‘AMERICAN Cannibal,” a purported documentary about an abortive reality-TV series that bowed at last year’s Tribeca Film Festival, is every bit as sleazy as its subject matter.

It follows the supposed exploits of two young writers who try to resuscitate their flagging careers by latching onto the reality fad, pitching preposterous premises such as “Virgin Territory.” In that one, a house full of “medically certified” male virgins are surrounded by temptation – the winner is the one who isn’t “prematurely ejected.”

Kevin Blatt, who peddled the Paris Hilton sex tapes, loves that idea but is even more gung-ho about backing “American Cannibal,” flying contestants to an island off Puerto Rico, where they are deprived of food . . . and, well, you get the picture.

The project falls apart in hours when a contestant conveniently (for the filmmakers’ purposes) succumbs to hypoglycemia, is airlifted comatose to a hospital, and our heroes suffer pangs of remorse.

The ineptly made “Animal Cannibal” isn’t remotely convincing as reality, and worse, isn’t remotely entertaining as fiction.

AMERICAN CANNIBAL
Running time: 91 minutes. Not rated (nudity, profanity). At the Cinema Village, East 12th Street between Fifth Avenue and University Place.