Cannibal! The Musical: 13th Anniversary Edition (1996) (DVD Review)
Directed By: Trey Parker
Starring: Trey Parker, Ian Hardin, Dian Bachar
Rated: R/Region: 1/1X33/Number of disc: 2
Available from Troma
Alfred Packer was a mountain guide and sole survivor of a party of pioneers that got lost in the mountains in winter. Accused and convicted of murdering and eating his traveling companions, he was to be executed by hanging. The movie begins at his trial, where he pleads his innocence to an unsympathetic audience. Only reporter Polly Pry will listen to his story, which is then related to the viewers in the form of flashbacks. As Packer and his gold-prospecting clients make their way through the forests and mountains, they encounter bemused Japanese Indians, an unimpressed group of mountain men and the brutal Rocky Mountain winter, all of which inspire the travelers to break out into song and dance.
Before Southpark, the guys that would go on to be the creative forces behind that made a film. And that film would come in 1993 and be released by Troma on DVD. The film in question is called Cannibal the Musical and it is a musical (duh) but where I usually hate musicals I actually dug this. Trey Parker has a skill for making musicals rude, fun, and entertaining. He does that here with this one as we have gore one moments and some catchy song being sung the next. You also can’t deny the wit and cleverness that is sprinkled throughout this movie. Take a look at character names and the fashion to which lines are delivered here. There was a strange and weird genius inside this movie of a Utah man being accused of being a cannibal. And this is a genus that even people who aren’t usually fond of Troma movies should be able to appreciate it.
I don’t think I’d be too out of line to say that a lot of this film reminded me of old school Max Brooks films. From our Asian Indians to our group of redneck animal catchers you find a lot of small things you can appreciate in the bigger picture. When I was a kid I dug South Park, which sort of phased out as I grew older. I think Cannibal the Musical gives us that same tone of humor in a lot of ways but then it also give it to us in a more adult manner that sticks with you even as we mature. There is a big reason why Troma picked this film to be its first in the Tromasterpiece line of DVDs. If you haven’t seen it you should certainly give it a watch because I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
– Intro by Lloyd Kaufman
– Commentary with Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Jason McHugh, Dian Bachar and Andy Kemir
– Commentary with Producers Ian Hardin, Alexandra Kelly and Stars Robert Muratora. John Hegal, and Toddy Walters
– Interview with Trey Parker
– Interview with Matt Stone
– Interview with Jason McHugh
– Trey Parker Talks Fowl
– Deleted Scenes
– Behind the Scenes
– Stills and Poster Gallery
– Lloyd Kaufman in the Stage Production
– Wildman Music Video
– Headbanger Face Rip by Municipal Waste
– Radiation March
– Trailers
– Cannibal the Musical Close Ups Featurette
– Hidden Easter Eggs!
