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PLEASE NOTE: Michael D's is currently in READ ONLY MODE. Anything submitted will simply not be written to the database.
Lots of stuff is still broken, but at least reviews can now be looked up and read.
Cannibal! The Musical (Stomp Visual) (1996)

Cannibal! The Musical (Stomp Visual) (1996) (NTSC)

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Released 30-May-2005
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Details At A Glance

General		Extras
Category	Comedy	Main Menu Audio & Animation Introduction-Lloyd Kaufman (President Of Troma) Audio Commentary-Cast And Crew Alternative Version-Lloyd's Original Cannibal Intro Featurette-Behind The Scenes TV Spots-PSA, The Tragedy Of Billy Interviews-Cast & Crew-Cannibalistic Quips-Trey Parker, Matt Stone And Jason McHugh Theatrical Trailer Music Highlights-A Cannibalistic Chorus! Featurette-Tour Of Troma Studios Trailer-Tempting Tromabilia Credits
Rating
Year Of Production	1996
Running Time	96:00
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu	Cast & Crew
Region Coding	1,2,3,4,5,6	Directed By	Trey Parker
Studio Distributor	Troma Studios Stomp Visual	Starring	Dian Bachar Stephen Blackpool Stan Brakhage Dan Brother Duster Brad Gordon Ian Hardin Dave Hardin Edward Henwood Jon Hegel Andrew Kemler Steve Jackson Jessica James Kelly
Case	Amaray-Transparent-Secure Clip	Starring
RPI	$24.95	Music	Trey Parker Rich Sanders

Video (NTSC)		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	Full Frame	English Dolby Digital 2.0 (192Kb/s) English Audio Commentary Dolby Digital 2.0 (192Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.29:1
16x9 Enhancement	No
Video Format	480i (NTSC)
Original Aspect Ratio	1.33:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No	Miscellaneous
Subtitles	None	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	Yes, Gold.

NOTE: The Profanity Filter is ON. Turn it off here.

Plot Synopsis

All Singing!! All Dancing!! All Flesh Eating!!

When Alferd Packer’s mining group get lost on the long trip from Utah to Colorado, their survival depends on eating each other. Before long, most of the group is dead and partially eaten, and Alferd is to be wrongfully executed for the vicious crimes. But maybe, just maybe, the only person who will listen to his side of the story might just be able to have him free of this madness! This is more than a story about cannibalism – this is a story about love conquering the odds! A story about justice prevailing! A story about building a snowman! A story about… a cyclops!

Back when they were just film students, and long before they reached fame with South Park, a 23-year-old Trey Parker and Matt Stone headed out to Colorado on Spring Break with a small crew and a low budget to shoot a musical based on Alferd Packer, the local legend of the only man in America ever convicted of cannibalism. Combining graphic violence with comedy and catchy tunes, this was known as Alferd Packer: The Musical, until Troma picked it up for distribution and named it Cannibal! The Musical - just one year before South Park debuted and their fame broke out.

Since then, Cannibal! has enjoyed a large cult following, with various re-releases on both VHS and DVD. Great fun from start to finish, Cannibal! is full of exuberant songs including Hang the B******, Shpadoinkle!, and our favourite, Let’s Build a Snowman! As most amateur bad-film efforts, the film occasionally drags, but finds its footing with lots of hilarious moments - and don’t forget to watch through to the end of the credits, or you’ll miss an important message.

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Transfer Quality

Video

The video is presented in its original 4:3 aspect ratio.

The video transfer is of poor quality, NTSC video sourced from what is clearly low quality film. Surprisingly, this doesn’t altogether detract from the experience – as low budget as the film itself, it nails home that grand first-ever-film feeling, that experience of a prize student B-movie – as long as it isn’t projected onto a huge screen.

There are only occasional minor film artefacts that add to the atmosphere (a lovely line down the middle of the frame at 2:20 is one of many), though the entire film suffers from aliasing, characteristic of poor NTSC transfers. Grain is present across the entire film, particularly nasty in the background of some light shots (noticeable early in the film, at around 13:00) although often the darker scenes have a fair amount of detail in the blacks. The video is supposedly remastered and occasionally avoids a lot of the aforementioned problems like during the gory opening however, this doesn’t last long.

No subtitles are available on this DVD.

*Video Ratings Summary*
Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

The audio is presented in English Dolby Digital 2.0 (192Kb/s).

Far superior to the video quality, the audio excels, keeping all levels at a perfect range and allowing the dialogue, music and singing to flourish. Although not a surround track, everything is clear and makes for an enjoyable audible experience.

None of the dialogue appears out of sync, despite commentary claims that declare almost every third line was redubbed (though this could be because of Trey’s drunkenness; more on that later). The entire soundtrack is very well done, featuring the same kinds of musical motifs, recurring themes, huge choruses and solo pieces that are standard of the genre – this is an audio track that’ll please any musical fan.

*Audio Ratings Summary*
Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Extras

Animated Menus with Audio

Enjoyable Cannibal! background music fills the low-quality, pixellated menus. The art is extremely fitting for the film, reveling in the vile gore and featuring a lovely animation of a decapitated head with any selection. Genius.

