Panic Fest is never afraid to show the weirder side of genre film. This year, audiences were treated to a bizarrely charming horror comedy called Cannibal Mukbang. The debut of writer and director Aimee Kuge, the film follows Mark, a shy and awkward guy who by chance meets a beautiful woman named Ash. As the two get closer, Mark is drawn deeper into Ash’s world of sex, mukbang, and cannibalism.

For those not familiar with “mukbang,” this is a video trend that began in South Korea in the 2010’s where people would either livestream or upload videos of themselves eating large quantities of food. Sometimes it’s used as a way to discuss food and introduce others to various cultural dishes. Other times there’s a sensory, sexual element, which is why many young women have been able to make a living doing mukbang videos. Kuge took the idea of this trend and turned it into a grotesque, yet surprisingly charming, romantic horror comedy.

When the audience first meets Mark and Ash, they seem like complete opposites. Mark is incredibly shy, a total loner (aside from spending time with his brother), works a job he hates, and generally seems to not enjoy food that much. Ash, on the other hand, is vibrant, confident to the point of bluntness, and charming. While Mark easily falls for her, he doesn’t understand how Ash could like him back, and he has a hard time opening up to her. Once he learns the truth about the meat Ash consumes, and how she gets it, Mark grapples with his conscious. He knows cannibalism is wrong, but his love for Ash makes him willing to do anything for her. While there are certain elements that could have benefited from further exploration, such as Mark’s relationship with his brother and the circumstances around how Mark and Ash first met, the end result is still a delight.

Cannibal Mukbang has a unique blend of sex, violence, and gore combined with an endearing warmth and romance. These wildly differing themes seem like they shouldn’t go together; yet, somehow, Kuge makes it all work. This is, in large part, because the cannibalism and the mukbanging seem to act as a metaphor for the consuming power of love. The first night Mark and Ash meet, they eat together. After that, almost every encounter they have also involves food. When Mark is away from Ash, especially for longer periods of time, he becomes sickly as if he’s starving. Because of how deeply Mark loves Ash, he needs to be with her to survive, the same way he needs to eat to survive. Love and hunger are one and the same, both having the power to sustain life, or take it away.

The two leads in Cannibal Mukbang light up the screen. April Consalo (Hider in My House) plays Ash. There are many layers to this character, and Consalo excels at bringing each side of Ash to life. At first she seems like an upbeat, carefree influencer. As the layers are pulled back, the audience learns there is a darkness inside Ash, but even her darkness is driven by a twisted kind of love and devotion. Nate Wise (Dimland) plays Mark. Even though Mark is a more straight-forward character, Wise is great at conveying the character’s awkward charm. Wise also adds depth to his portrayal, as his character’s inner turmoil impacts almost every aspect of his life. Consalo and Wise have amazing on-screen chemistry, making Ash and Mark’s relationship one the audience can root for even as these characters commit heinous, graphic crimes.

While watching Cannibal Mukbang, audiences are sure to take note of the many unexpected sights and sounds. The first standout is the use of color, as well as the production design. Much of the film has vibrant, colorful lighting and lush fabrics that not only look beautiful, but also feel like a nod to Ash’s sense of style and personality. When Mark is on his own, there is a noticeable lack of color, with the exception of some hilarious and sexy dreams he has about Ash. The wardrobe, put together by costume designer Jolene Marie Richardson (The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs), also lends to the characters’ personalities. Mark typically wears more conservative, plain clothes, while Ash wears outfits that are more eye-catching and flirty, depending on her prey. Then, of course, there’s the gore. Cannibal Mukbang has no shortage of graphic, beautifully crafted practical effects to make this love story as gory as possible. Adding to the gruesome nature of these scenes is highly effective sound mixing. If you’re someone who hates the wet sounds of people eating, then you might want to steer clear, because there is plenty of that in Cannibal Mukbang. Finally, the film also includes a fantastic musical score by Alex Cuervo (Scare Package, The Artifice Girl).

Cannibal Mukbang is a surprisingly charming romantic comedy for those with more depraved sensibilities to sink their teeth into. It’s a powerful debut for Kuge that is sure to make horror fans take notice. She has a unique style, telling a sweet, compelling story with striking visuals, while also incorporating outrageous gore. Every aspect of the visual and audio elements clearly has a significance, adding to the plot, as well as simply looking great. The performances from Consalo and Wise are what really sell the film. They have a magnetic chemistry that lends to the romance, even alongside the carnage. Cannibal Mukbang is an unexpected film, but one I imagine will become a frequent selection by horror fans on Valentine’s Day.

OVERALL SCORE: 7.5/10