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Cannibal Creator
When a pair of collaborating authors take their families on a vacation to Barbados, their plans turn sour when they find themselves in the midst of quasi-primitive cannibals. As tensions rise and secrets are revealed, survival isn't the only challenge they face.
108 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 14, 2022
14 people are currently reading
278 people want to read
About the author
Chad Lutzke
89 books742 followersChad has written for Famous Monsters of Filmland, Rue Morgue, Cemetery Dance, and Scream magazine. He's had dozens of short stories published, and some of his books include: OF FOSTER HOMES & FLIES, STIRRING THE SHEETS, SKULLFACE BOY, THE SAME DEEP WATER AS YOU, THE PALE WHITE, THE NEON OWL and OUT BEHIND THE BARN co-written with John Boden. Lutzke's work has been praised by authors Jack Ketchum, Richard Chizmar, Joe R. Lansdale, Stephen Graham Jones, Tim Waggoner and his own mother.
He can be found lurking the internet at www.chadlutzke.com
He can be found lurking the internet at www.chadlutzke.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
January 21, 2022
Just like the author states in his Introduction, I have guilty pleasures too they also have to do with Italian horror just not the Cannibal movies from the 70's. That did not keep me from enjoying this Novella though. Lutzke has managed to make me enjoy this sub-genre of horror and I believe he will also make anyone who decides to pick this up enjoy it too.
For my first foray into Lutzke's solo fiction (I read his and Tim Meyer's novella "Wormwood") last year this was the perfect choice, a quick fast paced story with the perfect balance of well realized characters, some you like, some you loathe and some you love. Too many times in this kind of book everyone is just a dick, so who cares when they die (you usually root for them to die and usually the more horrible the better), I find that pointless and a waste of my time, not here though.
For my first foray into Lutzke's solo fiction (I read his and Tim Meyer's novella "Wormwood") last year this was the perfect choice, a quick fast paced story with the perfect balance of well realized characters, some you like, some you loathe and some you love. Too many times in this kind of book everyone is just a dick, so who cares when they die (you usually root for them to die and usually the more horrible the better), I find that pointless and a waste of my time, not here though.
July 20, 2022
This one seemed rushed, the author should have written it with a slower pace and developed the characters a bit better.
It reminded me of Cannibal Holocaust, which I was never into - just too disturbing for me.
It was the cover that drew me into this one, I never enjoyed it as much as I thought I would have.
I'd recommend to anyone who enjoyed the Video Nasties of the 70's.
The author fulfills all criteria he sets out to do here, but it's not really my jam unfortunately.
It reminded me of Cannibal Holocaust, which I was never into - just too disturbing for me.
It was the cover that drew me into this one, I never enjoyed it as much as I thought I would have.
I'd recommend to anyone who enjoyed the Video Nasties of the 70's.
The author fulfills all criteria he sets out to do here, but it's not really my jam unfortunately.
May 5, 2025
I regard Chad Lutzke in the highest regards as a writer. He is stupid talented. And, at this point, I have read most of his works and enjoyed them. Now this struck me as quite different than his normal fare, which it was. I did like the premise and the characters and pretty much everything this brought to the table. However, this moved at breakneck speed, which, unfortunately, worked to its own disadvantage. Everything felt like it was an abbreviated version of what it should have been. Plotpoints were breezed over, there was minimal character development and follow through, and I finished the story feeling very underwhelmed. I think if this was quite a bit longer and more fleshed out, it would have made a world of difference. Nothing needed to be changed, but it all just needed to be able to breathe a bit. Probably my least favorite offering from the author. For first time readers, I would highly recommend Of Foster Home and Flies and Stirring the Sheets to get a good idea of Chad Lutzke’s talents, before sampling this story.
December 27, 2021
When I saw that Chad Lutzke was looking for people to review an ARC of his new book I jumped at the chance. I read his coming of age novella Foster Homes and Flies five years ago and I’ve read and loved everything he’s written since. He’s is one of my favorite writers and I was thrilled when he agreed to send me a review copy of this book!
Cannibal Creator is extreme horror, a change from Chad’s usual work. It’s about two writers and their families taking a trip to Barbados. The trip quickly turns ugly when their private plane crashes on a remote island. The people they discover on the island turn out to be vicious cannibals. Things get very brutal from that point and Lutzke spares no detail of the viciousnes that ensues. It’s definitely not one for the squeamish. There’s also some animal abuse so consider yourself warned if your sensitive to that.
