Review of Cannibal Holocaust (1980) by Patrick F — 23 Jun 2009

Even though I admit that this was a good movie, I cannot say I enjoyed it, and I cannot recommend it to any sane person. It's an important film, and although it may contradict itself with its ultra-violent content, I personally believe this helps convey the films message even more, which is explained below:

The film's message is, of course, that people can find negativity in their opponents but fail to find their own (sometimes extreme) shortcomings that are even more perverse than their enemies'. We watch the film crew go deep into the forest, flawing turtles, muskrats, pigs, and raping tribal women, and yet the in-film viewers praise the footage as exceptional, daring, and improtant. However, once the tides have turned and all of the film crew members are killed off one by one, the other characters are disgusted, shocked, and repulsed. This is actually a great Anti-Vietnam war message; unfortunately, that means that the film should've been made 10 years earlier. Although the film is extremely violent, and gets most of its kicks through cheap (and sometimes real-life) shocks (which reminds me- if you are a member of PETA, DON'T WATCH THIS MOVIE), this only helps it, not by enjoyment, but by luring people to the film. I expect that anyone who thinks they'll really, really enjoy the movie is simply because of the violent content, but when the film starts, those people are slapped on the ass with brutality that is depressing instead of awesome and are damned by the filmmakers for seeking extreme violence.

However, this film is too depressing to recommend or enjoy. Unless you enjoy pregnant women being beat to death with rocks and live turtle killings (oh, believe me, it's MUCH worse than anything you could imagine), then this probably just isn't for you. If you are looking for a "good" message in a film though, check this out once you think you've got the stomach.