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 - An Embarrassment to FilmmakingI'm sure that I'll get attacked viciously for this, but what the hell. This movie is terrible in so many ways that finding a starting point is difficult in itself. For starters, the acting is so bad (even for a B movie) that it's impossible to be lured into this world because of the horrible performances. I think that part of a great film is how the actors convince you that this is all happening, there are many films in this genre that contain "believable" performances without having "heavy" actors in them. After viewing the film, I can understand why Ruggero had to resort to this inept bunch of monkeys to split the so-called acting duties, because NO serious actor would go near this train wreck with a gas mask, helmet, face-guard or 1000-foot pole. The concept of watching real animals slaughtered for audience entertainment is horrifying. These animals were not given humane deaths, instead they are butchered so callously and brutally, one has to wonder what kind of sick, screwed up sicko Ruggero Deodato really is. Apparently he made some B.S. claim about how these animals were subsequently eaten by tribesmen and NOT wasted. Who cares? Great filmmakers have studied brutally for decades and didn't need to resort to sensational tactics to get their point across. The footage of the professor going back to the "Green Hell" was probably the least annoying part of the film, although still heavily trenched in crap acting and infantile dialogue. Now, the really juicy stuff! The documentarians. I understand the depiction of those who manipulate information to make it more visceral. I understand the concept of not believing every thing you see or hear on TV or in the news. I understand how destructive man is! Having said that, this group of "documentarians" has to be unequivocally the biggest joke depiction of whatever Ruggero considers to be embodiment of the "hypocritical man". Going back to my initial criticism of the acting, these are by far some of the worst actors in the history of thespians. They almost revel in their "mediocrity". The problem is how absurd their actions are even for the sake of showing something sensational. I absolutely DO NOT believe that student filmmakers would set fire to a small village, killing and raping the people just for exciting video footage. The main character, Alan Yates, is the kind of guy you would take pleasure in beating the hell out of over a period of 10 weeks. He's an absolute moron (and did I mention a really crappy actor?). His girlfriend, wife or whatever the hell it is, is quite possibly even worse. She's a total one-dimensional cardboard cutout, the most annoying type of woman you would ever want to meet, and quite obviously sicker than all of the guys she's surrounded by as she not only condones the heinous violence these idiots commit, she joins in on it. I find it very hard to digest that a "supposedly" intelligent woman, who apparently is sane and in possession of common sense, would allow such horrible acts to be perpetrated on these defenseless people. It's utterly unbelievable and repugnant. As for the other two melon-headed documentarians, well, what more can I say... "We'll get an Oscar for sure", ahhh, no, actually, you won't! In the end, I suppose Ruggero set it up so that you want these people to be killed. I still can't help but think that maybe there's another way to do it. There are plenty of grizzly horror movies out there that amp up the violence and heighten the sense of reality in over the top ways that still create the desired effect. Horror movies should be about excess, freaking people out and flat out bloody violence. As well, great acting has never been a pre-requisite for horror movies, nor is believable topic matter, but for crying out loud, at least films like Zombie, Deep Red, Suspiria, The Beyond (I've listed fellow Italian directors for the sake of continuity) have a sense of entertainment and intelligence, coupled with a sense of craft and dignity. Cannibal Holocaust has neither; it's utter exploitation without any of the perks. In the end, Ruggero Deodato has committed the worst kind of artistic crime, mediocrity masked as expression. The biggest problem with dross like this is how it gets smeared with sycophantic accolades and so drenched in controversy that young buffoonish directors like Eli Roth parade around thinking it's a masterpiece and perpetuate the lineage of this kind of rubbish. Rating:  - Not just exploitationI went into Cannibal Holocaust expecting it to have very little dignity, and a whole lot of shocking gore and violence. However, what I saw was quite the opposite: The gore was just as bad as any other movie, except for in the very end, and this movie actually had a very powerful message, and alot of artistic integrity. It seems like it soars over alot of other reviewer's heads, although it's pretty obvious. With scenes like two of the adventurers having sex right after they massacre a peaceful tribe, and one of them cracking a smile at seeing a native impaled on a stake, it becomes clear that there really are no "civilized" characters in the movie. I highly reccomend it, not to those who expect to see an over the top gorefest, but those looking for a very powerful although not scary horror movie. Rating: - Still the most violent/disturbing movie of all timeAfter always being on the look out for the most disturbing and shocking movies that really attempt to push the envelope, I stumbled upon Cannibal Holocaust on the advice of a friend. To this day it remains the most graphic movie that I have ever seen. I have a very macabre sense of humor and enjoy dark and disturbing slasher films that leave nothing to the imagination, but to this day I have never found any other movie that is like Cannibal Holocaust... and I challenge anyone to find another movie that is so disturbing and unforgettable. I remember that my graduate school roommate and I ate Pizza during this movie, but she couldn't bear to eat while watching this after a while. To this day whenever we watch a modern horror flick, we always comment on the fact that post-Cannibal Holocaust, most contemporary movies (i.e. Hostel, House of 1,000 Corpses, SAW) pale in comparison with respect to their levels of gore, violence, and sheer horror. Albeit simple, the soundtrack in this film is fairly disturbing and has an enormous effect on the visuals. In sum, while this movie may be somewhat 'old,' there is still nothing out there that tops it in terms of sheer brutality and unadulterated violence. There is a message at the end of this movie relating to the impact on western civilization on indigenous cultures--which many people will miss/ignore--but it is there nonetheless. I highly recommend this movie to anyone who is a fan of this genre and who wants to see the movie that is the be all end all of macabre cinematography. Rating:  - Snuff or Bluff?Cannibal Holocaust is one of the most convincing "snuff" films ever, although its not really a snuff film. Some of the special effects scenes in this are scenes that other s.e artists to this day try to recreate but to no success. The effects were so convincing that it was band in many countries! The most amazing aspect of the movie consists of the cast, a real life cannibal tribe! Its completely amazing how the director was able to have these tribesmen act accordingly. This is a underground classic for the hardcore horror fan! Rating: - Cannibal HolocaustThis is a STRANGE film. It is campy and corny in places. There is not much sense to what some of the characters are doing, or why. But, if you want a film that will truly wrench your guts in places, you got to check this one out. Be warned, there are several scenes where animals are actually killed and eviscerated, on camera. And there is an awesome impalement scene that I can NOT figure out how they did without actually scewering the actress. This one will stay with you for a long time.
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