I grew up as the internet emerged and took over culture and in that time I have seen a lot. The internet was a portal opening to all our darkest desires and horrors. If there is something that turns you on or revulses you, it’s out there. One of the things that makes CANNIBAL MUKBANG so interesting as an idea is that it taps into something on the fringe of internet culture, but which has gained more attention via social media. For those who don’t know, the idea of a mukbang is to broadcast yourself eating a large quantity of food as you chat with fans. It’s fetishistic and voyeuristic and taps into the desire to watch something “different” and extreme. People make careers on it.
CANNIBAL MUKBANG introduces us to a shy, hapless man (Mark) searching for connection in a lonely world. A chance meeting with a woman in the middle of the night at a store opens his life up to the idea that perhaps he’s finally met someone. His brother, a chauvinist and is more interested in his brother, our lead, getting some action than he is in hearing about love. The young woman is mysterious, intense, passionate, and secretive. While she seems attracted to Mark, she is hiding something. As Mark and Ash begin to fall for one another he finally learns what she has been hiding from him, and it’s not just that she is a popular mukbang personality but something far darker. Can love shine a light through her darkness to unite them, or will it tear them apart.
CANNIBAL MUKBANG has a great core idea, beyond the mukbang. That the film walks the line between humor and horror is a really interesting choice and works well. The movie never becomes silly and doesn’t let itself wallow in the grossness. It walks the line wonderfully. The chemistry between the leads feels natural and honest and keeps the film grounded. The movie does know when to get nasty, and there is plenty of the wet stuff to keep horror fans happy.
As well as the film balances the core romance with the more outrageous aspects of the story, things fall apart at the end as it stretches its credibility. I really liked the film until the ending but just felt that it didn’t hold together as it concluded. It’s a pity because the film has a lot to say and this is an interesting way to say it, it just gets clumsy as things conclude.
There really is a lot to like here. From tender scenes of natural romance that are playful and sexy, to some very gory setpieces. It’s definitely worth a look and deserves to be seen. It’s a sincere film that really surprised me at the restraint it showed and will absolutely find its fans.
3.25 out of 5
The Spooky World of Chris Ringler 