Blu-ray Review – Cannibal! The Musical

Before "South Park" dominated pop culture, before "Team America" could save the world, and before "Orgasmo" could…gasmo, there was 1993's "Cannibal! The Musical." Initially conceived by writer/director Trey Parker as a student project for the University of Colorado Boulder film program, the effort was soon stretched to a feature-length undertaking, exploring the days of convicted cannibal Alferd Packer with help from a little song and dance. The picture is really the first shot fired in Parker's movie musical career (developed throughout "South Park" before graduating to Broadway with "The Book of Mormon"), and while "Cannibal! The Musical" is rough around the edges and could use a great deal of editorial tightening, it remains a striking achievement in low-budget cinema. Filled with humor, creativity, and an accomplished soundtrack of memorable tunes, the offering is something of a triumph for Parker and his team, who manage to show real talent in their debut, and these gifts would go on to be developed with help from Hollywood money. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com