THE 12 NIGHTS OF HALLOWEEN: 7. Ravenous (1999)

 

            “Ravenous” is a war horror movie directed by Antonia Bird. It is a tale of cannibalism and supernaturalism in 1840s California. The odd blend of comedy and horror did poorly at the box office, but has become a cult favorite over the years. It was marred by a troubled production. The original director was sacked by the studio because of disagreements over the budget and the shooting schedule. Actor Robert Carlyle suggested British director Bird. Screenwriter Ted Griffin was inspired by the story of the Donner Party and tale of Alfred Parker. The “Colorado Cannibal” was infamous for surviving a snowbound winter by killing and eating his five companions. The mystical elements borrowed from Algonquian lore of a spirit called Wendigo. The Indians believed the evil spirit could possess humans causing them to a have a ravenous desire to kill and eat human flesh.

            The movie leads with the quote from Nietzche:  “He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster.” Sounds like a zombie movie. This is followed by: “Eat me!” So, it’s a comedy. Capt. Boyd (Guy Pearce) is decorated for bravery in the recently concluded Mexican War. A flashback reveals that he actually played dead in the battle. He continued to play dead even with a bunch of bloody bodies piled on him. Add a weird craving for blood to his PTSD. Since the general knows Boyd was a coward, he assigns him to an isolated post in the Sierra Nevadas. Fort Spencer is home to the usual motley characters you find in a movie like this. Col. Hart (Jeffrey Jones before his child pornography charges) is a grandfatherly figure. Maj. Knox is a drunk (which is appropriate for a western front). Pvt. Cleaves (David Arquette) is a pot head (which is shamelessly anachronistic). Pvt. Toffler (the type-cast Jeremy Davies) is a Jesus freak. Pvt. Reich (Neal McDonough) is the supersoldier. There is also an Indian’s Martha and her brother George who act as guides and experts on Indian culture.

            Into this mix comes a mysterious stranger named Colqhoun (Carlyle). He claims his party was stuck in a cave because of the snow. A Col. Ives killed and ate the others. Hart insists on going on a rescue mission to arrest Ives and hopefully save a woman who may have survived. Colqhuan reluctantly leads Hart, Boyd, Cleaves, Reich, and George. He tries to warn the white men that an evil force is most likely at work. Boy, does he turn out to be right. By the time the trip to the cave is over, three of them will be dead. One joins Colqhuan and Boyd badly wounded. The movie returns to the fort where a most unlikely character arrives as the new commander. He envisions the fort as a place where settlers will stop not for a bite to eat but as a bite to be eaten. Not if Boyd can stop it.

            It is obvious why this movie failed at the box office and also clear why it has become a cult classic. It is not the kind of movie that the average moviegoer will pay to see, but it is the kind of movie that people will watch over and over on streaming. Although low budget ($12 million; it made $2 million), it does not have the feel of a B-movie. The cast is great for a little horror movie. Pearce is excellent as Boyd. He has to let his forlorn look do most of the acting as his character is not much on speechifying. He is in every scene and yet does not say a complete sentence until 25 minutes in. The rest of the main characters are perfectly cast. There is some scene-chewing (because that scenery is just so addictive, sorry), which is expected in a movie like this. Since it turns out not to be a zombie movie, there are no makeup or other effects. The blood is the ketchup variety. The movie is not scary, although it has some suspense as the plot includes some unpredictable developments. The grossest parts are when they eat that special stew. The setting is out of the ordinary and the fort is evidences the bleak nature of life on the frontier. The score taps into the bizarre storyline. It was done by Michael Nyman and Damon Albarn of the group Blur. They used violin, guitar, banjo, jaw harp, and squeeze box to reinterpret traditional songs and give the film a distinct sound.

            You would not expect a little horror movie to have important themes, but Bird and Griffin had messages to send. Messages that probably were not apparent to most viewers. But now, if you view it, you will be able to nod knowingly. The movie is a criticism of Manifest Destiny. The cannibalism stands as a metaphor for America’s ravenous greed for more land. But not only does the movie troll 19^th Century America, it has something to say about modern America. Wendigo could represent use of drugs, plastic surgery, junk food consumption, and other societal ills. We live in a consume or be consumed society. Mend your ways!

GRADE  =  B+