Exploitation films walk a fine line between complete sadistic trash to amazing works of artistic imagery.  Directors already know that they have crossed the line in terms of what is appropriate or socially acceptable for everyday film goers and it’s true!  Most films, such as I Spit on Your Grave and Last House on the Left, do come across as a bit overbearing in terms of rape, torture, and murder, but who's to say that a film's art is completely lost within itself as a result of its controversial subject matter?  It all really depends on the director’s way of presenting this subject matter.  I believe that Wes Craven got it right with Last House on the Left.  It's a remarkable film in terms of its unique presentation of rape, revenge, and remorse.  It's overbearing, yes, but still altogether thought provoking and an important staple in horror film history.  Enter Cannibal Holocaust.  It's the film that has been banned in many countries all across Europe, and has seen the light of many different versions and edits.  Your local mondo video store owner will call it a classic, and so will I.  Watch in alone and come to your own conclusions, but this film is a masterpiece and I have yet to see (or give me recommendations) of a better exploitation film out there today.

The first five minutes of Cannibal Holocaust can basically sum up the major premise behind the film.  As mankind (at least in the states) embarks on the 21st century, it is now easier to recognize the fact that human beings can achieve nearly anything, and nothing should ever be deemed impossible.  Still, there are many people who are blind to the fact that there are still civilizations in the world today that live in the stone age and practice cannibalism.  Awesome!  Right?  You want to know more?  Because Cannibal Holocaust is about to show you what it's like to live in the Stone Age, but that's not all, not even close.  The film will show us a smaller taste of life as we know it in New York City.  A place filled with the latest technology, fashions, and industry.  Then, we are given a larger perspective on the culture and habits of more than just one different tribe of cannibals.  Although, it seems like these two contrasting cultures could not be any farther apart geographically and intellectually, Ruggero Deodato (director) and Gianfranco Clerici (story) invite you to take a closer look.  It is absolutely gut-wrenching to think that our capitalistic form of society and our more intellectual frames of mind could be compared to those of savages in a far away jungle.  Now, Cannibal Holocaust doesn't necessarily jump out at you just to say that the world is every man for himself no matter where you go, either.  Cannibal Holocaust more clearly states the fact that man are simply beasts, and every beast is capable (whether urbanite or cannibal) of acting within their own primitive nature.

I don't really wish to get into that actual plot of this film because it's the premise of the film and its characters that by far shine the most.  The characters are all strong, and the actors that portray them all give extremely realistic performances.  Cannibal Holocaust is actually so real with its entire presentation that the director was almost thrown in jail for creating a film which showed actual footage of established characters and human beings being brutally slain on camera.   As we all know, such acts of filmmaking are illegal, but there has always been a lot of controversy surrounding this film in terms with what is real and what is fiction.  Nobody on film was killed during its production, but the animals that were killed on screen were actually put to death for the sake of continuing a more realistic atmosphere.  This is part of the reason why Cannibal Holocaust is banned in so many countries, and why it has gone through numerous edits for its brutal content.

As you may have already guessed, even though this film is entirely fictional, there is not an ounce of a more surrealistic approach to this film.  This is bare bones exploitation that touches down on the types of scenes you swear came right out of the latest releases of Faces of Death.  You have a small group of researchers from the city embarking upon the daily lives of cannibalistic tribes.  You’re going to see some flesh being torn - no doubt about it because these researchers are not at all careful with their threatening surroundings.  You'll also find some political undertones throughout the film in terms of issues revolving around American troops' interference with the Vietnamese in the Vietnam War.  It may not have been the Deodato's underlining contrast, but it's hard not to find similarities behind the films' presentations and the recent history of our troops abusing their powers and military standings.

The bottom line is, if you are a fan of exploitation films, you have to have a copy of this Italian film.  It's not so hard to find a copy online these days that has minimal editing and is presented in almost its entire unrated format.  The best thing about this film is that it is not at all a clip show.  There is actual character development here.  You will learn to respect a few characters, but learn to absolutely loathe most of them by the film's end.  You will be left staring at the credits asking yourself exactly the one question that the film leaves you with - "I wonder who the real cannibals are?"

Recommended to fans of exploitation and of Italian horror filmmakers in general.  This film is very persistent with it's execution of realistic violence and cannibalism - not for the faint of heart!