[Susan Foreman]

'Cannibal Girls' (1973) - Vin-Syn partner label Canadian International Pictures Blu-Ray available from Vinegar Syndrome direct - UK$23.39

Release date: March

"From arthouse to Canuxploitation, Canadian International Pictures (CIP) is devoted to resurrecting vital, distinctive, and overlooked triumphs of Canadian cinema. This label is focused on the country's original cinematic boom years - spanning the '60s, '70s, and '80s - occasionally venturing past that period (and the country's borders) to highlight the films of Canada's most inspired actors and filmmakers. Vinegar Syndrome's sister company, OCN Distribution, is thrilled to be representing CIP's brand new line of home video releases!

These girls do exactly what you think they do!

During a winter road trip, young couple Cliff (Schitt's Creek?s Eugene Levy) and Gloria (Black Christmas' Andrea Martin) get lost and make an unplanned stop in Farnhamville, Ontario, a snowy small town known as "The Friendly City." When they hear the legend of three local women with a history of murdering men, they playfully investigate. But to their horror, it seems the killers are still active, police and other locals are complicit, and they're all feasting on the victims. When the cannibals develop an appetite for Cliff and Gloria, they race to get on the road - before they get on the menu.

A decade before achieving blockbuster status with Ghostbusters, director Ivan Reitman put himself on the map with this more unsettling stab at horror comedy featuring future icons (and SCTV stars) Levy and Martin. Drawing inspiration from the Manson family and other shocking, drug-fueled horrors of the hippie era, Cannibal Girls is a gruesome Canuxploitation classic that set the stage for the provocative horror films - including Shivers, Rabid, and the Ilsa series - Reitman went on to produce at Cinepix. The film also made a splash in the U.S. where American International Pictures added a gimmick worthy of William Castle: a "warning bell" preparing viewers for "scenes of an especially erotic or gruesome nature.""

Special features and specs:

• Region A Blu-ray
• Scanned in 2K with new color grade and extensive dirt and damage repairs
• Alternate AIP "warning bell" soundtrack
• New audio commentary featuring Paul Corupe of Canuxploitation.com and film historian Jason Pichonsky
• 2 Guys and a Chainsaw episode on the film with a new epilogue on Canadian horror featuring hosts Craig Higgins and Todd Kuhns
• Reitman the Fright Man (2024, 20 min.) - New interview with film historian Chris Alexander on Reitman's horror period
• The Horror Horn (2024, 5 min.) - Alexander on AIP's "warning bell" soundtrack
• Cannibal Guys (2010, 27 min.) - Archival interview with Reitman and producer Daniel Goldberg
• Meat Eugene! (2010, 20 min.) - Archival interview with star Eugene Levy
• More Meat (2024, 21 min.) - Never-before-seen outtakes from Meat Eugene!
• French opening credits (1973, 3 min.)
• Theatrical trailer
• TV spots
• Radio spots
• AIP pressbook
• Archival image gallery
• Orientation (1968, 25 min.) - Early Reitman short uncut on home video for the first time
• New Orientation commentary featuring Hamilton Babylon author Stephen Broomer
• Booklet featuring an archival interview with Reitman and Goldberg, plus a Motion Picture Purgatory comic strip by Rick Trembles
• Reversible cover artwork
• English SDH subtitles
• 83 min
• 1.85:1
• English DTS-HD MA 2.0