Are you trying to decide which BluRay to buy? We made it extra hard on purpose-ish. At least Troma was crazy enough to license it to two entities and New Cannibal Society - run by Jason McHugh - was delighted to work with both ver talented teams to make their BluRay Vision manifest!! So here is the run down according to Chat GPT:
There are two excellent modern Blu-ray editions of Cannibal! The Musical, but they’re surprisingly different. Both are region-free and loaded with extras, so the better choice depends on what kind of fan you are.
What’s the difference between the US and European versions?
The US edition from Degausser/Vinegar Syndrome is a deluxe 2-disc set and gives you two different presentations of the movie: a restored version from the best-surviving Betacam master and a fascinating 4K restoration sourced from the only surviving 35mm theatrical print. It also includes the legendary “inebriated” commentary with Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Jason McHugh and company, plus a 67-minute making-of documentary, new cast/crew commentary and numerous interviews and featurettes.
The European edition from Refuse Films/TromArchive takes more of an archival approach. Its HD restoration was created frame-by-frame from the original video master and approved by cinematographer Robert Muratore. It also includes the rarely seen 1993 UK cut, a new commentary featuring producer Jason McHugh, new cast-and-crew interviews, uncut archival Trey Parker and Matt Stone material, and special features collected from earlier VHS/DVD releases.
What is the best version for a fan?
For a serious Cannibal! fan, I’d lean toward the European Refuse Films edition because it feels more like an archaeological dig into the history of the movie. The alternate UK cut, archival material and involvement of people who actually made the film make it especially fun for someone who already knows the movie by heart. For someone primarily interested in seeing the movie in the most unusual restored presentations possible, however, the US Vinegar Syndrome edition has a major attraction: that restoration from the surviving 35mm theatrical print.
Which version makes the best gift?
For most people, I’d give the US edition. The two-disc presentation and extensive extras make it an impressive package with an excellent documentary. The currently listed standard edition has the same discs but omits that special packaging and book.
For the hard-core Shpadoinkle fan, though, I’d give the European edition—or go completely overboard and give both. There is enough exclusive material between them that they genuinely complement each other rather than simply duplicating the same release.