Horrorfest 2022 Presents: La Semana del asesino aka The Cannibal Man (1972, Eloy de la Iglesia)


Cannibal Man has multiple other titles, yet I’m sticking with that one because it sounds the coolest. It also is a lie of sorts, in that Marcos (Vicente Parra) is not a cannibal, although how he ends up deposing of his victims certainly leads to a form of cannibalism in a twisted way. Marcos kills a cab driver by accident while trying to defend his girlfriend, and this leads him down a horrifying and tragic path of death, deceit, and finally insanity. He didn’t mean to become a murder, yet circumstances and his situation turn him into one, and the movie goes from you, the viewer, being sympathetic to you, the viewer being horrified by his actions. Eloy de la Iglesia put his own stamp on the serial killer movie, however this is as much a drama as it is a horror film, and that’s what makes it such a good movie.

I’m amused that this ended up on the Video Nasties list considering that most of the movie is a slow burn punctuated by the killings that happen. There is also a tender friendship that develops between Marcos and his neighbor, who despite having his own suspicions continues to hang out with Marcos anyways. That guy must be super lonely, and yet that’s what the movie chooses to focus on : Marcos’ crushing loneliness and isolation. The movie even has a surprising and open ended conclusion of sorts, refusing to take the easy way out which is admirable. I’m wondering if my rating will go up on a second viewing, yet for now I find this to be a pretty good movie for now. Viewed thanks to Shudder, which is currently my favorite streaming service.

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