Many of the Italian cannibal movies tread a fine line between jolly jungle caper and gut-munching exploitica; 'Mountain of the Cannibal God' falls firmly into the former category. With a bigger budget than most movies of it's kind, the higher production values allow for a more coherent storyline and, in Stacy Keach, an actor who is able to deliver a badly written line with an admirable level of conviction. Nevertheless, the whole thing is really just a mildly interesting romp through the jungle, with very little suspense, and no real violence, sex or gore to speak of. Quite inexplicably, considering the movie's total removal from the trapping of the cannibal genre, it is littered with real-life animal killings. Of all the elements of the cannibal movie to keep, why the animal suffering? I'd rather have seen a good disemboweling.
The only redeeming qualities are the locations and the tribespeople. The vast cave complex is a beautiful and awe inspiring sight (and looks suspiciously like the caves of 'Ultimo Mondo Cannibal'). The tribespeople, caked in dried mud and wearing home made masks are actually quite frightening for once, like a Jungle DIY version of Leatherface. It's refreshing to see something new in cannibal design, it's just a shame the efforts are wasted in a movie that is more reminiscent of 'King's Solomon Mines' than a cannibal movie.
