Ravenous

1999 Horror

In 1847, many Americans made the journey across our continent in search of gold. Many failed to complete the journey or see their dreams come to light. Capt. John Boyd (Guy Pearce) found his way here thanks to an act of cowardice during the Mexican-American War; he has been banished to a desolate military outpost in California's Sierra Nevada mountains. Upon his arrival, he is greeted by a rag-tag group of soldiers manning the fort: Hart (Jeffrey Jones), the despondent commanding officer; Toffler (Jeremy Davies), the company chaplain; Knox (Stephen Spinella), the drunken doctor; Reich (Neal McDonough), the only real soldier of the group; and Cleaves (David Arquette), the heavily medicated camp cook. One day, Colqhoun (Robert Carlyle) stumbles into their camp. The half-starved Scotsman had been traveling with a group of settlers until they were snowbound. Unable to move forward, they took refuge in a cave, where once they ran out of food, they were forced to resort to cannibalism. Colqhoun barely escaped the madness -- or did he? Boyd and the soldiers hear of the old Indian legend of the Wendigo, which states a man who tastes the flesh of another steals that man's strength, spirit and essence. His hunger, however, will become an unstoppable craving. Like a vampire, the more he eats, the more he wants, and the stronger he will become, with death the only escape from the madness. The soldiers are soon drawn into the frenzy and Boyd is soon left with the choice of eating or being eaten. more..

Director: Antonia Bird

Starring: Guy Pearce, Robert Carlyle, Stephen Spinella, David Arquette, Jeffrey Jones

Reviews

  • Clever in the way it avoids most of the cliches of the vampire movie by using cannibalism, and most of the cliches of the cannibal movie by using vampirism. It serves both dishes with new sauces.

    Roger Ebert - The Chicago Sun-Times

    27 April 2013

  • For about half its length, Ravenous is a fairly effective scare picture, with a laugh or two. Then it just goes sour and pretentious.

    Michael Wilmington - The Chicago Tribune

    27 April 2013

  • Bird's keen visual imagination keeps the action grimly watchable.

    David Sterritt - Christian Science Monitor

    27 April 2013

  • An eccentric historical horror tale whose blackly comic tone wavers distracting.

    Maitland McDonagh - TV Guide

    27 April 2013

  • Oddball period tale of cannibalistic shenanigans.

    - Entertainment Weekly

    27 April 2013

Awards

  • Best Horror Film

    Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films (2000)

     
  • Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role (Film)

    First Americans in the Arts Awards (2000)

  • Best Original Score

    Satellite Awards (2000)