Review of Cannibal Holocaust (1980) by Shelly — 04 Oct 2009

Well, the long wait finally ended for me. I finally got my Cannibal Holocaust DVD after ordering it a couple weeks ago and having heard about it consistently for the last couple months as I watched every interview I could find with Eli Roth.

So, what's it all come down to? Succinctly, a very important film in cinematic history. A film with an important but, albeit unoriginal message - that "civilized" culture is far more savage than those cultures seen as "uncivilized.

" More important than this message is the film's place in cinematic history, as I said. The realism of the film is, of course, the focus of that. When I heard about Deodato being arrested for the film in 1980 and being accused of killing his actors, I got a laugh out of it.

I thought, surely that was just the 80s and people thought that because the film really did something original for the time. I figured, going back and watching it in 2009, it wouldn't be all that realistic.

So, right now I'm telling you that this film has some of the best effects I've ever seen. Shit, watching it tonight, I'd swear it's all real. Part of that impact comes from the fact that some of it is real.

All the animals you see killed on screen were actually killed during filming. I don't condone that of course; I had to consciously try to keep myself from looking away from the screen as I watched, I was so offended by it.

And, I am never offended by anything in film. Whereas Punishment Park actually made me cry in frustration and desperation for the situation depicted, Cannibal Holocaust had me gasping "oh my god" at every scene, occasionally feeling nauseous, and continually feeling like I was watching something I really shouldn't be seeing.

I've heard Eli describe this as a film that requires you to "push yourself," and those are the films I usually seek out, but I have this horrible, wonderful feeling that this time I had to push myself too far.

I am overjoyed and repulsed at the same time at the effect the film had on me. I certainly can't wait to get this DVD circulating and get more people watching it.