Massacre in Dinosaur Valley

Massacre in Dinosaur Valley

Genre: Cannibal, Adventure

Original title: Nudo e selvaggio

AKA: Cannibal Ferox 2

Director: Michele Massimo Tarantini

Year: 1985

A plane crashes in the Amazon jungle, and its passengers must battle their way through cannibals, slave traders, wild animals and murderous piranha fish to safety.

Released as Cannibal Ferox II in the UK, Massacre In Dinosaur Valley has little in common with the more savage, dirty & brutal Cannibal films that came before it. This is a toned down, less exploitive version of the Cannibal genre but it makes up for this by having more of an action film sensibility about it with a real sense of adventure. 

Michael Sopkiw ( 2019: After the Fall of New York) is actually quite impressive as the male lead/hero of the picture. The score (a synthy-rock kind of deal) was lifted from another film starring Sopkiw, Lamberto Bava's Blastfighter. Andy Silas gained his only acting credit with this picture which is surprising as he makes a pretty solid over the top kind of villain. Yes the characters are all a bit cliché but they add to the entertainment factor. 

With it's fast pace & a thrill a minute it is no surprise that the director Michele Massimo Tarantini had worked previously as Assistant director to Sergio Martino, who I consider the master of delivering fun & entertaining Italian genre flicks. I'd imagine the actors went through quite a rough experience filming this on location, especially the two female models who spend half the movie with barely any clothes on. 

For my money, it is a better film than it is given credit for. Yes it's down the pecking order in terms of the big Cannibal films, but it remains one which you can put on and have a good 90 minutes with.

Rating: ★★★

Quicksand, never fails to amuse me

Amazonia: The Catherine Miles Story

Amazonia: The Catherine Miles Story

Genre: Adventure, Cannibal, Exploitation, Horror

Original Title: Schiave bianche: Violenza in Amazzonia

AKA: Cannibal Holocaust 2, White Slave

Director: Mario Gariazzo

Year: 1985

A young woman seeks vengeance and finds love when her parents are killed in the Amazon and she is taken prisoner by an indigenous tribe of headhunters.

Amazonia: The Catherine Miles Story is based on a 'true story!' which of course, is make believe. It went by the title Cannibal Holocaust 2 in some places to cash in on the films success. The surprising thing about this picture is that there is actually no cannibalism shown throughout the picture. At one point it is hinted at but the movie shies away from showing the Amazonian tribes eating each other. Despite this. I'd still argue that this flick loosely fits into the Cannibal genre. For one it is clearly inspired (& most certainly only exists) because of the infamous films that came before it. It also shares many of the genres traits with its animal killings (which are thankfully stock footage of animal on animal), strange rituals (used more for effect rather than realism), gruesome violence & constant nudity. 

It stars Elvire Audray who gives a pretty much atrocious performance as the 18 year old taken prisoner by the headhunters. She had smaller roles in films such as Ironmaster & Nosferatu in Venice & whilst she was not great in either she was more than serviceable, so I'm not sure how she could manage to come across so emotionless here. Still she spends 95% of this picture half naked so despite her poor attempt at acting she remains easy on the eye.

The film begins with a narration to try and sell the idea of this film being based on true events, which of course it isn't. Then we see Catherine Miles in the courtroom defending herself against the charge of murder. The film then plays out its course with Catherine narrating throughout. Its a major misstep as the constant narration kills any tension that there may of been from her ordeal. 

So the Amazonian story begins with a boat being attacked & Catherine & her parents being shot with poisonous blow-darts, her parents are brutally beheaded & Catherine is taken prisoner. She goes through an ordeal but for the most part the headhunters look after her & as time goes on Catherine begins to accept her situation and begins to almost settle in to her new life. She learns their traditions, begins to pick up the language & even helps a wounded headhunter by making him a set of crutches. She seems to be almost enjoying herself at times which of course this is ridiculously far fetched as these are the people that beheaded her parents after all! 

There are some bloody & gruesome kills spread throughout but the direction of Mario Gariazzo sees this picture play more as a drama with thrills, rather than a down & dirty horror. There's also a very surprising plot twist around the hour mark which I didn't see coming & the film turns into a revenge movie towards the end though Audray's diabolical acting prevents that from having the impact it should of had.

Overall its an unessential entry into the cannibal genre yet, with its lean 85 minute running time & fast moving pace it never hangs around long enough for it to become dull. It may be inept in several departments yet it still remains entertaining throughout.

Rating: ★★★

What? A cannibal film with no cannibalism?!?