The ending was typical Lutzke yet I didn’t see it coming. I was left with my mouth literally hanging open. Yeah, I was shook when I finished reading and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. His books always do that to me.
I highly recommend you add this fantastic novella to your TBR if you like extreme horror. It’s release date is January 14th 2022. I really enjoyed every gory minute of it!
Thank you, Chad, for the ARC in exchange for my review.
Cannibal Creator is extreme horror, a change from Chad’s usual work. It’s about two writers and their families taking a trip to Barbados. The trip quickly turns ugly when their private plane crashes on a remote island. The people they discover on the island turn out to be vicious cannibals. Things get very brutal from that point and Lutzke spares no detail of the viciousnes that ensues. It’s definitely not one for the squeamish. There’s also some animal abuse so consider yourself warned if your sensitive to that.
The ending was typical Lutzke yet I didn’t see it coming. I was left with my mouth literally hanging open. Yeah, I was shook when I finished reading and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. His books always do that to me.
I highly recommend you add this fantastic novella to your TBR if you like extreme horror. It’s release date is January 14th 2022. I really enjoyed every gory minute of it!
Thank you, Chad, for the ARC in exchange for my review.
January 4, 2022
‘Cannibal Creator is a frenetic story of hope, butchery, survival and the horrors of man - written by one of the finest minds working in indie horror today.’
Read
December 19, 2021Release date January 14, 2022. Ready your bellies.
January 16, 2022
Having read almost all of Chad Lutzke’s published works, I was incredibly excited to learn that his next volume was being released. Cannibal Creator did not disappoint, I love how Chad generates horror not necessarily from ghosts and ghouls but from the consequences of character’s choices. Cannibal Creator is no exception, as several survivors of a plane crash must contend with a very “hungry” threat. Throughout the story, Chad creates a narrative that by novel’s end, the characters choices makes complete sense, whether in service to darkness or light. It was so great to read a new Lutzke so early into the new year, I can’t wait for Chad’s next story, I am ready and waiting!
December 20, 2021
"Cannibal Creator" by Chad Lutzke
💥This story could be considered rather extreme for some. Please proceed with caution.💥
It was supposed to be a lovely trip for both families. A little sun, some alcohol, and the chance to finish a book series with a little ambiguity. What the Robertson's and Hummel's hadn't anticipated was the plan crash that leaves them stranded inside the jungle. The foliage is thick, their wounds serious, and the villagers aren't at all the saving grace they originally believed.
I received this novella from its author @ in exchange for an honest review. I cannot express enough how appreciative and honored I am to have been able to review this. Lutzke is one of my favorite authors, his works have greatly changed my life and my way of thinking and being able to help this guy build his followers and spread the word about this new novella of his has been the best Christmas gift in the world. I can remember the first time I cracked open "Stirring the Sheets". I've came a long way since then.
The opening to this novella is just fantastic. I loved how Lutzke made it a point to express that this isn't an Eli Roth film but a twist on an old story instead. The imagery inside is stellar. I could picture myself in the plane and the in the jungle after the crash. The brutality is also visceral; a real change up from Lutzke's usual works. The ending is typical Lutzke fashion but to the extreme and I absolutely loved it. You're gonna wanna add this to your TBR. Solid 5 🌟
💥This story could be considered rather extreme for some. Please proceed with caution.💥
It was supposed to be a lovely trip for both families. A little sun, some alcohol, and the chance to finish a book series with a little ambiguity. What the Robertson's and Hummel's hadn't anticipated was the plan crash that leaves them stranded inside the jungle. The foliage is thick, their wounds serious, and the villagers aren't at all the saving grace they originally believed.
I received this novella from its author @ in exchange for an honest review. I cannot express enough how appreciative and honored I am to have been able to review this. Lutzke is one of my favorite authors, his works have greatly changed my life and my way of thinking and being able to help this guy build his followers and spread the word about this new novella of his has been the best Christmas gift in the world. I can remember the first time I cracked open "Stirring the Sheets". I've came a long way since then.
The opening to this novella is just fantastic. I loved how Lutzke made it a point to express that this isn't an Eli Roth film but a twist on an old story instead. The imagery inside is stellar. I could picture myself in the plane and the in the jungle after the crash. The brutality is also visceral; a real change up from Lutzke's usual works. The ending is typical Lutzke fashion but to the extreme and I absolutely loved it. You're gonna wanna add this to your TBR. Solid 5 🌟
January 19, 2022
** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **
Having been on a cannibal/lost in the jungle kick lately, I reached out to Chad to see if he was still looking for reviewers for his next novella, ‘Cannibal Creator.’
