Why Ravenous is the Greatest Movie Ever Made 

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Hi folks - I was the Sound Supervisor on "Ravenous", and I want to tell you how impressed I am with your brilliant film - Antonia would be delighted by it, because the film kind of slid beneath the waves quite quickly after release and almost didn't even get a DVD release. To be honest, as soon as I saw the poster (that big red block with the teeth on it), I knew we were in terrible trouble. Just so you know, that big fight at the end was all Antonia's and the actors' work - they were supposed to use a professional Fight Arranger, but she wanted exactly what you said - two real men trying to destroy each other. I loved working with her - I did "Safe", "Priest" and "Face" too - we lost a great, caring, thoughtful, hilarious talent when she died.

"Hollywood is full of the most miserable, unhappy people Ive ever met, and Im from the Balkans"

"Hey, I heard you need a director for your horror comedy. I know this director, Antonia Bird - she directed me in a movie about a closeted gay priest and incestuous abuse? Yeah, I think she'd be great for it." - Robert Carlyle. And he was right!

Roger Ebert loved this film. He gushed about how the snow looked cold and wet, and how the film in general was compelling.

When I started dating my GF on one of our first dates we were talking about movies and I brought this up as one I liked. Her eyes got real big and she got excited and said how it was one of her favorites too, our next date we watched it. She is a keeper now.

"This is the greatest movie ever made" Me: Well that's preposterous "It's a cannibal horror comedy" Me: Tell me more

My friend and I saw this in the theater when it first came out in 1999. I LOVED it! As the credits started to roll, I enthusiastically looked over at my friend to see what he thought. He looked back at me, shook his head, and said “I’m picking the next movie”. 😂

I remember seeing this and thinking, "How did this get made? It's pure genius, but there's no possible way to sell it."

Funny story about this movie , this movie is how my wife and I figured out she was pregnant. The opening scene made her violently ill so we left. Later I skipped work to finish watching the movie.

Ravenous is an unsung masterpiece indeed. MY college friends and I went around yelling "He was licking me" for weeks after watching it.

I wouldn't say "greatest", but it sure is underrated and deserving of much much more recognition

Robert Carlyle is such a great actor.

I always admire Robert Carlyle for picking niche roles like this,my favourite actor and a brilliant film

You’re telling me the guy who created Gorillaz is also the same guy who made the soundtrack for this movie?

Thank you for this excellent video essay. Antonia directed one of my plays in London and was the best director I ever worked with. Ten years later I begged her to direct a movie I'd written and was producing. She said no, she was busy prepping 'Mad Love'. She persuaded me to direct the film myself, which terrified me. But, thanks to her fierce encouragement, I took the plunge and directed it ('The Treat' starring Julie Delpy and Alfred Molina). The film turned out okay and even made money for the investors. Antonia was a priceless talent and a lovely person. If she'd been born in the US, she would have been a major director. It was a shock and a huge loss when she died.

The DVD/BluRay commentary track with the director is amazing. She talks about how much more epic the script was and how far back they had to pull it to fit the low budget. The ending was literally going to be an all-out war between a small cannibal army and the reinforcements.

I thought I was the only person that ever saw this movie lol! My uncle and I watched it years ago and we still talk about it. A gem of a movie!!

"Private Reich is our soldier" "AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!" "I'd steer clear of him" It was at this point where i almost died laughing and said, "i HAVE to see this movie"

I came across this movie on cable in the early 2000’s when Carlyle is chasing people through the woods to that oddly upbeat music and I was mesmerized. This is one of my favorite films/soundtracks as well and I’ve never met anyone else who’s seen it. Thanks for taking the time to honor it.

I've been pushing to make this a Christmas movie for a while now. Trying to get horror back into the Christmas season, and this movie is neck deep in midwinter-style horror. Also it's super fun and has the best score ever.

So glad people understand how good this movie is.

Anyone who has seen this and hasn't seen Bone Tomahawk should give it a watch. Different tone and a more wild west than frontier setting but it's a awesome cannibal horror flick!

I had the privilege of seeing this in the theater when it debuted. I came out of this film utterly amazed and kept thinking about it for about a week afterwards. Such a great film. I like your analysis also. thanks.

all of my friends passed around this bargain bin movie after it came out. It was a diamond in the rough. One of the most underrated films of all time.

Ravenous was one of a few influences that kept me away from drugs. The addict comparison is apt, when your town is infested with drug addiction.

This movie is one of the greatest thing my teenager insomnia gave me. I had trouble sleeping so I was mindlessly watching TV, while this movie started playing. Wasn't thinking about it much, didn't even catch the title, cause it was late at night, and in my country, that's the time when "bad movies" are broadcasted. But then, the tune kicked in. I was so mesmerized by this melody, I just drift through the whole movie like in a vivid dream. When I woke up the next day I almost thought it was just a weird dream, but somehow I managed to find the title of this gem. To this day I met maybe two people that knew about Ravenous. But the main theme melody is still my favorite tone to whistle.

