Finding Hope in the Horror of Survival Cannibalism [Murder Made Fiction Podcast]

Cannibalism is generally considered one of the last taboos. Along with necrophilia or incest, the consumption of human flesh is known even in the horror community as an act that goes beyond the pale, something civilized people just don’t do. But could cannibalism ever be considered a noble act? In certain survival situations, could anthropophagy be forgiven when it’s the only thing standing between you and the prolonged and painful horror of starvation?

This was the case for survivors of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571. Stranded on a glacier high in the Andes mountains, those left alive and hoping for rescue had no choice but to eat the flesh of their fallen teammates to keep themselves from wasting away.

Jenn and Joe embark on a month-long exploration of survival cannibalism and films based on harrowing true life examples. In the latest episode of Bloody FM’s Murder Made Fiction podcast, Jenn tells Joe about the Old Christians Rugby club and their harrowing true story of survival.

On October 13th, 1972, a plane chartered by the team collided with a mountain peak then slid down the snowy mountainside to an area now known as the Valley of Tears. Stuck with little more than chocolates and wine, survivors were forced to eat the bodies of those who had perished in the crash when their miniscule rations eventually ran out. 72 days later, sixteen survivors emerged from the mountains, dirty and starving but grateful to be alive. 

Next week, we’ll tackle Frank Marshall’s fictionalized adaptation of this harrowing story, the 1993 film Alive. 

Wanna support the show? Join us on Patreon: patreon.com/murdermadefiction for a full-length primer on the Donner Party and the survival cannibalism films Ravenous and Cannibal! The Musical.

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