Meat Is Murder (book) - Critical Appraisal

Critical Appraisal

Humanities and Social Sciences Online calls the Meat is Murder! a "gruesome but fascinating tour through the anthropological, criminological, literary, and cinematic history of cannibalism". Reviewer Philip Simpson judges that the book is "compelling" and takes a scholarly approach to its subject matter. The Headpress Guide to the Counter Culture (2004) points out that Brottman is not condescending to her subject matter, but criticizes the book for its lengthy film synopses. The review also deems the illustrations in the book to be of a poor quality. The Journal of Popular Culture writes that Brottman's theories as to the communal ties created through the horror of the subject of cannibalism are "argued persuasively".

Reviews reprinted at the book's publisher's site include Total Film, which calls Brottman's work, "worryingly exhaustive, hungrily informed," and Terrorizer which writes that the book is "an informed study of both cultural and cinematic cannibalism... combines meticulous research with a fascinating insight into the origins of cannibalism, infamous real-life perpetrators and the celluloid treatment of the subject." Film Review labeled the book, "An excellent study of cannibal culture."