Review of Papaya: Love Goddess of the Cannibals (1978) by Rob R — 07 Mar 2011

Well here we are with another Joe D'Amato film and does it live down to expectations? Well of course.

You have to wonder whether D'Amato was serious about his art of if he is really just extracting the urine. Cashing in on the glut of cannibal films that were around at the time D'Amato chooses to make a cannibal film with no cannibals in it. The closest we get is Papaya performing an oral castration (yes indeed) and some priest who eats a heart after sacrificing some random white bloke.

As for the rest it's a mixture of voodoo and soft porn as the cast waste no time in stripping off at every opportunity and romping before wandering around in a daze wondering where a plot might appear from. On top of this is a conceit at having an ecological message - something about protecting the island from the onslaught of western industry.

But it's all just an excuse to show lots of lingering shots of topless women and drag it out over 80 odd minutes.

If you're an aficionado of this sort of exploitative rubbish (and I'm guilty as charged) then see it by all means. Anyone wanting an enjoyable film give it a wide berth!