are attacked by a taxi driver, leading to the man accidentally killing the driver. As he tries to cover up his crime, he begins to go mad, making matters worse.

Directed by Eloy de la Iglesia (El pico I & II), the film stars Vicente Parra (Cotolay), Emma Cohen (Cross of the Devil), Eusebio Poncela (Matador), and Vicky Lagos (Five Dollars for Ringo).

The movie feels realistic and features a solid, authentic lead performance. The events are fascinating and unpredictable, with a certain tragic element. The protagonist's mental deterioration is compelling to watch. There are a few notable kills, including a worthwhile throat slash, but most are mediocre, with the blood resembling red paint. The soup subplot is gross and hard to fathom, and the ending felt a bit like a copout.

In conclusion, Cannibal Man has enough unique elements to make it worth a watch for horror enthusiasts but not enough to stand out in the genre. I would score this a 6/10 and recommend seeing it once.