Canadian Cannibals

CANNIBAL GIRLS-1973-This seldom seen low budget horror film from Canada was the second film directed by Ivan Reitman.

After their car breaks down, a couple, bushy haired Clifford (Eugene Levy) and Gloria (Andrea Martin) hear the local legend of 3 cannibal girls who killed and ate their victims. They go to a local restaurant (actually an old house) run by the weird Rev. St. John who is assisted by three women. A menacing servant hangs around too. St. John talks very over the top and acts mysterious. When they decide to stay the night St. John and his ladies attack Clifford and Gloria. She escapes somehow and is helped by a doctor. Later she's reunited with Clifford who under a spell leads Gloria back to "the restaurant". A hypnotized Gloria then kills Clifford and he's served as dinner with Gloria joining in. It ends (sort of like MANTOS, HANDS OF FATE) with a new couple going to the old house for dinner.

I think this was suppose to be a comedy-takeoff but I found it pretty boring. From one short scene it seems to imply that the reverend is the vampire head of some kind of blood cult but what's really going on is never actually explained. He's not even mentioned when an old lady first relates the legend of the three girls.

The original theatrical version featured a "warning bell" to tell viewers when a grisly scene was about to appear.

The similar US produced TERROR HOUSE (aka TERROR AT THE RED WOLF INN) was filmed the year before.

Thanks for reading!