The Cannibals (1988): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1988, The Cannibals is a fantasy and drama film directed by Manoel de Oliveira, running about 95 minutes. “A drama following stories of characters from the Portuguese High Society.” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. This odd film is a major representative of an even odder film genre: direct-to-celluloid opera. It was commissioned by the Portuguese master of style, director Manoel de Oliveira from composer João Paes. Musically, it ranges from 19th-century romanticism to popular, modernist and even "post-modernist" styles. In the initially tame story, a host-narrator tells the story of a wedding between the two lovebirds: Viscount d'Aveleda and the beautiful Marguerite. However, what happens in the bridal chamber is incredibly bizarre. The events after that are even stranger (the film out-does even Luis Buñuel in that department), and the wedding guests and family indulge in cannibalism, among other perversions.

Who’s in it. The Cannibals stars Luís Miguel Cintra as Viscount d'Aveleda, Leonor Silveira as Margarida, Diogo Dória as Don João and Oliveira Lopes as The Presenter (lago), among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 6.8/10, The Cannibals has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Cannibals page.

If you liked it. Fans of The Cannibals tend to enjoy The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The Green Mile, Spirited Away and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.