I saw this movie in Pakistan in 1999 and never forgot it or it’s haunting score .. truly a masterpiece

My cousin worked in a small family owned video store in the late 90s. The owner got the screener for Ravenous and decided not to purchase it. My cousin and I watched this movie in 1999, and to this day it’s on my top 5 films list. Well done 👍

I just realized this movie is basically if Dances With Wolves was written by Stephen King.

This film has been part of my husband’s traditional Thanksgiving celebrations with his gaming group for longer than I have known him. It is a masterpiece and I will fight anyone who says otherwise.

I watch the movie with my family every Thanksgiving. The soundtrack, 3 or 4 times a week on my transit to or from work.

The most powerful part of this movie was the redemption arc of Boyd's character. He went from a coward willing to play dead in orders to survive, to willingly sacrificing his own life and his own immortality in order to stop The cannibalist predator embodied by Carlisle.

"The Revenant" reminded me of a movie I couldn't remember watching. Turns out it was "Ravenous" and now I can see the similarities were numerous and yet it's a superior film.

The only reason I saw Ravenous was because the theater by my house was playing it, I went to see it again the next day and the day after that. This movie still blows me away, it really is the greatest movie ever made. Yet I’ve never been able to get someone else to watch it. They see the name of the movie and figure it’s a cheap horror movie and want nothing to do with it. I am so happy to see there are others like me out there. This was the first time I’d ever seen Guy Pierce in anything, I couldn’t believe how cool he was, he reminded me a lot of Clint Eastwood. Whenever he is on talk shows they never bring this movie up, that’s really sad, & according to Pierce this was the most difficult of all his movies to make. Well, A million thanks for making this video and posting it, it really made my day. 👍🏽📽🎬😀

Thank you so much for introducing this film. I've just watched it and rewatched this vid again. Truly a masterpiece.

"It's not easy being a cannibal...tough making friends."

This seems like one of those stories that shows you what horror can be when its use as a story telling agent rather the actual point of the story being told.

I watched this in 1999 in the theaters with me and my mum. It scared us both but we just loved it. The music in the cave when they find out Col Ives ate all his fellow travelers instead of trying to find help scares me to this day. I love this movie, the cinematography and the soundtrack are like no other film out there.

I always loved this movie! Loved its visual style. Loved its dark humor. Loved its acting. Loved its satire. It is truly one of the most underrated movies of all time. Glad to see someone other than me giving it the love it deserves and more. This was a fantastic analysis of a fantastic film. So glad I watched!

My friend randomly recommended we watch this a few weeks back. Its somewhat comforting to know that there are still hidden gems out there to be discovered....always so happy to add another addition o my list of favourite films

The Boyd theme is actually an old hymn, “Jesus is coming soon”, which is a perfect random choice for the theme. It was an awesome touch.

The fact that the "Buxom 22 Year Old" is the most replayed part, and the fact that I only know that because I tried to replay it, says a lot about us as an audience.

"grand sense of adventure permeated by loneliness" is literally 90% of Damon Albarn's music

I remember getting this movie free with Pathfinder. I remember watching it after Pathfinder and thinking, I paid for the wrong film. Pathfinder should be the free movie for Ravenous.

“Murderfest destiny” sounds like what he actually said.

Everything in this movie is perfect. Decor, set design, make-up, cast, directing, acting, location, narrative pacing and tempo, cinematography, film language and boy oh boy the soundtrack. Bravo everyone involved.

Everything about this movie blew my mind when it came out. It took me years to find out the mesmerizing soundtrack involved Damon Albarn. I had been a fan of Robert Carlyle since Hamish MacBeth and Trainspotting. I will give almost any Robert Carlyle project a watch (though never got into Once Upon a Time). For such a diminutive man, it's impressing how terrifying he can be! This is certainly the kind of movie I miss. It is very hard to imagine something like this being made today (or at least ever finding it if it were made). I know it's a trope at this point, but for the most part I haven't wanted to go to the cinema in years because we've swapped characters for caricatures. Ready your rotten tomatoes if you must, I am a nerd myself, but Marvel et all more or less ruined American cinema for me. I can't stand the way they assume we'll all shovel it into ourselves no matter how shit the quality is. It's so insulting. And yet completely true. Wake me up when it's not more sequels.

I watched it three times at the cinema, it's a masterpiece.

Hugely underrated movie. Just goes to show that in the movie business getting it out to theatres and marketing is literally 90% of the film's success. This received diddly squat so nobody saw it.

