For horror fans who have a penchant for the macabre, cannibal films have been able to pique people’s interest not only because of the practical effects but sometimes because of the fantastic social commentary and the black comedy that is mixed within the genre. Although they will make you squirm in your seats, the adrenaline rush of watching something like this unfold in front of your eyes is nothing short of mind-bending. These best cannibal movies and shows will make you question how reality can be this cruel while making you question everyone around you. Although the horror elements are tight and thrilling, these shows will still make you question humanity and what that word might entail.
The Hills Have Eyes
This 1977 horror flick written, directed and edited by Wes Craven gave birth to many movies in the genre, and although it’s not the first of the lot, it’s definitely one of the most recognised horror movies of the generation. The desolate Nevada desert and a family of cannibals hunting down unsuspecting campgoers is a terrible and thrilling ordeal, one that will leave you at the edge of your seat. Other than the disturbing moments of gore, there is some clever dark comedy in the mix that makes it one of the best films of the genre.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Wrong Turn are movies of a similar vein and also feature a family of cannibals going after a group of friends.
Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
The first season of the anthology series Monster focuses on serial killer and cannibal Jeffrey Dahmer, whose horrific acts left the world shocked and scared. Although many might call it glorifying a serial killer, the first season is still a very thrilling watch that is superbly acted. Evan Peters dons the role of Dahmer for the show and brings wickedness to an already shocking tale that will haunt you long after the runtime ends. You will find yourself looking over your back as you watch the series, and creators Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan bring a raw energy to this morbid tale that leaves you feeling uncomfortable.
Hannibal
Hugh Dancy and Mads Mikkelsen have created TV history with this series, and for good reason! The 3-season series is both unnerving and highly watchable as you go through the motions of the notorious serial killer and cannibal Dr Hannibal Lecter’s morbid curiosities and interests surrounding raw meat (of course, human) and FBI profiler Will Graham’s chase to capture the culprit. The show is not only well acted, with Mikkelsen and Dancy sharing a delicious chemistry that made fans ship their relationship, but it is superbly written and directed with outstanding cinematography to boot. It’s a blood feast, but a pretty one at that!
On the other hand, Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster’s Silence of the Lambs is also a great movie on Lecter, along with Hannibal Rising and Red Dragon
Fresh
This 2022 film, starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Sebastian Stan in lead roles, plays the horror in two ways – the perils of modern dating and the fear of getting eaten, literally! Apart from the horrors of going on numerous dates with uninteresting people who sometimes make your brains melt, the cannibal aspect of the story is also unnerving and quite fresh, with the quirky dark humour setting the film apart from others. The gore is on point, and the chemistry between the leads will give you a reason to root for some characters while hating others.
Bones and All
This romantic horror film, starring Taylor Russell and Timothée Chalamet, is both surprisingly beautiful and extremely uncomfortable. It follows two young cannibals who go on a road trip across the United States and fall in love. The confusing feelings that the film evokes, along with some stellar direction and cinematography, will leave you deeply in love and extremely uneasy at the same time. Its thought-provoking narrative will be a visual treat for those who like their romance to be horrific. It’s truly a movie that will leave you feeling different things!
Other shocking movies and shows of the cannibal horror genre include The Green Inferno and Cannibal Holocaust (beware of the graphic violence in the Amazon rainforest), Slave of the Cannibal God, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (with excellent performances from Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter), Bone Tomahawk (fantastic acting from Kurt Russell who plays a small-town sheriff), Raw (writer-director Julia Ducournau does a fantastic job with the themes, that too in veterinary school!) and Motel Hell (beware of the satire!).
Have more recommendations for this cannibal horror movies list? Let us know in the comments below!