Cannibal Holocaust: Still the Ultimate Extreme Horror Film

 

Last night I popped in Cannibal Holocaust for for what is my third viewing of it. Now, this film is never easy to view. Madness – Portrait of a Video Nasty, a Facebook group that every year in October, picks a horror them. You can watch any type of horror movie, but get more points for movies that fit the theme. This year it's films that were boycotted band IE stuff that was on England's video nasties list for example. I knew this one would get me a lot of points, and it had been a while since I visited it. Actually the last time was when I bought the DVD at a Chiller. I have to say I was absolutely repulsed by the film back then and still am. Now, there was a contest for on writing a essay on Cannibal Holocaust, but I never really got the chance to write it. Still, having just revisited this Tuesday night, I felt that it was time for me to write my thoughts.

to watch really. I sort of popped it in because of the fact that I'm part of the

Cannibal Holocaust basically tells the story of a the professor who goes into the Amazons searching for a group of documentary filmmakers. He has to gain the trust of these a cannibalistic tribe who seems scared and uncomfortable that he is there. But, he does, and he gets the film reels back with him to New York. He sits and watches it with the heads of the group which had sent these documentary filmmakers. As they watch the footage still they discover horrifying atrocities that were committed not by the cannibal tribe, but by these filmmakers.

In viewing the movie this time around, I decided that I needed to get rid of the animal violence. Thank God, the DVD gives you that option. I didn't use it upon the first viewing of the disc; which was actually the second time I had seen the movie. I felt it needed to revisit complete and uncut. It was still repellent to me. The violence against animals had bothered me ever since I first saw it on VHS ages ago on bootleg. The image cleaned up for DVD did not make it any better, for me. So this time around and any other time I revisit this film I will always watch the non-cruelty to animals version. Actually, the beginning of the DVD stated that both Robert Kirkman and the director/ writer Ruggero Deodato, had asked Grindhouse to remove it completely, but they wanted the film to be completely uncut. Which I support, it needs to be left up to you just how to watch this film. I never want to see those scenes of animal violence again: the snake, monkey, pig who gets shot, muskrat, etc. I could go on, but the most horrifying scene has to be the turtle getting mutilated. For God sakes, I wish Gamera came out of the water and got them for that.


Let's talk about the movie's merits. Without a shadow of a doubt, Cannibal Holocaust is the ultimate extreme horror film. There isn't any film that comes close to touching it. Yes, I have seen quite a few disturbing films like I Spit on Your Grave, Irreversible, Maniac, Nekromantik 1 and 2, etc. But, even the most extreme of these still don't reach the gut punch that Cannibal Holocaust does. It's a film that stays in your soul and your mind; it never leaves you. The images of horror in this film are truly disturbing. There is, even devoid of the aforementioned real animal violence, a black heart of a film, a movie is as bleak and dark as it could get. An examination of the extremes acts that man is capable of.

Some of the most mind searing scenes in this film include the village getting burned down, the absolutely horrific punishment given to an adulteress, the sequences of rape, the horrific forced abortion, the stake up to the ass and out the mouth, and the truly harrowing climax. By this point, you think you would be immune to the atrocities in it, but no you're not. This movie just pounds you with it's horrors; it gets into your soul in ways that I don't think any other film can.

But, what makes it most interesting perhaps is that it is so well made. The fact, that it isn't just some empty exploitation piece of shit. Yes it's exploitative, and I'll get to that in a bit, but it's horrific mix and dichotomy of beauty and horror that is perhaps best summed up by the gorgeous score the film has. To me, it's one of the most beautiful, soaring scores I've ever heard. And, to think that it's attached to this film, in particular is kinda mind blowing. One of the things of watching this film originally on a shitty video is the movie looked horrible grainy, like a snuff film. But watching it on the DVD, the cleaned up version really shows you that Deadato is a great cinematic film director. He learned his art of neo-realism by working with Roberto Rosellini. Which is clear to see in this movie.

This flick is also innovative in the fact that it's the first found footage film. Unlike movies that would be inspired from it, in particular The Blair Witch Project, not all of Cannibal Holocaust is a found footage film. Basically it's only the stuff in the reels of film. But it doesn't matter, because during those moments of found footage, the film is horrifyingly realistic.

It thankfully features very solid acting from the whole cast everyone who are pitch perfect in it. There is really no humor, aside from a little towards the beginning of the film, but that is soon lost. And, that's good because certainly humor is something that is not wanted or needed in this movie.

Now, I say that this film was exploitative as it does feature some very nice nudity from Francesca Ciardi, who, I guess, adds the other beauty element to this film. She looks great nude. I would call her the most sympathetic out of that whole crew but she's still not really a likable or good person.

