Review of Cannibal Holocaust (1980) by Ethan B — 25 Oct 2012

Cannibal Holocaust caused quite a stir in the 80s with lawsuits and all. Back then you can imagine this film would have been shocking and leave quite an impression on its audiences. Apparently so much so that most countries had it banned.

Directed by Ruggero Deodato who was almost jailed under the beleif that this film was a snuf. He crafted quite a film in the jungles and is one of the better hand held documentary films that have been made. This could have been passed off as actual footage if it wasn't for the opening and every now and then cut backs to suits watching the found footage.

This film is set for an audience of horror fans, it is by far everyones cup of tea. With realistic violence that holds up today the film can make you feel ill. But where it hits the hardest is in the torture and killing of animals, this can leave the biggest impression on those who aren't sick in the head. Movies today may have animals being killed but you know that its a prop of some kind where as this killed several animals for entertainment and even repeated the kill of an animal for a different cut and camera angle. These are the parts that are hardest to watch because you can feel the animals pain as it screams and squirms.

Had this film used the same kind of props for the animals it had for the people, I'd rate this higher and advise it for a broader audience. But Ruggero Deodato cut corners and used real living animals and turned a potentially good film into filth.