I was excited to see what direction Chad would go, knowing he tends to inject stories with emotion and keep the readers on their toes.
‘Cannibal Creator’ starts off with the standard plot aspect of ‘people are going on vacation and get stranded’ but loops off from there in ways I didn’t expect.
What I liked: With this one, two authors who are collaborating on a novel decide to take their families along with them as they head to the Bahamas in 1980. They want some sun, sand and ideas flowing, but on the way there, the pilot suffers a heart attack and they crash land in a remote place.
It’s here, once they’ve landed that they discover they’re not alone and have to try and work together to survive. Chad does a great job of showcasing Kevin’s desire to keep his family alive, even as others don’t make it and it was interesting to see the real reason for the inhabitants who’re living within the remote location.
The ending, while not unexpected was teased nicely, works well and brings things full circle.
What I didn’t like: I found a few things came off a bit underwhelming and some spots almost rated G instead of NC17 like I was expecting. Case in point – someone gets attacked by a hammer. They get hit in the head, fall to the ground. No other real visceral description and the people around act with muted shock, no real explosion of emotion. Same when the pilot has his heart attack. And when the survivors get attacked, we see one get poked with a spear; ‘in and out.’ For something so violent and so brutal, it came off as more like an inconvenient splinter.
As for the overarching narrative of the ‘why’ of inhabitants being in the jungle, I also wasn’t totally sold on it. I think it might’ve worked more if we learned more, had it expanded upon and discussed, but more time was spent on the relationship issues between the husbands and wives than that part.
Why you should buy this: Fans of Lutzke’s will undoubtedly eat this one up. It features all of his trademarks and his fluid way of telling a story. For new fans, they’ll dig the setting, the events and the fear that a spear may arrive to impale them at any given moment.
Having been on a cannibal/lost in the jungle kick lately, I reached out to Chad to see if he was still looking for reviewers for his next novella, ‘Cannibal Creator.’
I was excited to see what direction Chad would go, knowing he tends to inject stories with emotion and keep the readers on their toes.
‘Cannibal Creator’ starts off with the standard plot aspect of ‘people are going on vacation and get stranded’ but loops off from there in ways I didn’t expect.
What I liked: With this one, two authors who are collaborating on a novel decide to take their families along with them as they head to the Bahamas in 1980. They want some sun, sand and ideas flowing, but on the way there, the pilot suffers a heart attack and they crash land in a remote place.
It’s here, once they’ve landed that they discover they’re not alone and have to try and work together to survive. Chad does a great job of showcasing Kevin’s desire to keep his family alive, even as others don’t make it and it was interesting to see the real reason for the inhabitants who’re living within the remote location.
The ending, while not unexpected was teased nicely, works well and brings things full circle.
What I didn’t like: I found a few things came off a bit underwhelming and some spots almost rated G instead of NC17 like I was expecting. Case in point – someone gets attacked by a hammer. They get hit in the head, fall to the ground. No other real visceral description and the people around act with muted shock, no real explosion of emotion. Same when the pilot has his heart attack. And when the survivors get attacked, we see one get poked with a spear; ‘in and out.’ For something so violent and so brutal, it came off as more like an inconvenient splinter.
As for the overarching narrative of the ‘why’ of inhabitants being in the jungle, I also wasn’t totally sold on it. I think it might’ve worked more if we learned more, had it expanded upon and discussed, but more time was spent on the relationship issues between the husbands and wives than that part.
Why you should buy this: Fans of Lutzke’s will undoubtedly eat this one up. It features all of his trademarks and his fluid way of telling a story. For new fans, they’ll dig the setting, the events and the fear that a spear may arrive to impale them at any given moment.
January 7, 2022
“Death was filled with the unpredictable and the unforeseen.”
Lutzke never disappoints! This was fantastic! A fun family and friends vacation that turns into pure survival on an island inhabited by cannibals! Need I say more? Writing, on point. Characters, on point. Length, on point. Plot, on point. Ending, PHENOMENAL!
Thank you so much to the author, Chad Lutzke, for the review copy! Truly honored!
Lutzke never disappoints! This was fantastic! A fun family and friends vacation that turns into pure survival on an island inhabited by cannibals! Need I say more? Writing, on point. Characters, on point. Length, on point. Plot, on point. Ending, PHENOMENAL!
Thank you so much to the author, Chad Lutzke, for the review copy! Truly honored!
