CANNIBAL! THE MUSICAL
PLOT-Based on the true story of Alfred Packer, a group of men looking for gold lose their way and resort to cannibalism to survive.
WHY IT'S A CLASSIC-Before Trey Parker & Matt Stone became household names as creators of SOUTH PARK, they were struggling filmmakers who happened to turn out a cult masterpiece with this, their first film. Not only is it a factual account of real events (at times taken verbatim from the written confession of Packer), but it really is a damn good musical with great songs. It also has a lot of gore, as several characters are killed and eaten throughout the film. As could be expected, this is a comedy, and it's funny as shit. Put all those elements together, and you've got a b-movie classic. Although Parker & Stone went on to bigger things with exceptional results, this film stands as a monumental achievement in the realm of independent low-budgeters. It's peerless.
MEMORABLE SCENES-In the doomed group's darkest hour (right before the cannibalism begins), one of them bursts into song and implores the group to "build a snowman". He sings and dances, as his bewildered and agitated companions grow more and more angry. In the middle of his song, he's shot in the head by one of the group. They eat him shortly after.
NOTES-The little jingle you hear at the end of each SOUTH PARK episode (when the airplane goes by) is actually the opening notes of a song featured in this movie.