One of the most notorious films within this relatively small number of movies is CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST. Italian director Ruggero Deodato, a man who cut his teeth as a second unit director in Spaghetti Westerns like DJANGO (1966) and NAVAJO JOE (1966) and horror classics like CASTLE OF BLOOD (1964) and HORROR CASTLE (1963), delivers perhaps his most notable film to date (yes, he's still working and directing). Cannibal Holocaust is the second film in Deodato's Cannibal Trilogy, preceded by JUNGLE HOLOCAUST (1977) and succeeded by CUT AND RUN (1985).
THE PLOT
A group of documentary filmmakers goes missing without a trace in the jungles of the Amazon rain forests, also known as the GREEN INFERNO. New York anthropologist Professor Harold Monroe is enlisted to travel to South America in search of the missing Americans. Traveling through the jungles he encounters two tribes who tell him bits and pieces of what happened. Then he comes across a macabre decoration of human bones and camera film stock strung up in the trees. Returning home to New York, Professor Monroe watches the footage and learns of the fate of the documentary team in brutal detail.
THE GOOD
Shockumentary. The tag line for this movie ran, "Can a movie go too far?" When originally being promoted the idea spread through the public was that this movie was an actual documentary and that what was being shown on screen was real. The story I heard was that director Deodato asked the actors to go into hiding while the film made its debut, enhancing the illusion that the actors really died. Once the film was screened the police arrest Deodato and prepared to charge him with murder. Everyone actually thought the movie was real. When Deodato asked the actors to produce themselves the illusion was broken. It's a helluva story and no doubt a major contributor to the film's reputation. Such advertising has helped other movies too, most notably THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT.
Authenticity. The strength of this film is in fact its realism. There are very few boundaries this film will not cross. Among the visceral images shown are full frontal male nudity, rape, torture, brutally displayed corpses (I speak of the iconic impaling image), and the actual killing of multiple animals on screen. The camera lingers on these animals as they are killed on screen in a rather horrific manner. These are the scenes which really test how much you the viewer can withstand. However if you've ever hunted a deer, gutted it, and the rest of what it entails then these scenes might have little effect.
THE BAD
Slow Pacing. Throughout most of the film very little happens. There are the shocking images of the animals being killed of course, tribal women raped and murdered, and some unabashed male nudity, but there are lengthy sections where the movie drags considerably. I'll admit to being somewhat let down (thankfully in a way). My imagination built this movie up worse than it actually was. Then when we finally get to the brutal end sequence it seemed less effective than the live animal killings on screen. My fear of what was to come carried me through much of the slow moments, my nerves twitching with fearful anticipation.
THE VERDICT
The reality of some movies is never as frightening as our imaginations. Within this film you are shown reality and movie making horror, the reality possessing far more power than the film fabrications. Still, there are plenty of shocking images to haunt your dreams and sear into your memory. This film, if preceded by its anecdotes and reputation, may either enhance the viewing experience or hinder it. For what it is, Cannibal Holocaust is a brutal and disturbing film not for the faint of heart or the squeamish albeit quite uneven. Proceed at your own discretion.
Overall Ranking: 5 out of 10
Good. Average.
Nude-O-Meter: 5 out of 10
For more brutal and difficult to stomach films check these out at your own peril...
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