Read
January 15, 2022Reviewing this one for SCREAM Magazine! Watch for it
February 19, 2022
Review to Follow
January 16, 2022
3.5 Stars
This horror novella is a love letter to the Italian cannibal films of the 1970s. Admittedly, I am not overly familiar with those movies and so I suspect that other readers will have a stronger connection to the story if they share the author's love for those iconic films.
I am a huge fan of Chad Lutzke's previous work and so I was surprised to find this one quite different from some of his more melancholy novellas. In contrast, this one was more action packed with classic elements of survival horror. The narrative moves very quickly so I was able to fly through the story. I wished the work had been longer to allow for more character development, only because I know the potential to shine in this area.
As a piece of cannibal story, this was wonderfully gruesome. The story was perhaps a bit predictable, but that makes sense given that it is purposely playing out the tropes of iconic horror films.
Overall, I liked this fun horror novella and would recommend it to any readers craving some human flesh.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the author for review.
This horror novella is a love letter to the Italian cannibal films of the 1970s. Admittedly, I am not overly familiar with those movies and so I suspect that other readers will have a stronger connection to the story if they share the author's love for those iconic films.
I am a huge fan of Chad Lutzke's previous work and so I was surprised to find this one quite different from some of his more melancholy novellas. In contrast, this one was more action packed with classic elements of survival horror. The narrative moves very quickly so I was able to fly through the story. I wished the work had been longer to allow for more character development, only because I know the potential to shine in this area.
As a piece of cannibal story, this was wonderfully gruesome. The story was perhaps a bit predictable, but that makes sense given that it is purposely playing out the tropes of iconic horror films.
Overall, I liked this fun horror novella and would recommend it to any readers craving some human flesh.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the author for review.
January 16, 2022
Fucking brilliant!! Really took me back to all of those 70s and early 80’s Italian cannibal films. The difference here was that it went beyond the shock and gore factor and really put a sense of humanity into the story. I would definitely love to see this optioned into a film. Again, fucking brilliant and highly recommended!!!
December 29, 2021
Cannibal Creator blew away all of my expectations. Every. Single. One.
Kevin and his family, along with his co-author Ross and his family, take a trip to Barbados as a sort of workcation. On the connecting flight to the Caribbean island, the pilot has a stroke and crashes into an unnamed island, filled with cannibals.
This story doesn’t make a ceremony out of death. You don’t see it coming, and when it happens it’s quick and brutal. I love this approach to killing off the cast, as killing them in a sentence hits SO much harder than dragging it out. The swiftness shocked me the first time!
Cannibal tribe tropes are turned on their head and given a breath of fresh air. This isn’t like any other ode to Cannibal Holocaust. Lutzke strips away the flesh of that movie, taking only the bare bones needed as a basic outline for this stellar performance.
I enjoyed this book immensely. I started it the second I received an ARC from the author and spent all my free time throughout the day racing to the end. This is a book you’ll want to sit down with on a free afternoon and immerse yourself in Kevin’s turmoil. The book is killer, I cannot give it higher praise.
Kevin and his family, along with his co-author Ross and his family, take a trip to Barbados as a sort of workcation. On the connecting flight to the Caribbean island, the pilot has a stroke and crashes into an unnamed island, filled with cannibals.
This story doesn’t make a ceremony out of death. You don’t see it coming, and when it happens it’s quick and brutal. I love this approach to killing off the cast, as killing them in a sentence hits SO much harder than dragging it out. The swiftness shocked me the first time!
Cannibal tribe tropes are turned on their head and given a breath of fresh air. This isn’t like any other ode to Cannibal Holocaust. Lutzke strips away the flesh of that movie, taking only the bare bones needed as a basic outline for this stellar performance.
I enjoyed this book immensely. I started it the second I received an ARC from the author and spent all my free time throughout the day racing to the end. This is a book you’ll want to sit down with on a free afternoon and immerse yourself in Kevin’s turmoil. The book is killer, I cannot give it higher praise.
January 6, 2022
“Looks like meat’s back on the menu, boys!”
CANNIBAL CREATOR, the newest from Chad Lutzke, is quite different from anything else I have read by the author before, verging on the edge of extreme horror at times. It is an homage to Lutzke’s self proclaimed guilty pleasure, the Italian cannibal films from the 70’s and early 80’s. With that in mind this novella does play out like a ninety minute horror film with a blistering pace and savage no holds barred butchery. There is one scene in particular that sets that tone for what is to come for the rest of the novella. I was actually shocked that Lutzke ventured there the way he did. There is no fanfare, no great buildup, just an instantaneous moment of brutal violence that caught me off guard but had me nodding my head with approval (not sure what that says about me as a person).
Lutzke plays with the familiar cannibalistic horror tropes here; a group of tourists finding themselves lost and stranded in the jungle while coming face to face with a tribe of man-eating savages, but there is something more to be found here. Lutzke puts his own spin on the genre, subverting the reader's expectations, where everything might not be what it seems at face value.
I love it when a story is able to raise questions that make me think. Are the cannibals here really the evil beings they are portrayed to be? Or are they just living life as they know how, just trying to survive with what is provided to them? CANNIBAL CREATOR takes that thought and runs a bit deeper with it. Making you question who the true victims really might be.
There are some unique parallels of parenthood explored here, whether intentional or not, which I found very interesting. Comparing and contrasting the lifestyles of the cannibals with that of the tourists who have crashed upon the island. Both groups of parents love their children fiercely and would do anything in their power to protect them, but the way they raise, teach, and care for their children are vastly different. It shows how society, the environment, and circumstance can take the same core foundations of loving your child and twist them into two completely different ways of life.
CANNIBAL CREATOR by Chad Lutzke is much more than a shocking bloody romp through a jungle full of man-eaters. In true Lutzke fashion there is a bit of love, heart, perseverance, and maybe even a dash of hope to be found beneath those layers of flayed skin. If you are looking for a fun flesh filled feast to ingest into your eye holes then look no further. Lutzke is an author who never disappoints.
I received an eARC from the author for review consideration.
Video review: https://youtu.be/l8E0CnnXLuU
CANNIBAL CREATOR, the newest from Chad Lutzke, is quite different from anything else I have read by the author before, verging on the edge of extreme horror at times. It is an homage to Lutzke’s self proclaimed guilty pleasure, the Italian cannibal films from the 70’s and early 80’s. With that in mind this novella does play out like a ninety minute horror film with a blistering pace and savage no holds barred butchery. There is one scene in particular that sets that tone for what is to come for the rest of the novella. I was actually shocked that Lutzke ventured there the way he did. There is no fanfare, no great buildup, just an instantaneous moment of brutal violence that caught me off guard but had me nodding my head with approval (not sure what that says about me as a person).
Lutzke plays with the familiar cannibalistic horror tropes here; a group of tourists finding themselves lost and stranded in the jungle while coming face to face with a tribe of man-eating savages, but there is something more to be found here. Lutzke puts his own spin on the genre, subverting the reader's expectations, where everything might not be what it seems at face value.
I love it when a story is able to raise questions that make me think. Are the cannibals here really the evil beings they are portrayed to be? Or are they just living life as they know how, just trying to survive with what is provided to them? CANNIBAL CREATOR takes that thought and runs a bit deeper with it. Making you question who the true victims really might be.
There are some unique parallels of parenthood explored here, whether intentional or not, which I found very interesting. Comparing and contrasting the lifestyles of the cannibals with that of the tourists who have crashed upon the island. Both groups of parents love their children fiercely and would do anything in their power to protect them, but the way they raise, teach, and care for their children are vastly different. It shows how society, the environment, and circumstance can take the same core foundations of loving your child and twist them into two completely different ways of life.
CANNIBAL CREATOR by Chad Lutzke is much more than a shocking bloody romp through a jungle full of man-eaters. In true Lutzke fashion there is a bit of love, heart, perseverance, and maybe even a dash of hope to be found beneath those layers of flayed skin. If you are looking for a fun flesh filled feast to ingest into your eye holes then look no further. Lutzke is an author who never disappoints.
I received an eARC from the author for review consideration.
Video review: https://youtu.be/l8E0CnnXLuU
February 25, 2022
Solid 4.5 stars. Cannibal stories are not my go-to type of horror. I like monsters. Supernatural creatures. But this book of cannibals on a Caribbean island was fantastic. It kept me on the edge of my seat and was quickly read. As with most Chad Lutzke stories, the characters were what drove the story for me, despite Cannibal Creator being fairly plot heavy. There’s drama, loss, real human emotion all working within a very tight plot and word count. In Cannibal Creator, Chad Lutzke is doing something different than what you might be familiar with. Don’t let that discourage you. He succeeds in spades. I won’t be surprised to see Cannibal Creator on my top ten at the end of the year. I guess we’ll just have to see.
January 20, 2022
This was a fun quick read but I did miss Lutzke's usual emotional ties to the Characters. Would have benefited from being a little longer as I had no real feeling for anyone in the book. That being said, it was a nice throwback to cannibal island movies and Lutzke keeps the pace fast. I doubt this one will stick with me like some of his other books have but I'd still recommend it.
September 15, 2023
4⭐️
Two families and their maid decide to get together and take a trip to Barbados so that the husbands can finish writing a book together. Unfortunately, on their trip over the charter plane has crashed, leaving the maid and pilot deceased. They have wound up on an island that appears to be desolate. They quickly find out that there is a Dr. playing God, as well as a tribe of cannibals on the island. From then on the hunt begins. You have one family seeking refuge, while another is seeking their only known means of survival. Unexplained secrets are revealed and emotions are consistently tested. Lutzke , writes with a prose, I often find terrifying as he only writes monsters of the humankind.
Two families and their maid decide to get together and take a trip to Barbados so that the husbands can finish writing a book together. Unfortunately, on their trip over the charter plane has crashed, leaving the maid and pilot deceased. They have wound up on an island that appears to be desolate. They quickly find out that there is a Dr. playing God, as well as a tribe of cannibals on the island. From then on the hunt begins. You have one family seeking refuge, while another is seeking their only known means of survival. Unexplained secrets are revealed and emotions are consistently tested. Lutzke , writes with a prose, I often find terrifying as he only writes monsters of the humankind.
May 27, 2022
Loved it!
I have loved everything I've read by Chad, including this one. He is definitely one of my favorite authors! Grab your copy today!
I have loved everything I've read by Chad, including this one. He is definitely one of my favorite authors! Grab your copy today!
January 18, 2022
Authors Kevin and Ross board a charter plane, along with their families, to the Caribbean for a writing retreat to finish off the final book in their co-written series. But then disaster strikes as the pilot of their charter has a midair widow-maker heart attack, crashing their plane on a deserted tropical island.
Ok, so, turns out this island is not so deserted -- this is a cannibal horror novel, of course! And a fairly unique one given Chad Lutzke's science-gone-awry plot, as the crash survivors unwittingly find themselves in the middle of a long-running experiment and their numbers are rapidly dwindling.
Known for his emotionally engaging writing, Lutzke spares no expense setting up his characters for doom and twisting the knives in each of their backs (and fronts...and sides...) as deeply and violently as possible. Cannibal Creator isn't quite as emotionally devastating or heartbreaking as Lutzke's past works, like Stirring the Sheets or The Pale White, but it does possess one hell of an unremittingly mean streak in the vein of Jack Ketchum's Off Season. Whatever is lacking in deep connections with the characters, Cannibal Creator more than makes up for it with visceral thrills, unrepentant brutality, and regular, gruesomely violent shocks to the system.
Lutzke's latest is a fast-paced novella, with buttery smooth prose. Inspired by the spate of Italian cannibal films from the 1970s and early '80s, it can be read in about the same amount of time one of those flicks would take to queue up and watch through to the end credits, but provides a richer, fresher approach to the material. Lutzke's plotting also smartly eschews the racist and exploitative nature of those cannibal flicks of yesteryear, saving us from further portrayals of indigenous peoples as nothing more than savage, cold-blooded killers and rapists without sacrificing any of the tension or the gory, galvanizing cannibal kills we want and expect.
Ok, so, turns out this island is not so deserted -- this is a cannibal horror novel, of course! And a fairly unique one given Chad Lutzke's science-gone-awry plot, as the crash survivors unwittingly find themselves in the middle of a long-running experiment and their numbers are rapidly dwindling.
Known for his emotionally engaging writing, Lutzke spares no expense setting up his characters for doom and twisting the knives in each of their backs (and fronts...and sides...) as deeply and violently as possible. Cannibal Creator isn't quite as emotionally devastating or heartbreaking as Lutzke's past works, like Stirring the Sheets or The Pale White, but it does possess one hell of an unremittingly mean streak in the vein of Jack Ketchum's Off Season. Whatever is lacking in deep connections with the characters, Cannibal Creator more than makes up for it with visceral thrills, unrepentant brutality, and regular, gruesomely violent shocks to the system.
Lutzke's latest is a fast-paced novella, with buttery smooth prose. Inspired by the spate of Italian cannibal films from the 1970s and early '80s, it can be read in about the same amount of time one of those flicks would take to queue up and watch through to the end credits, but provides a richer, fresher approach to the material. Lutzke's plotting also smartly eschews the racist and exploitative nature of those cannibal flicks of yesteryear, saving us from further portrayals of indigenous peoples as nothing more than savage, cold-blooded killers and rapists without sacrificing any of the tension or the gory, galvanizing cannibal kills we want and expect.
January 19, 2022
Killer ode to 70's exploitation cannibal flicks. Chad totally captures the aesthetic of those movies, making your skin crawl as you follow two families trapped on an island with, you guessed it, cannibals. It feels like reading a novelization to a movie that never existed but wish it did.
If you've read Chad then you know he knows how to bring it with realism. But for those that haven't, he has this amazing skill to hook you with his characters and make it feel like it all could happen. So be ready to be heartbroken when you are introduced to these families knowing that something bad is going to happen to them. Even if some of them are not the greatest, you don't want them to have to deal with the pain of cannibals looking to eat and only see humans as food. It's not going to be a good time.
This is brutal too. Chad pulls no punches on the process of hunting, preparing, and eating people. It's not super over the top, but he doesn't shine away from it either.
I also like that he gave it a little twist with how this island exists and what's happening there. It's not your typical tribe on an island. I won't give it away, but it's pretty quickly shown what might be happening.
Overall, super awesome book that's definitely worth your time.
If you've read Chad then you know he knows how to bring it with realism. But for those that haven't, he has this amazing skill to hook you with his characters and make it feel like it all could happen. So be ready to be heartbroken when you are introduced to these families knowing that something bad is going to happen to them. Even if some of them are not the greatest, you don't want them to have to deal with the pain of cannibals looking to eat and only see humans as food. It's not going to be a good time.
This is brutal too. Chad pulls no punches on the process of hunting, preparing, and eating people. It's not super over the top, but he doesn't shine away from it either.
I also like that he gave it a little twist with how this island exists and what's happening there. It's not your typical tribe on an island. I won't give it away, but it's pretty quickly shown what might be happening.
Overall, super awesome book that's definitely worth your time.
February 10, 2022
Horror Bookworm Reviews
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/
Multiple families take a charter plane to their destination of Barbados. Looking forward to a bit of business and pleasure, the group anticipates a peaceful visit to the Caribbean. However, as a freak unforeseen accident occurs, the plane goes down in an uncharted dense jungle island. Not only is a mini vacation far from reach, but so is freedom and safety as the flesh feasting inhabitants of the secluded territory become the only obstacle between life and death.
Characters having intense personalities and life struggles make this much more than just your average repulsive romp in a primitive jungle. Focused on those nostalgic Italian cannibal films of the 70’s and early 80’s, Chad Lutzke’s homage takes the reader on a journey of brutal survival. The common denominator of documentary style sadistic scares is alive and well in his novel Cannibal Creator.
The facade of gorgeous lush greenery and beautiful blue water disguise the realism of infested screams of terror. These images of trepidation that Lutzke creates, flow with unease anticipation from page to savage page. I was literally snared by this book, just as if captured in a sharpened bamboo spiked trap. It’s that good folks.
With plenty of “feed the flesh” moments, Cannibal Creator leaves a taste in your mouth that leaves you craving for more. Trigger Warnings are in full effect, only for readers who are prepared to receive their Godly blessing of gore from the righteous Chad Lutzke. Loved this five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Horror Bookworm Recommendation.
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/
Multiple families take a charter plane to their destination of Barbados. Looking forward to a bit of business and pleasure, the group anticipates a peaceful visit to the Caribbean. However, as a freak unforeseen accident occurs, the plane goes down in an uncharted dense jungle island. Not only is a mini vacation far from reach, but so is freedom and safety as the flesh feasting inhabitants of the secluded territory become the only obstacle between life and death.
Characters having intense personalities and life struggles make this much more than just your average repulsive romp in a primitive jungle. Focused on those nostalgic Italian cannibal films of the 70’s and early 80’s, Chad Lutzke’s homage takes the reader on a journey of brutal survival. The common denominator of documentary style sadistic scares is alive and well in his novel Cannibal Creator.
The facade of gorgeous lush greenery and beautiful blue water disguise the realism of infested screams of terror. These images of trepidation that Lutzke creates, flow with unease anticipation from page to savage page. I was literally snared by this book, just as if captured in a sharpened bamboo spiked trap. It’s that good folks.
With plenty of “feed the flesh” moments, Cannibal Creator leaves a taste in your mouth that leaves you craving for more. Trigger Warnings are in full effect, only for readers who are prepared to receive their Godly blessing of gore from the righteous Chad Lutzke. Loved this five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Horror Bookworm Recommendation.
January 27, 2022
A quick, fun read but I didn’t care about any of the characters.
January 6, 2022
I remember being a kid in the video store and seeing the movie Make Them Die Slowly (A.K.A. Cannibal Ferox) on the shelf. There was a bright warning on its front, boasting that it was banned in 31 countries. This was the most effective advertisement possible for an impressionable adolescent like myself. I rented it and was shocked at what was on the screen. It was the most brutal thing I had ever seen. Then, I then showed my friends, who all had the same reaction. It cemented my love for this genre.
Cannibal Creator is an excellent homage to movies like this and the even more infamous Cannibal Holocaust. While Cannibal Creator is influenced by those movies, it is still its own story with its own twist. If you are expecting a carbon copy of Cannibal Holocaust, you’re not going to find it here, and even if you are not a nostalgic fan of these types of movies, you can still get into this book. Chad Lutzke is the master of packing a big story into a smaller amount of pages. There is not a lot of filler, and every paragraph has an impact. I blazed through this one like a machete slicing through a dense jungle. I couldn’t put it down.
January 10, 2022
Another great read from Lutzke. It's like Ketchum's Off Season meets Italian cannibal exploitation films. The great thing about this book is its unique take on the trope of savage cannibals. Great characters, numerous twists, very engaging. Can't go wrong with Chad Lutzke!
January 10, 2022
Cannibal Creator is by far one of the best books I've ever read!
This story breathes the type of horror that I absolutely love. The victims are human. The monsters are human. The story follows a dark path that twists humans into creatures that conduct acts that send a chill down my spine.
The setting is remote. Two families find themselves on an island in the middle of nowhere with no hope of being found. I love the terror of the wilderness. The element of the unknown in the tropical forest layers on another level of bone chilling fear as the families navigate their new reality.
The characters are brilliant. Within a couple of sentences, a handful of words, I felt like I knew each distinct character well. The cast is unique, diverse and interesting.
The fear itself is bred from within the human beings navigating their way through their terrible circumstance. The scariest things to me, when reading books and watching films, are the things that we as humans are truly afraid of. Chad does a brilliant job of elevating the most human aspects of thought and emotion in this story. My body clenched many a time as I read this book.
I couldn't put it down. The story escalated fast and didn't stop. I just had to find out what would happen next. The twists were surprising and satisfying.
Finally, the 'old school' feel of the cover and the story had my heart the minute I picked it up. A true 80s lover at heart, and still enchanted by the 70s and 90s, I love how Chad wrapped his amazing story up in a film case. I appreciate the level of creativity.
If you love real, raw, emotional human horror in a true old school style, this book is for you.
This story breathes the type of horror that I absolutely love. The victims are human. The monsters are human. The story follows a dark path that twists humans into creatures that conduct acts that send a chill down my spine.
The setting is remote. Two families find themselves on an island in the middle of nowhere with no hope of being found. I love the terror of the wilderness. The element of the unknown in the tropical forest layers on another level of bone chilling fear as the families navigate their new reality.
The characters are brilliant. Within a couple of sentences, a handful of words, I felt like I knew each distinct character well. The cast is unique, diverse and interesting.
The fear itself is bred from within the human beings navigating their way through their terrible circumstance. The scariest things to me, when reading books and watching films, are the things that we as humans are truly afraid of. Chad does a brilliant job of elevating the most human aspects of thought and emotion in this story. My body clenched many a time as I read this book.
I couldn't put it down. The story escalated fast and didn't stop. I just had to find out what would happen next. The twists were surprising and satisfying.
Finally, the 'old school' feel of the cover and the story had my heart the minute I picked it up. A true 80s lover at heart, and still enchanted by the 70s and 90s, I love how Chad wrapped his amazing story up in a film case. I appreciate the level of creativity.
If you love real, raw, emotional human horror in a true old school style, this book is for you.
January 7, 2022
This was such a great read!! I liked the different take on an old trope and where the story went. For being a shorter novel I was pleasantly surprised how much feeling I developed toward our main character and his dilemma. It was brutal at times and just an intense read overall. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more by Chad Lutzke .. 5/5 cannibalistic skulls 💀
January 22, 2022
I have yet to be let down by any of Chad Lutzke's novellas. I anticipate each new release, then devour it. I try to take my time with it, but, it's so damn good. Highly recommended, Lutzke always leaves one wanting more.
May 12, 2022
Love his books!!! Also a quick read about cannibals.🙂
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