Ravenous
After arriving at his new, remote Army outpost, Capt. John Boyd and his regiment aid a wounded frontiersman who recounts a horrifying tale of a wagon train murdered by its supposed guide – a vicious U.S. Army colonel gone rogue. Fearing the worst, the regiment heads out into the wilderness to verify the gruesome claims.
Insights
Plot Summary
In the 19th-century American West, a cowardly soldier is sent to a remote mountain outpost after a dishonorable act. There, he encounters a group of stranded settlers whose leader is revealed to be a cannibal who has been luring victims to their demise. The soldier must then confront the horrifying truth and fight for his survival against the insatiable appetite of his captor.
Critical Reception
Ravenous was met with mixed to positive reviews, with critics praising its unique blend of horror, dark comedy, and Western elements, as well as its stylish direction and strong performances, particularly from Robert Carlyle. However, some found its tonal shifts jarring and its gore excessive. It gained a cult following over time for its originality and its unsettling, yet darkly humorous, take on the cannibalistic myth.
What Reviewers Say
- Praised for its bold and original blend of genres, mixing horror with dark humor and Western tropes.
- Robert Carlyle's performance as the cannibalistic villain received particular acclaim.
- Some reviewers found the film's violent content and tonal shifts to be uneven or off-putting.
Google audience: Audience reviews generally highlight the film's unique and darkly comedic approach to its gruesome subject matter. Many appreciate its originality and the unsettling atmosphere it creates. While some found it too gory, most found it to be a memorably twisted and entertaining experience.
Fun Fact
The film's original director, Mark Romanek, was fired by the studio early in production due to creative differences, and Antonia Bird was hired to take over.
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