While better known for writing the romantic comedy Pretty Woman, J. F. Lawton struggled in LA back in the day. The son of famous novelist and journalist Harry Lawton, J. F. got his first taste of filmmaking in his childhood. In 1969, his father’s book was adapted into the film Tell Them Willie Boy is Here, starring Robert Redford. J. F. got to visit the set and was mesmerized by the filmmaking process, and decided to become a screenwriter. After graduating from California State University, he moved to Los Angeles and lived in one of the city’s roughest areas. While trying to find work, Lawton met producer Charles Band, struggling to keep Empire Pictures alive despite the mounting debts. With Band, Lawton got the opportunity to direct his directorial debut, shot in his hometown of Riverside. The result was 1989’s Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death.
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Synopsis
Margo Hunt (Shannon Tweed) is a professor at Spritzer College that teaches feminist studies and advocates for gender equality. The US government recruits her to travel to the mysterious Avocado Jungle and contact a female tribe, The “Piranha Women.” These women tend to have sex with men, kill them, and eat them as part of a sacrificial ritual. Though reluctant, Hunt agrees to go, but one of her students Bunny (Karen Mistal), insists that she go too. Before embarking on their journey, they need a guide and hire Jim (Bill Maher), a chauvinist ex-lover of Hunt’s. They eventually stumble upon the Piranha Women and meet their leader as they make their way through the jungle. Their leader is Dr. Kurtz (Adrienne Barbeau), a former colleague of Hunt’s who the government also sent before going MIA. What follows are explorations of feminism and gender politics, all in the name of avocados.
Review
Much like Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama, this is a film with quite a catchy title. However, while the former was more what you’d expect, this tries to be much more intelligent and offer some satire. For the most part, it works, but a lack of budget hampers it from being much more. Shannon Tweed, who was 1982’s Playmate of the Year, is funny as the sharp-witted feminist teacher trying to maintain independence. Karen Mistal does come off slightly annoying as the overly ditzy and stereotypical valley girl, but she has her moments. While I’m sure he’d rather people forget about his performance, Bill Maher is appropriately cocky and arrogant in his role. Though she has limited screen time, it’s always lovely to see Adrienne Barbeau pop up in these low-budget shlock films. Plus, the score by Carl Dante is surprisingly catchy and well-orchestrated.
The film’s satire might put some people off, but it doesn’t diminish the overall goofy nature of the movie. There’s a tribe of women that are literal “man-eaters,” a braggadocious male lead who’s also incompetent, and much more. The film’s set-up revolving around an avocado shortage is so absurd that it must be intentional. What makes the satire work is that the filmmakers poke fun of both groups rather than siding one group over another. While there are plenty of jokes about men and toxic masculinity, there are just as many jokes about feminism. Unfortunately, the lack of a decent budget ultimately hurts the film, though it’s not surprising given Charles Band’s involvement. Still, the fact that they’re filming in the forest near Lawton’s college adds to the movie’s campy charm. Overall, Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death is silly, but it’s more intelligent than you’d expect.
Buy Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3cQH6Yt.
