Disc News: Cannibal Girls Devour in October

Disc Announcements, News

After years of reading about it, the low budget film that launched a lot of careers is finally sneaking over the border into America. Cannibal Girls brings together the future stars of SCTV, the director of Stripes and the hunk of Ve$as. Here’s the press release from Shout! Factory:

For Immediate Release

When the Warning Bell Rings – close your eyes if you’re squeamish!

JUST IN TIME FOR THIS YEAR’S HALLOWEEN SEASON, SHOUT! FACTORY SERVES UP

THE LONG AWAITED IVAN REITMAN HORROR CLASSIC

THAT WILL HAVE YOU CRAVING SECONDS…

CANNIBAL GIRLS

Directed by Ivan Reitman, Starring Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin and Robert Ulrich

THE POPULAR 1973 CANUCKSPOLITATION HORROR FILM FINALLY DEBUTS ON THE HOME ENTERTAINMENT SHELVES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE U.S

Featuring Scrumptious DVD Bonus Content Including

A Conversation with Ivan Reitman and Daniel Goldberg,

Film Critic Richard Crouse Interviews Eugene Levy, Alternate Audio Track Featuring “The Warning Bell”, Original Radio Spots and more!

OWN IT ON DVD OCTOBER 26, 2010 FROM SHOUT! FACTORY

Hungry for thrills and high camp this Halloween? SCTV regulars Eugene Levy and Andrea Martin star in the Canadian horror spoof Cannibal Girls as a couple on a romantic holiday who settle into a quaint little bed-and-breakfast run by a trio of flesh-eating ladies who fancy them for tomorrow’s menu. Pull up a seat at the table for this delightful feast when this cult horror classic Cannibal Girls, directed by Ivan Reitman, finally makes its way on DVD in the United States for the first time October 26, 2010 from Shout! Factory.

Packed with all-new bonus content featuring, original promotional materials, alternate audio track featuring the cult-famous “warning bell” and all-new interviews with Ivan Reitman, Eugene Levy, and Daniel Goldberg, this DVD further boasts the widescreen presentation of the movie, mastered from the newly restored original film elements.  Cannibal Girls DVD is priced to own at $22.97 SRP.

Theatrically released in 1973, Cannibal Girls quickly acquired a reputation as the B-movie concoction of the 1970s. Canadian audiences had never before experienced such a rich blend of camp, gore and comedy. On top of the film’s overt B-movie presentation, the producers tore a page from the William Castle book of exploitation, introducing to the theatre-going public the “warning bell” experience: just prior to a scene of particular malice and gore, viewers would be warned by the sound of a bell, at which point they could shut their eyes.

The movie was made on a low budget — $12,000 the duo had to beg and borrow from friends, relatives and some dubious sources — and most of the dialogue was improvised. Despite cost overruns and reshoots, Reitman persuaded American International Pictures (AIP) to distribute the film and it was released in the U.S. in April of 1973 and in Canada that June.

This trashy black comedy, and at-times, surreal film was the first leg in the entertainment industry journey of its director and stars. Ivan Reitman, of course, went on to direct Meat Balls, Stripes, Ghostbusters and Six Days, Seven Nights. Eugene Levy and Andrea Martin went on to fame as SCTV regulars, with Levy going on to star in the American Pie franchise and a host of other films and Martin starring in a variety of TV series and one-woman shows.

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES

  • Widescreen movie presentation – mastered from restored film elements
  • “Cannibal Guys” – a conversation with Ivan Reitman and Daniel Goldberg
  • “Meat Eugene” –  Richard Crouse talks to Eugene Levy
  • Original trailers and radio spots
  • Alternate audio track featuring “The Warning Bell”

CANNIBAL GIRLS (1973)

American International Pictures

Starring Eugene Levy,  Andrea Martin, Robert Ulrich; co-starring Randall Carpenter, Bonnie Neilson, Mira Pawluk, Bob McHeady

Directed by Ivan Reitman

Produced by Daniel Goldberg

Executive Producer: Ivan Reitman

Story by Daniel Goldberg and Ivan Reitman

Screenplay by Robert Sandler

Cinematography by Robert Saad

Edited by Daniel Goldberg

Running time: 84 minutes

Rated: R

Color, 16×9 Widescreen

Joe Corey is the writer and director of "Danger! Health Films" currently streaming on Night Flight and Amazon Prime. He's the author of "The Seven Secrets of Great Walmart People Greeters." This is the last how to get a job book you'll ever need. He was Associate Producer of the documentary "Moving Midway." He's worked as local crew on several reality shows including Candid Camera, American's Most Wanted, Extreme Makeover Home Edition and ESPN's Gaters. He's been featured on The Today Show and CBS's 48 Hours. Dom DeLuise once said, "Joe, you look like an axe murderer." He was in charge of research and programming at the Moving Image Archive.