A group of soldiers enters the Amazon jungles in search of the lost daughter of a general. As they encounter a cannibalistic tribe, they have to sort out their personal differences. Will they make it out alive?
Let's get the obvious out of the way: "In the Land of the Cannibals" is an Italian cannibal movie, which means it's politically incorrect by definition. It's also a late directing job by the late Bruno Mattei, who is known for his quick, cheap rip-offs of successful films during the 1970s and 1980s. In other words: It's not precisely "Titanic" (1997). Or even "Ultimo Mondo Cannibale" (1977).
"In the Land of the Cannibals" is a massive anachronism. Technically, the digital age has happened, but otherwise it goes back directly to 1980. There are a handful of direct references to "Cannibal Holocaust" (and a good amount to a slightly more recent action movie that features Arnold Schwarzenegger in the jungle), but, most of all, the characters and the storytelling feel very much as if they're straight out of the golden age of Italian horror/action/exploitation cinema industry. Some of the cinematography is reminiscent of fumetti neri comic strip visuals, and if you've heard the soundtracks of e.g. "Tenebrae" (1982) and "Cannibal Holocaust", the music of "In The Land..." will also sound somehow familiar to you. For fans of the style, it's already a success.
This movie came out about 25 years too late - if if were made in the 1980s,
using the same film stock and techniques as movies of the time, it
would be a classic. As it is, a little more attention to detail would've
been a huge improvement. The comic strip feel, the gore, and some surprisingly dynamic action sequences, are great. But flat lighting, digital camera, obvious studio quality voice dubbing, and sometimes sloppy editing, kill a lot of atmosphere. It's probably best watched in VHS tape quality, to give it at least a little bit of analog physicality. Acting, writing, special fx are well known default material that works for what it is.
"In the Land of the Cannibals" is a fun low-budget watch, that does exactly what it's supposed to do: low-budget entertain. If you can get over its flaws, it's a great throwback to the good old days. At its core, it's a wild, naive comic strip, with a hint of nostalgia - Italian oldskool pulp fiction, a la "Mangiati Vivi" or "Cannibal Ferox".
If you've run out of 20th century Italian cannibal movies, and don't feel the need for a change, then this is the one to watch.
Verdict: If you're a believer, it's (almost) great. 5.5/10
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0420728/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruno_Mattei
Trailer video:
