It is the rare modern horror film that boasts a group of actors as talented and accomplished as the cast of Ravenous. With three of the leads appearing in Oscar-nominated movies over the past two years (respectively, Guy Pearce in LA Confidential, Robert Carlyle in The Full Monty, and Jeremy Davies in Saving Private Ryan), this Grade-A ensemble is a far cry from the usual team of subtly-challenged refugees from Fox and WB TV shows. However, it is also the rare film that features such critically acclaimed actors licking, biting, hacking, and eating each other. Throw in shooting locations extending from Slovakia to Mexico, a score that swings wildly from classical to Indian influences, and a director whose previous subjects include both a homosexual priest and Drew Barrymore, and Ravenous easily becomes one of the most eclectic and unique horror film in years. And as such, it's also one of the best.

Set in mid-nineteenth-century southwest America, Ravenous tells the story of Captain John Boyd (Pearce), who is assigned to a remote post in the Sierra Nevada mountains occupied by a number of odd soldiers and civilians. Among the inhabitants are a frazzled priest (Davies), a friendly officer (Jeffrey Jones), and a constantly stoned cook, played, in what I'm sure was not at all a case of typecasting, by David Arquette. The strangest of the group would be the new arrival Colqhoun (Carlyle), who is considered rather unsightly after directing a number of hungry, lustful gazes towards Guy Pearce. (Hey, who the hell wouldn't?! See Drool Factor below.) However, it turns out Colqhoun just returned from a cannibal adventure in the mountains and hasn't exactly lost his appetite, and an investigation of the scene of the crime only leads to more sour-tasting revelations for the tormented Boyd.

This scenario is played out in lusciously gory detail, a feat that can be equally attributed to intelligent direction from Antonia Bird and some of the most beautiful scenery to ever grace a horror picture. As Colqhoun's pursuit of Boyd becomes more and more gruesome, Bird expertly juxtaposes haunting views of the Carpathian mountains with the savage actions of the film's flesh eating protagonists. Working from screenwriter Ted Griffin's philosophical and sardonic script, Bird amalgamates a number of film genres -- comedy, horror, period piece, war drama -- into something unique and altogether enthralling. It's a shame I seem to be one of the few people in the country who caught this movie in theaters; with its incredible cast and inventive themes, Ravenous is the kind of movie that gives gore a good name.

DROOL FACTOR: Guy Pearce redefines yummy in any number of ways. While his blood-drenched ensemble may be a far cry from his clean-cut turn in LA Confidential, he has still never looked so fine as in Ravenous. Ranked right up there with The Mummy's Oded Fehr as Sexiest Genre Man of the Year.

GROSS-OUT FACTOR: Like, the whole movie. But this is a good thing.

STRONG CHICK FACTOR: Cool director Antonia Bird proves that gore is no longer just a guy's game.

Ravenous will be released on video August 10th.

-- Sarah Kendzior