Glad to see im not the only one who loved this movie, perfect in every way i thought, from the stellar acting to the hauntingly beautiful soundtrack

Why Ravenous is the Greatest Movie Ever Made Okay! I'll bite!

I thought this movie was a wild fever dream from my drunken college days until I was reminded of it’s existence by this video. Now I will have to rewatch it. If you like this movie you should check out the movie 1995 Johnny Depp black and white western titled Dead Man. It’s right up your alley.

This movie has atmosphere like not other! We need more gems like this one.

I love this movie. Saw it on Netflix a few years back on a cold rainy day at home. Was really surprised by how good it is and I never knew it existed before then.

Agreed 100% @Atun-Shei films! Eat to live, don’t live to eat. Hmm? Hmm?!

I thought I was the only person who’d ever seen this.

This movie was so amazing. To say nothing of the fact that it starred two of my favorite actors, Carlyle and Pearce.

Just had this recommended to me. This is one of our favorite films, definitely with one of the more memorable soundtracks of all time. It's so nice to see it being appreciated

Anyone who's seen the movie and recognizes my name will understand why I'm torn between loving this movie and cringing.

I was trapping with my father in law in the mountains a few years ago and on my way, I was playing Boyd's Journey. It really set the mood.

Found this movie tonight and have been devouring everything about it since

My partner and I are both huge horror, and movie in general, fans. being able to show the love of my life this movie on our first Halloween together a few years back (and to see her honestly enjoy it) was awesome and something I will never forget.

Nobody talks about this movie and it’s one of my faves ever. It’s Interview with the Vampire, but with cannibals! I knew I loved it for a reason, it’s brilliant!!!!

I credit this movie with my love of horror. I remember my mom taking me and one of my friends to go see it. We were 10, my mom never sheltered me from shit and I love her for it.

I'm giving this thumbs up, just because this movie has always been in my top 5 favorite movies of all time. such a great movie, matches the same aesthetic of evil dead. Just a special place in my heart and collection.

Just rented this yesterday to show my mom. I haven't seen it since I was 10, now I'm 32 and was excited to rediscover this nauseating gem. She slept through the whole thing, I'm so disappointed.

The first time I saw Ravenous was in the theater, and afterward I was like: "What the hell was that mess?" Then I saw again a year or so later and thought it was freaking brilliant.

I watched this a few times as a teenager and have never forgotten it

Wonderful appreciation! Concise and sincere, every overlooked movie needs more love like this.

I saw this film in the theatre and absolutely loved it, then went on to preach its glory to everyone I could, my now wife was one of the many successful converts, and it’s possible she loves it even more than I do.

Now that I’ve become obsessed with your channel, it looks like I have another movie to watch.

Look, the rest of the film is fantastic. Colquhoun's tale is brilliant. The score is amazing. The scenery is wonderful. We all know all this. The sheer random uniqueness of the film makes it magic. Our own little gem. We love Ravenous. We know this. So instead can we just give a shout out to that awesome that flying headbutt Knox gives Boyd? Man, that's a corker.

I'm so glad that someone else, and you especially, loves this movie as much as I do

It's astonishing how much AMC's The Terror seems to owe to Antonia Bird and her wonderful film. This goes right to my watchlist

Thank you for making this! The fact that most people have never seen this film is criminal.

I'll watch anything with Guy Pierce or Robert Carlyle in it. Was shocked the first time I watched this. A year later, watched it again.

i watched this film like a year ago thanks to your awsome introduction, i didnt finish your video until i watched the film, now is one of my favorites

Never heard of this movie but I'll watch anything with Robert Carlyle in it. Thanks for the heads up man!

Love ravenous, great acting all around in that film and none of the characters feel "wasted".

Between the gore, the semi-ironic dialogue and the homoeroticism. I can think of at least three crowds they could have marketed towards, with crossover in all groups. First is the Tim Burton crowd. His 90s films are dark and violent at the same time, but became more child friendly over time. So the people who were wanting more of his work's aesthetic would enjoy it. It's got unique visual elements that remind me of Beatlejuice and Edward Scissorhands. There's a later film of his called Sleepy Hollow which is superficially similar, ie old American folklore (Headless Horsemand/Wendigos) in a period setting. The next would be the Anne Rice goth crowd. Homoerotic elements, dark, slightly violent, with a linear story and supernatural elements with pastiche and showmanship. Interview with the Vampire mostly but also The Crow, Bram Stoker's Dracula, The Lost Boys and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Final audience would be fans of the black comedy crime films that got really big after Pulp Fiction. Edgy, fast, occasionally absurd. Trainspotting, Fargo, Desperado, From Dusk Til Dawn and most importantly, Natural Born Killers. The goth and alternative scene at the time would have eaten it up.

