Filmmakers have long studied the plight of womanhood in horror movies. 1944’sGaslightandCat People(1942) are early examples of thesuppression of a woman’s identity and agency. Through the decades, the conversation has shifted tremendously to explore stories of empowerment in the face of the patriarchy – fromThe WitchtoA Girl Walks Home Alone at Night. Writer/directorAimee Kugeburns it all to the ground with her directorial debut,Cannibal Mukbang, in which a young woman targets rapists, abusers, and other toxic men for feasting. Within its cannibal structure, there’s a potent message aboutwomanhood as a source of power and how it can be used to destroy a male-dominated world.
‘Cannibal Mukbang’ Provokes a Strong Moral Dilemma
Ash (April Consalo) likes to eat human flesh, and she likes to eat human flesh for pay. Through what is called a mukbang, a popular South Korean trend ofeating food on camera (think: OnlyFans), Ash does very well for herself. She keeps her ingredients a secret, allowing herself to create the most scrumptious dishes without revealing her cannibalistic hunger. In making her favorite platters, she’s particularly keen on meatballs and lasagna, but any old recipe will do –as long as the meat comes from the bodies of despicable men.You see, she’s doing something good for humanity; at least, that’s what Kuge analyzes in the film.
I Guarantee You’ve Never Seen a Cannibal Movie As Fun, Stylish and Twisted as This One
‘Eat’ gives a whole new meaning to the term “finger food.”
In ridding the world of repugnant men, Ash cleans up the streets and makes it safer for women. But is she doing the right thing? It feels like a no-brainer to answer that question with a resounding yes. In modern society, it’s no longer a time to be subtle with a film’s messaging –Black Christmas(2019) andBystandersare prime examplesof how to confront toxic masculinity with a two-ton anvil. In eliciting a “she did nothing wrong” response,the story asks the audience to engage with the material and consider that it’s time to turn the tables on a male-dominated world.
Men have been getting away with gross behavior for far too long. While Kuge keeps violence against women to a minimum, she lets Ash exact perfect revenge on the male form. In employing a mukbang, she devises complexity within Ash’s character.She’s not just eating men but reusing their bodies, just like they used and discarded bodies in their lives, for the entire world. It’s an act of valor: preying, killing, and consuming the male form in the same way they’ve been doing to women for centuries.Cannibal Mukbangoffers upa complicated, yet morally incisive, statement about killing terrible men and empowering women to finally get the justice they deserve. The film simply presents these ideas and lets the audience decide whether Ash is right or wrong for her actions.
Cannibalism is a Metaphor for Women Reclaiming Agency
I’m of the mind that Ash is only doing what needs to be done. A twist on thefamiliar rape-revenge genre,Cannibal Mukbangbestows upon Ash the strength and resilience to combat the patriarchy, tearing it limb from limb (quite literally).Her consumption of male flesh is the destruction of tired and archaic beliefsthat women are subservient to men and deserve to be treated like blow-up dolls.
But women like Ash are fighting back. In using an online platform like mukbang, Ash reclaims bodily autonomy in a digital space, much like countless women,including pop artistKate Nash, who have turned to sites like OnlyFans to make money and rediscover themselves. The landscape these daysenables women to have various ways to improve their self-worth and empower themselvesthrough shattering the male-centric status quo. There’s no longer an obligation to get permission from gatekeepers; women can just do it themselves. Where films likeCannibal Holocaustoffer nothing of value, Kuge’sCannibal Mukbangstokes the flames of womanhood and retaliation in the face of egregious behavior.
Throughout the film, Ash falls for Mark (Nate Wise), a seemingly nice guy with very few flaws. When newfound love could have distracted her, Ash remains focused on her revenge mission and convinces him to join her. Mark develops a taste for flesh, but when someone close to him proves to be a repulsive creature,Ash’s morals are called into question. Will she do what needs to be done to save herself and all of womankind from this man? Well, you’ll just have to watch to find out the answer to that question.
Cannibal Mukbangis far more than meets the eye. Sure, it’s a fun cannibal movie with plenty of blood and practical effects. When you peel back those layers, however, you realize thatAimee Kuge has something profound to say about men and women in the world. Kuge keeps an unwavering hand over the film’s central messaging and delivers a timely story about male destruction and female agency. We could all learn a thing or two from Ash.
Cannibal Mukbang
