A 20th Century Fox release of a Fox 2000 Pictures presentation of an Adam Fields/Heyday Films production. Produced by Fields, David Heyman. Executive producer, Tim Van Rellim. Directed by Antonia Bird. Screenplay, Ted Griffin.
Capt. John Boyd - Guy Pearce
Colqhoun/Ives - Robert Carlyle
Toffler - Jeremy Davies
Hart - Jeffrey Jones
General Slauson - John Spencer
Knox - Stephen Spinella
Reich - Neal McDonough
Cleaves - David Arquette
"Ravenous" is a largely unappetizing stew enlivened at times by the struggle of its characters to be, or not to be, cannibals. Very loosely based on the Donner Party incident, this oddball period piece set at a remote fort in the Sierra Nevadas, circa 1847, essentially approaches its subject seriously, but does take stabs both at horror and grotesque comedy, neither with much success. Attractive stars Guy Pearce and Robert Carlyle (both heavily concealed by straggly hair and often smeared with blood) give this Fox release its best shot with younger viewers looking for something different, but it doesn't look to go far with either discerning specialized patrons or gore-hungry general auds upon skedded March 19 opening; latter, however, might find it a tantalizing title to check out down the line on video.
Tone is the most important element in a story as touchy as this one, and the introductory sections, in which U.S. Army Capt. John Boyd (Pearce) is sent in disgrace from Mexican-American War service to the god-forsaken outpost, and a Scottish traveler named Colqhoun (Carlyle) turns up there nearly starving and frozen to death, make it clear that first-time scenarist Ted Griffin and helmer Antonia Bird mean to stress the gritty grimness of their tale.
All the same, some humor is marginally attempted through the personages of some of the others on hand, including the camp's reasonably lighthearted commanding officer, Hart (Jeffrey Jones), and the demented cook, Cleaves (David Arquette).
Once he's come around, Colqhoun movingly tells the others of his plight; how he and his party of settlers were led astray by their guide, how they were snowbound in a cave and finally capitulated to consuming human flesh, and how he fled when he was left with a woman and the evil Col. Ives.
Determined to apprehend Ives, Hart leads a search party to the cave. But when Boyd and a bold fellow soldier (Neal McDonough) realize from the number of skeletons they find that Colqhoun must have killed and eaten everyone himself, the latter freaks out and butchers everyone but Boyd, who returns to the base in such a demented state that no one believes his wild stories.
Colqhoun soon rematerializes at the camp in the guise of none other than Ives, now assigned as temporary commander. Through strange circumstance, Boyd has tasted forbidden flesh once and is force-fed it again by Colqhoun/Ives, who is living proof that cannibalism is addictive and wouldn't mind having a partner during what he plausibly predicts will be a booming summer season of migrants heading for California.
In its final stretch, tale becomes a watered-down, bloodied-up frontier version of Faust and Mephistopholes, with the former resisting temptation with all his might against the latter's persuasive arguments for the strength, virility and vigorousness the ultra-carnivorous lifestyle can provide. Wrap-up is reasonably clever.
The story is strange enough to at least engage the interest, but Griffin's script is ultimately sophomoric and Bird's direction develops little tension or mystery as to what's going on or what will happen. Characters are resolutely one-dimensional, barring any emotional commitment to them, nor are they caricatured in an over-the-top way to maximize potential for outrageous humor or memorable turns.
Still, Carlyle, flamboyantly resembling Robert De Niro in "The Mission," displays some allure as the irrepressible cannibal who becomes more resilient and harder to kill with everyone he eats. Pearce emerges toward the end, but for too long his Boyd is stuck being uncommunicative and reticent, due to the shame of his military cowardice.
One stunt sequence -- in which one of the characters jumps off a cliff and is filmed hitting branch after branch of a large tree to slow his descent, then is seen hurtling helplessly down a mountainside -- is outstandingly staged, shot and cut. Bird, lenser Anthony B. Richmond and production designer Bryce Perrin have gone for a muddy, grubby look while shooting on Czech and Slovakian locations, while score by Michael Nyman and Damon Albarn is always entertaining to listen to, even if it stands out on its own rather more than it should.
Camera (Deluxe color, widescreen), Anthony B. Richmond; editor, Neil Farrell; music, Michael Nyman, Damon Albarn; production designer, Bryce Perrin; costume designer, Sheena Napier; sound, Mark Holding; assistant director, Jiri Ostry; second unit director, Arthur Wooster; second unit camera, Ervin Sanders. Reviewed at Sundance Film Festival (Premieres), Jan. 24, 1999. MPAA Rating: R. Running time: 100 min.
Contact Todd McCarthy at
tmccarthy@reedbusiness.com
Date in print: Tue., Jan. 26, 1999