Human Hibachi (2020) Film Review – Found Footage Cannibalism

Posted on by Jim Cox

Follow by Email
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram

Human Hibachi is a 2020 American found-footage horror film written and directed by Mario Cerrito. Beginning his directorial career with the feature horror thriller Deadly Gamble (2015), Mario is known for writing/directing the horror thriller The Listing (2017), Human Hibachi 2: Feast in the Forest (2022), and the upcoming final entry to the series, Human Hibachi 3: The Last Supper, currently in pre-production as of writing.

It’s Kate’s 35th birthday, and her boyfriend Reo decides to mark the occasion by recording the day’s festivities on his phone for prosperity. However, as the night progresses to dinner and drinks at the newly-opened hibachi restaurant where he works, the camera captures the eatery’s side business of catering to the wealthy elite with an insatiable hunger for the finest cuisine.

Using a mostly unutilised locale in cannibal films, Human Hibachi’s use of an actual restaurant certainly aids in the validity of its anthropophagic narrative. While not unseen in cinema, being featured in such films as The Untold Story (1993), its sequel, The Untold Story 2 (1998), as well as Blood Diner (1987) to name a few–the setting is criminally underappreciated in the horror sub-genre and is in dire need of more exploration. Additionally, implementing the concept of snuff films certainly adds to the found footage elements of the narrative. The notion of selling the video on the black market for a high price certainly substantiates the reasoning behind the continued filming of the gratuitous smorgasbord of guts and gore.

However, a noticeable issue with the film is its pacing. As is prevalent with many films in the found footage genre, Human Hibachi’s momentum is somewhat uneven at times. Beginning with a rather sluggish introduction to our main protagonists, the first act of Human Hibachi, while doing a competent job of introducing the characters and initial plot, feels slightly meandering at points. Certain scenes, such as the hair salon or pre-drinks, feel slightly overextended–with a slight trimming of these scenes undoubtedly helping the film’s flow.

Imparting some top-notch effects, Human Hibachi’s grisly display of human consumption is unquestionably where the film shines brightest. Being actualised through practical means, for the most part, the incredibly visceral display of prosthetic body parts, copious amounts of blood, and real meat used for the cooking scenes provide an efficiently grisly display of mutilation and cannibalism. While there is a slight implementation of CGI effects, their application is only minimal–displaying blood splatter in an (I’m guessing rented) office space where covering the walls with blood was not an option. While noticeable compared to the amazing practical effects, their use in a single scene is hardly a dealbreaker.

Featuring a rather large cast for a low-budget film, the range of performances in Human Hibachi can be varied. Our main protagonists, Katie, Reo, Brian, and Megan, give slightly stilted performances at times, feeling somewhat unnatural in their roles at points during the first act. On the contrary, the best performances are delivered by the affluent quartet of antagonistic cannibals. Their animated performances provide an over-the-top representation of those who consider themselves elite, offering a caricatured depiction of evil.

An enjoyable, low-budget exploration of cannibalism, Human Hibachi is a dynamic entry into the subgenre. With a captivating premise, gratuitous levels of gore, and competent realism, the film is sure to satiate the appetite of fans of cannibal films and found footage alike. While it has its limitations, it’s clear why the feature has gained a cult following and is a fantastic first entry in the trilogy.

score

More Film Reviews