Cannibal Holocaust (1980)

Cannibal Holocaust (1980) is a controversial exploitation film directed by Ruggero Deodato from a screenplay by Gianfranco Clerici. Filmed in the Amazon Rainforest, the movie tells the story of four documentarians who journey deep into the jungle to film indigenous tribes. Two months later, after they fail to return, famous anthropologist Harold Monroe travels on a rescue mission to find the group. Eventually, he recovers and views their lost cans of film, which reveal the missing filmmakers' fate. The film stars Robert Kerman as Monroe, Carl Gabriel Yorke as director Alan Yates, Francesca Ciardi as Alan's girlfriend Faye, Perry Pirkanen as cameraman Jack Anders, and Luca Barbareschi as fellow cameraman Mark Tomaso. Cannibal Holocaust is a well known exploitation film because of the controversy following its release. After premiering in Italy, the film was seized by a local magistrate, and Deodato was arrested on obscenity charges. He was later accused of making a snuff film due to rumors which claimed that certain actors were killed on camera. Although Deodato was later cleared of these charges, the film was banned in Italy, the UK, Australia, and several other countries due to its graphic depiction of gore, sexual violence, and because six animals were killed on camera. Many nations have since revoked the ban, yet the film is still barred in several countries. This notoriety notwithstanding, some critics see Cannibal Holocaust as a social commentary about civilized society.

Directed by
Ruggero Deodato
Produced by
Franco Di Nunzio
Franco Palaggi
Written by
Gianfranco Clerici
Starring
Robert Kerman
Carl Gabriel Yorke
Francesca Ciardi
Perry Pirkanen
Luca Barbareschi
Music by
Riz Ortolani
Cinematography
Sergio D'Offizi
Editing by
Vincenzo Tomassi
Distributed by
Grindhouse Releasing (USA)
Release date(s)
Italy: February 7, 1980
United States: June 19, 1984
Running time
95 minutes
Country
Italy
Language
English / Spanish
Budget
US$200,000