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View Full Version : Cannibal Holocaust (1980)



Os Cangaceiros
31st July 2010, 02:06
Cannibal Holocaust was an Italian production, directed by one Ruggero Deodato. It was filmed in the Colombian jungle, and concerned a missing group of filmmakers/explorers who disappeared there, and a professor who investigates their disappearence. When it was released, Deodato was arrested upon his return of Italy, the films seized, and he had to prove that he hadn't actually killed people during the filmmaking process. The film became the most banned film of all time internationally, and remains banned in a number of countries to this day.

This is one of my favorite films, and I'm wondering what others think of it, if anyone else here has seen it. I like it because of the crazy way the film was made and produced: the star of the film has said in interviews that the only reason he got the job was that the original lead disappeared and he had the same shoe size as the original lead (the costumes had already been made). The film was actually shot on location in the South American rainforest, and the indigenous people portrayed in the film were actual indigenous Colombian indians; there's a scene in the film in which one of the natives chops a (real) monkey's head in two and eats the brains (much of the controversy surrounding the film is in regards to the real animal deaths, including a large turtle that was dismembered and eaten by the crew). There's generally a sense of realism that the film has that I haven't seen in just about any other film. The score of the film is great, and it also kind of has a twisted morality that I like...it's essentially a film that critiques society's fascination with violence, wrapped up in an extremely violent exploitation film. Deodato claims that some of the themes dealt with the Vietnam War (particularly the explorers brutalizing the natives and burning one of their settlements) and the Italian media's hysterical coverage of the Red Brigades.

Pirate Utopian
31st July 2010, 02:31
It's on google video btw.

I watched it because it was supposed to be the most gory movie ever. It's not. For what I expected the movie was pretty tame on the gore.

The movie was okayish, nothing special.

Bijan Li Causi X
31st July 2010, 02:33
sounds as bad as when Jhon. J Rambo fought with the Mujahids and took on the whole soviet forces

Os Cangaceiros
31st July 2010, 02:34
I watched it because it was supposed to be the most gory movie ever.

Who told you that? :blink: It's nothing compared to Dead Alive or Riki Oh!

It has some pretty cringe-worthy scenes, though, specifically the gangrape scene.

Communist
31st July 2010, 02:45
.

I've seen it a couple times, have it on disc. Don't remember a *whole* lot about it, it's been a while, but iirc it was one of the first to use the "found footage" angle that "Blair Witch" took straight to the bank years later. I think the scene with the native woman impaled - wasn't that considered so real the filmmakers had to testify in court and show how it was done? Could be hype, I don't know. But it's a good film for what it is, no doubt. I also have the unofficial sequel, very different but interesting.
I would need to watch it again before I could really discuss it. I do recall the animal scenes... :blink:

.

Theoneontheleft
31st July 2010, 06:58
I had never even heard of that movie, till I saw this thread. It sounds similar to "The Book Of Eli" or "Soylent Green".

Widerstand
31st July 2010, 13:08
I had never even heard of that movie, till I saw this thread. It sounds similar to "The Book Of Eli" or "Soylent Green".

I'm trying really hard to figure out the connection between "Book Of Eli", "Soylent Green" and the descriptions given above. Is it the cannibalism thematic (which plays an extremely minor role in "Book Of Eli")?

nbolek71
2nd August 2010, 21:24
I've seen it and own it actually on DVD. I think it is a great film and the line in the end (spoilers maybe) asking who the real cannibals are is brilliant in my opinion. Definitely some gruesome and cringe-worthy scenes, but there are definitely other movies more gory than Cannibal Holocaust. Overall, taken as a critique on our sensationalist society, it is spot-on.

Das war einmal
2nd August 2010, 21:46
Yeah I dont really like vulgar scenes like torture and rape, t'is not my cup of tea. So I'll pass on this film. I'm a fan of psychological horror though.

Dimentio
2nd August 2010, 22:07
Sounds like an unfunny version of Braindead.

Os Cangaceiros
2nd August 2010, 22:23
Sounds like an unfunny version of Braindead.

It is nothing at all like Braindead.

Pirate Utopian
3rd August 2010, 00:15
Braindead is totally different. It's also more fun.