There aren't enough videos out there about this movie. I had my dad rent it for me when I was 15 in 2000's. This movie made such an impact on me that Guy Pearce is still one of my favorite actors.

My dad rented this movie 20 years ago without knowing anything about it, and we watched it together. I still remember so much of it, it is a great movie.

Alright, another rare gem to add to my must-see viewing list! RIP Antonia.

It's one of my favorites. I wouldn't call it a horror comedy, though; the occasional jokes are too dry and cynical to qualify as comedy. I didn't laugh at anything in this movie. The jokes only contribute to the sense of horror and absurdity by revealing the callous psychopathy, stupidity or hopelessness of the characters and situations. That's not comedy, that's tragedy. The primary reason it failed to be a box office hit is because they tried selling it as a horror comedy when it fails to uphold that moniker. Nobody laughed because nothing about the scenes or the buildup is laughable; even the soundtrack is terrifying. People were expecting another Buffy the Vampire Slayer or at the very least an American Psycho sort of vibe, but they got a bleak, tear-jerking, locked in a cold closet nightmare instead. That buildup was a huge letdown. People were sold a bill of goods about a comedy and all they got was a very depressing and tragic film. The movie wasn't a failure, but the marketing most definitely was.

I agree with this fact - the soundtrack was also outstanding. This movie is my spirit animal. Thank you so so much for giving it the respect and care it more than deserves. “Eat to live, don't live to eat.” - Ben Franklin.

I love this movie too, and saw it in the theater when it came out in 1999. I remember the theater handed out promotional packages of beef jerky with the movie's logo on them (at least I hope it was beef!). I promptly ate the jerky but kept the package for many years in a bedside drawer. Unfortunately it disappeared some time ago during one of my many moves.

I really loved this movie. Even more so, the off-beat music score....

This is my favorite film ever and has been for over a decade and I want you to know how much this review means to me given how difficult it is for me to find other people who like this film. Furthermore, this is just an excellent essay, well-said, well-thought out, and well-paced/organized.

I can vividly remember the first time I saw this film, especially being old enough to have seen it in theaters. It was then, has remained through many reviewings, and continues to be one of the best movies I have ever seen. Even to this day I frequently quote it reference it and suggest it to literally anybody who has even a passing interest in good film. Masterfully performed, expertly directed, bizarrely written, and arguably flawless, Ravenous is indeed one of the greatest films of all time.

Wow, I have felt this way about this movie a few months after it was released. I have told many about it and some have watched and loved it as well. Others perhaps see it for what it looks like from the outside and have not looked deeper. When people ask me about what this movie is about, I often think to tell them it is a horror movie last. It is a comedy, a morality story, a cautionary tale, and so much more. This movie should be worshiped for the pure genius it is. Thank you for your work on this video.

I have been recommending this flick to people for years. It's criminally underrated. Jeffrey Jones pleading to Guy Pearce while the depressing, doom n' gloom song plays in the background still gives me chills. And every scene with Major Knox is always fun. "Now, what in the heck is going on out here?!" always makes me laugh. Ravenous is easily in my top 5 favorites of all time. Glad to see this video!

Listening to the soundtrack, it seems he's got mixed timings between a 4/4 melody and a 5/5 rhythm. Creates a unsettling feeling due to the seemingly off rhythms. Its uncommon in western music but popular bands like Tool and Radiohead frequently use similar techniques in may of their arrangements.

I watched this with my mother when I was a teen, it was on late night tv. The main reason was because of Carlyle, because we were both fans of his from Hamish McBeth and Full Monty. It wasn’t until 2005 I saw Trainspotting. Plus I reckon he did a solid job as a Bond villain.

I've never seen or heard of this film till today when I clicked on your vid. Watched 2min of your vid and paused it then went and rented it on amazon.. what a great imaginative film. Thanks. Oh and to the sound guy that commented before myself. Thank you very much. The movies sound track is incredible and at times unexpected. A great surprise

I forgot how much I liked this movie. Guy Pierce has been in some of my all time favorites in this movie, Memento and LA Confidential

This is one of my favourite movies of all time. I actually managed to find the soundtrack on CD in central Ontario of all places. I honestly can't thank you enough, this movie and soundtrack changed my life, honestly

Thank you thank you thank you for this video. I was sixteen when I saw this by myself and it hit me that I just watched something great and it's stuck with me. No one that I know has seen it and so it's just been in my head for years now without any validation till I seen your video

I remember watching this shortly after it came out and it's stuck with me ever since for a lot of reasons. I love it and even now recommend it to friends. It's so old now that it's kinda new, and many people I speak too don't even know about it. Both Guy Pierce and Robert Carlyle killed it.

THANK YOU! I try telling so many people about this movie and I am constantly let down when they don't understand just how brilliant it is. Glad it's getting some love here on youtube.