Eaten Alive!: Italian Cannibal and Zombie Movies

by Jay Slater

Eaten Alive! tells the story of the graphically gory movies created from the late 1970s through the early 1990s by Italian exploitation moviemakers. Jay Slater explains how the myth of the Haitian walking dead (zombies) merged with legends of third-world cannibalism to create such gruesome zombie cult films as Cannibal Holocaust, an acknowledged influence on The Blair Witch Project.

Genres: Film, Horror, Nonfiction, Reference

256 pages, Paperback

First published August 30, 2002

Reviews

[Trevor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yeah, right...like I wasn't gonna like this book. My only complaint is the uneven nature of it - some films get overly lengthy entries, while others are only given a little over a page (a few films don't even get that). Also, the fact that different writers contributed to the different films' entries is a nice touch, but it also ends up preventing the book from having a very consistent feel. For instance, one film will be discussed in a very serious manner, but the next film will simply be made fun of, with no attempt to adress its historical or cultural context. Still, at the end of the day IT IS just a book about Italian cannibal and zombie movies, so I guess that kind of stuff can be overlooked. I'd recommend it for anyone as obsessed with these kinds of films as I am, particularly if you're looking to find some new films to track down and watch.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love horror movies and have a strong stomach, this book gives a nice insight into the production of several movies within the genre. But beware, I mean it when I say you need a strong stomach.

[Jude Felton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great look back at Italian Zombie, Cannibal and gore flicks!

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent reference book for 70-80s euro horror

[Andrew Neilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend this to anyone who likes Italian horror. You could I devoured it,I loved it that much. I would question some of the inclusions such as Demons and Planet of the Vampires as being in the cannibal/zombie genres but that only means we get more content so its not a complaint just a comment

[S. Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eaten Alive! is, without a doubt, the most exhaustive and affectionate film guide you will ever read about the Italian cannibal and zombie genres. After multiple introductions, the majority of the book is a series of detailed film reviews (in chronological order) and star/filmmaker interviews that delve deeply and lovingly into some of the most brutal films you will ever see in your life. Jay Slater, who contributes several reviews and interviews on top of editing this collection, has gone out of his way to document the history of this unavoidable section of horror film history, including a thorough appendix listing every film's credits and - more importantly for those interested in tracking some of these films down - alternate titles. Whether you're a veteran of the genre or a novice looking to get your feet wet (with BLOOD!), Eaten Alive! offers a wealth of information and analysis.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read fir any zombie movie fan. One of the best of it's kind.

[Cassidy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this again now that I have seen pretty much all of these films.

[Carsten Scholz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely awesome book! I love this genre of film and this book has helped me track down movies and introduced me to new filmmakers.