Cannibal Holocaust: Review

Cannibal Holocaust has been hailed as the "most controversial film ever made".



It was banned in several countries for years and years, yet this cult classic had an underground following like no other. Up until recently it has been relatively difficult to find, but thanks to the wonderful world of the interwebs, I finally got my hands on a copy. 

The film is based on an anthropologist who embarks on a rescue mission to find a film crew researching the Yacumo and the Yanomamo, what are believed to be primitive cannibal tribes hidden deep in the rain forests of South Africa. The anthropologist returns with only the crew's footage. 

The documentary footage of the missing crew reveals some of the most disgusting and disturbing images ever seen before on film. Complete with rape, cannibalism, murder, gratuitous sex scenes, torture and even some legitimate animal slaughter, the footage is reviewed by the producers of the documentary and even after the horrific realization of the motives behind the original film crew, the producers still show interest in airing the footage as a documentary.

I will not reveal any spoilers; if you want them before viewing you can go to IMDB.com and look it up yourself. I will, however, tell you that some of the most powerful scenes in the movie had me gagging and close to tears. 

The animal slaughter scenes are real. So if you are anti-animal cruelty, I suggest skipping this one. The producers of Cannibal Holocaust filmed in parts of Colombia and did not have to abide by North American/European laws. The real animal murder scenes prompted the Italian government to question the human murder scenes, claiming that the movie may be a real snuff film, requiring the director to prove that the actors and actresses were still breathing and in good health. The actress from the impalement scene in particular. 

Let me put it this way, I don't blame them, it looks real. 

This movie is not for everyone. Scratch that, this movie is not for most. 

If you are looking for a mindless slasher/gore flick, this is not what you want, although there is plenty of blood and guts, this is a think piece.

I am glad I was able to view it and make it through with only a few instances of almost vomiting, but the overall message of the movie was what left a really bad taste in my mouth. 

It is movies like Cannibal Holocaust that make me disgusted to be a part of the human race, and yet proud that directors like Ruggero Deodato, have the ability to show us the dark side of ourselves. 

Consider yourselves warned: viewer's beware.