Audio commentary with director Trey Parker, producer Jason McHugh, and stars Matt Stone, Dian Bachar, and Andy Kemler

One of the genuine legends of the format, the hilarious commentary track begins with most of the cast and crew sober, as they discuss the film while taking occasional drinks. By the end, they’re completely plastered, yelling at each other, crying for loved ones and then deciding to go to a strip club. Even after the complete inebriation, Trey and Co. remain informative enough to give those without musical experience a good understanding of the different musical conventions played upon across the film, as well as plenty of gems like the fact that Liane the horse changes colour and breed in almost every scene. There’s also plenty of homoeroticism, and an entire sequence in which their audio drops out because “they’re completely drunk.” This is, essentially, worth the asking price of the DVD.

Lloyd’s Cannibal Intro and Lloyd’s Original Cannibal Opening (2:15)

The first Cannibal! intro plays when you press the DVD’s “Play Feature” button, and is a nice introduction to the film, with Troma’s infamous Lloyd Kaufman giving a few pieces of trivia for the film as well as taking a trip down the street to see some hookers. It sets the scene for the film and gives a small background as to what led to the creation of this movie, the original Troma release and this new DVD. Another opening is available, the preface to the original release, which includes the most well-known Troma icons introducing the film with Lloyd shortly before he dies. Thoroughly enjoyable for fans of the film, and fans of Troma.

Behind the Scenes – Bear Trap (4:54), Swan Gets Shot (1:58), Camp Fire (5:16), Silly Stuff (0:59)

A quick fly-on-the-wall look at preparing, blocking and shooting several of the scenes, alongside actual shots of the film. Best for film students who want a look at the goings-on behind the low budget filmmaking, as well as seeing how Trey and Co. deal with setbacks and create some of the gore.

HUMMUS PSA (1:31)

Lemmy from Motorhead speaks about the degredation and discrimination of hemaphrodites in this short public service announcement. Starring Matt and Trey as hemaphrodites. Uh…

Cannibalistic Quips (A Troma Visit with Matt and Trey) (6:59)

This crude, overedited interview with Matt and Trey by Lloyd Kaufman is brief but amusing, reiterating some of the stuff from the introductions and the commentary, but fun just to see the boys hanging out and enjoying themselves.

Alfred Packer: The Musical Trailer (2:41) and Cannibal! The Musical Trailer (1:23)

Both remixes of the same trailer, these shorts seem to contain scenes and actors not seen in the film in addition to Trey and Co. singing and eating people. An appealing taster of the film, these are presented in the same 4:3 as the film.

The Cannibal Songs

Split into two sections, this extra includes all of the individual musical clips from the film separated from the feature, as well as clips from a live performance of Cannibal! The Musical on stage. Sadly, the singers in the stage production lack the energy of the film and the songs aren’t nearly as entertaining or well delivered, however it is interesting to see how the scenes are performed on stage without the special effects of the movie.

Tour of Troma Studios

A lengthy, interactive tour of the Troma Film Studios, you’re allowed to go anywhere you want in the Troma Building guided by an interactive map. Humor and violence abound. Includes breasts. A must for any Troma fan.

The Tragedy of Billy (3:07)

A public service announcement for hamsters, this is a tragic tale of how a young boy’s beloved pet leads to his suicide. Amusing and featuring all the Troma icons, this also has nothing to do with the film, making it an exceptional extra.

Troma Promotional Material / Troma and AIX Credits

Several Troma promotional ads round out the disc, as well as scrolling credits for the remastering and DVD package.

R4 vs R1

NOTE: To view non-R4 releases, your equipment needs to be multi-zone compatible and usually also NTSC compatible.

This film has been released as an R0 NTSC one-disc-fits-all DVD. However, the Australian version is missing: - "Coming Distractions" (Bonus trailers): “Killer Condom”, “Citizen Toxie”, “Terror Firmer” and “The Rowdy Girls” - -"Troma Intelligence Test version 2.0" The exclusions are odd and inexplicable, but are not essential. As the video quality is the same for all versions and there is no overseas PAL version, I would buy whichever available version of this DVD is cheapest. However, an earlier R4 release suggests that there was a PAL transfer available, but this seems to be out of print and lacking many of the special features, and I am unable to verify that the transfer quality is any better. Based on this, go the best price.

Summary

The movie is a bloody good time, a true original.

The video quality is low, but this matches the film’s low budget roots and fits the atmosphere.

The sound is above average and very listenable.

The extras are sensational, rendering this one of the best DVD packages I have ever seen for any movie, let alone low-budget Troma. Thoroughly entertaining and in the same vein of humor as the film itself.

This cult classic is a must own for any Matt/Trey fans, any Troma fans, and lovers of cult in general.

Ratings (out of 5)

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall

Review Equipment
DVD	LG LH-D6230, using Component output
Display	Benq PE7700. Calibrated with Digital Video Essentials (PAL). This display device has a maximum native resolution of 720p.
Audio Decoder	Built in to DVD Player, Dolby Digital and DTS. Calibrated with Digital Video Essentials (PAL).
Amplification	LG
Speakers	LG

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