Jose and myself would get together after school on Fridays, rent some crazy horror movie and watch it at his place with soda and snacks. This evening would be a life changer for me. My conception on the limits of gore in films was raped hard, until I loved it. During one scene I slid across the floor to the TV and praised the images on the screen like a pagan idol. I cannot say enough about this movie.

The story is simple and functional. Four campers head to the woods and are slaughtered by a trio of deranged cannibals. There are eight murders in total. The first five victims die separately, one is actually a recollection, which contains a hearty topless scene as the girl runs away from the cannibals.

A jogger is hacked to death. There are axes to the head, machetes across the neck and limbs cut off. The blood is shiny and red and you can tell they used gallons of it. True to it’s camp nature the film is splattered with jokes. "What’s more disgusting than a pile of dead babies ? ...A live one eating it’s way out.". Chris tells this joke unbeknownst that his girlfriend Amy is pregnant. Now that’s funny. The cannibals are all out of their minds (one of them wears a pilot's helmet covering his whole face, cause it was disfigured in an accident) but Rich, played by Richard Marcus is hilarious. He talks to himself most of the time and has these wild eyes that makes you question whether or not Marcus is mad.

In the last epic scene the last three campers are tortured and killed. As Jon lays tied up on the ground the cannibals cut into his stomach and pull out his intestines for a little supper. They even remove Amy’s gag so she can have some too. They press down her face on Jon’s exposed guts. Amy’s boyfriend Chris receives an axe to the eye. Amy breaks free and after a lengthy chase she is captured once more. Remember when I told you that she was pregnant? And there are three hungry cannibals present. You do the math.

The final act of violence is so horrendous you might feel guilty and dirty for watching it. But that has worn off on me. I have seen the movie over five times and watch it again for birthdays and special occasions. I don’t want to over hype this movie cause then it might disappoint. Cannibal Campout is a low-budget camp masterpiece! I couldn’t help myself.

- Jorge Antonio Lopez