A butcher's accidental crime spirals into a chilling descent of murder and cover-up.
THE CANNIBAL MAN
When the butcher goes berserk....
A meat factory worker accidentally kills a taxi driver, and begins to gradually kill people close to him in order to cover up his original crime, and starts to get rid of the mounting corpses stored in his bedroom through his day job.
Quick Answer
The Cannibal Man is a 1972 Spanish crime horror thriller directed by Eloy de la Iglesia about a butcher whose accidental killing leads to a series of murders as he desperately tries to hide his crimes.
Programmer's Pick
It’s not just the meat that’s getting processed in this Spanish shocker. Eloy de la Iglesia’s bleak urban grindhouse delivers a mounting sense of dread—plus enough graphic violence and taboo-breaking to keep even the most jaded genre fans on their toes.
— SassyFlix Programmer
Overview
Details & Specs
- Director
- Eloy de la Iglesia
- Writers
- Antonio Fos, Eloy de la Iglesia
- Release
- 1972
- Runtime
- 1h 38m
- Country
- Spain
- Language
- Spanish
- Also Known As
- The Apartment on the 13th Floor, Week of the Killer, L'appartamento del 13° piano, Cannibal man - La semaine d'un assassin, La semana del asesino (original title)
Why This Matters
The Cannibal Man gained notoriety as one of the films included on the British Director of Public Prosecutions' 'Video Nasties' list, reflecting its controversial status in horror cinema censorship history.
Cast & Crew
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Why Cult
Experience the gritty, oppressive mood of early 1970s Spain, captured through bleak urban settings and a relentless sense of dread.
Watch as Marcos’s mind unravels under the strain of mounting guilt and paranoia, blending crime drama with psychological horror.
Notorious for its grisly scenes and 'Video Nasty' status, the film doesn’t flinch from showing the brutal consequences of Marcos’s actions.
Cannibalism is more than a title tease—Marcos’s day job at the slaughterhouse adds a nightmarish layer to his methods of body disposal.
Scene Gallery
Threat File
Accidental killing of a taxi driver
Marcos's escalating murder spree
Multiple deaths and psychological unraveling
Urban Spain; butcher's workplace
Questions from the Vault
When was The Cannibal Man released? +
The Cannibal Man was released in 1972.
Who directed The Cannibal Man? +
The Cannibal Man was directed by Eloy de la Iglesia.
How long is The Cannibal Man? +
The Cannibal Man has a runtime of 98 minutes.
What genre is The Cannibal Man? +
The Cannibal Man is a crime, drama, horror, and thriller film.
How does Marcos dispose of his victims' bodies? +
Marcos uses his skills and access at the slaughterhouse to butcher and get rid of the corpses, hiding his crimes from authorities.
