Review of Cannibal Holocaust (1980) by Cee L — 07 Jun 2011

This is one of the most notorious and widely-banned films of all time. It's filmmakers had to appear in court on a charge that the film actually showed real human death. They coralled the actors and had to explain that what everyone was seeing was an actual special effect ( if you get dragged to court because you're SPX are THAT real, then, congrats.

You pulled it off). It's the old fashioned tale of who is more savage: jungle cannibals or cocky Americans? The one thing about the movie I can't condone is the scenes of actual animal killing.

I'm an animal guy so I don't really want to see that shit. I can't even watch those damn commercials about stray animals with Sarah McLaughlin goin on about, "In the aaaarms of the angel.

..." But that's what they make the hand shield for. Did they need to show the animal killings? Of course not. It's there purely for shock value and to make the audience uncomfortable. When the rest of the movie is an actual MOVIE, it's pretty damn brilliant.

It's creepy, continuously surprising, and stays with you long after you watch it. This is one of those movies where you pick and choose who you show it to. Some people will get it and understand the nature of exploitation cinema.

Others will look at you like you sprouted a moustache on your forehead and ask why the hell you own something like this. The answer? Because horror is supposed to be horrific and too many times, it never is.

This film tramps all over your sensibilities and leaves an impression. Final note: this was the first film to utilize the "found footage" technique which would later explode after an itty-bitty movie called The Blair Witch Project came out.

Seek this out if you have a strong will.......and stomach.