Cannibal

Based on a novel by Humberto Arenal, Cannibal—despite its title—isn't exactly a conventional horror film. Antonio de la Torre stars as Carlos, a stolid tailor whose solitary life in Granada is only occasionally interrupted by women he eventually butchers and eats (said butchery is relatively bloodless, occurring off-camera). When an attractive massage therapist named Alexandra (Olimpia Melinte) moves into Carlos's apartment building, he tries to keep her at arm's length despite her efforts to attract him (and his own growing desire for her). But he winds up killing Alexandra, after which her sister, Nina (also played by Melinte), shows up in search of her and in desperate financial trouble. Carlos finds himself in an untenable situation: guilt-ridden while also falling in love with Nina. Director Manuel Martin Cuenca compresses all of the dark and passionate forces at work here into a tight space where Carlos maintains his isolation, clamping down on his fear of emotions through cannibalism until Nina finally touches a human spark in him. Although it may sound distasteful, Cannibal is actually an intriguing character study. Recommended. [Note: DVD extras include the bonus short film “Ogre,” directed by Jean-Charles Paugam (15 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a winning offbeat foreign film.] (T. Keogh)