 

 

Back in the day, Cannibal Holocaust was not legally available in the US. One would have to watch it on bootleg or the import Japanese laserdisc. Eventually Grindhouse Releasing had a tour of it playing in the theaters, and would release the film on DVD. Over in England, where it was one of the main video nasties, it remains a banned film. The movie has been censored and banned everywhere. It remains a vile must see. But, perhaps not by everyone. It's one of those horror films that while I consider to be one of the finest in the genre; I don't think everyone can handle it. A lot of horror fans think they can deal wit it all, but Cannibal Holocaust is a completely different animal. This is not Saw, Friday the 13th, or even The Evil Dead or Zombie. It just does not fuck around.

As I have, said the animal violence, on its own, could be enough to turn you off. I suppose you could watch this DVD without having to endure that, but it is still the ultimate extreme horror experience. This truly is the movie that, as it quotes itself as being, is "the one that goes too far". Even watching other cannibal films like Cannibal Ferox ( AKA Make Them Die Slowly) can't prepare you for this film. It is truly the genres' sickest, most horrific, utterly disturbing film, but it remains a high watermark in the extreme horror sub-genre. For those of you have never seen it, I'll leave it up your hands on whether you will or won't. For those of you who have, you already know the power of this film. Personally speaking I would love to hear your opinions your thoughts on it. Do you love it, hate it, both? In the end, Cannibal Holocaust is the ultimate classick that has lost none of it's power to revile, sicken, disturb, and shock.

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Revisiting Combat Shock

Director/ writer/ producer Buddy Giovinazzo's shocking cult classic Combat Shock remains one of the most nightmarish and shocking films of all time, even though it is now 25 years since it was released by Troma upon the world. It's nihilistic and gruesome power will shatter even the hardest of viewers. And, although, I had already seen it, it still struck me and struck me hard as a punch by Brock Lesner.

I first saw Combat Shock when I was in high school. I was very young at the time and the movie deeply disturbed and shocked me. I first heard about this movie was when I read about it in one of Chas. Balun's Gorezone columns. I clearly remember him mentioning that if you saw this movie with a girl, you weren't gonna get any afterwards. He wasn't kidding. This is one seriously nasty and depressing movie. You will feel like shit after watching it!

Anyway, I really figured it couldn't be that depressing. I mean look at the cover. It looks like some really kick ass action flick. I figured it's a Troma release and Chas. gave it his approval, it's prob some really bloody action flick. I'm a huge fan of action movies that get gory and bloody. At the time I loved (and I still love) stuff like Die Hard, Death Wish, and other shoot-em ups that let the blood flow freely, I figured this was like some Death Wish meets Rambo (two franchises I love) type flick. Man, that was mistake number two. Troma clearly wanted to sell it as an exploitation style action flick, which it ain't. In fact, said style of movie is as far from this film as you could get.

The movie opens up with our "hero" Frankie (Ricky Giovinazzo) in Vietnam (actually Staten Island). He guns down some pretty Vietnamese girl and soon wakes up screaming in the present. His pregnant wife is soon nagging at him that the toilet is broken and to get a job. Their Agent Orange mutant baby is wailing away. He heads out to unemployment where there is a long ass line. The day goes from bad to worse, as he talks to his estranged dad, sees coke addicted friend, is harassed by thugs he owes money to, sees an under-aged hooker, all while still being haunted by his past and tortured by his present living conditions. It all leads to one of the most jaw-dropping climaxes and endings in the history of cinema, that will haunt days afterwards.

If there are problems with the movie it's the budget. It's extremely low budget and cheap and it shows. But, at the same time it adds a feeling of sleaze and crudeness that works to its advantage, well at least some of the times anyway. The other major problem is the very slow pacing. Not much happens between the beginning and the climax. Which is further proof that the movie's poster was waaaay off.

The acting is good, though. But, let's be honest it's the gut punch that movie delivers that is it's strongest point. The FX are not the best, in particular the baby, which freaked me out when I was young. But, it looks really fake and cheesy in hindsight. The squib work is excellent and gory as fuck, though. And, the Nam flashbacks are filled blown up torsos and maggots.

One scene I simply could NOT watch as a kid was the coke fix scene. I hit the fast foward button (something I NEVER did or do). The dude uses a fucking coat hanger!!! The scene was said to have caused major walk outs during the original screening of the film. I was able to look at this time, but it is still fucking grotesque.

Nothing preceding the movie though prepares you for those last 15 min or so. I don't want to reveal them, because it would ruin the power of the moment. Some websites reveal it, I would rather you not know. But, I do want to make this clear, it is not for everyone. And, will test the limits of what you can take.

Revisiting it I liked it more, but this is not a fun movie. I didn't like it when I first saw (nor did I hate it). But, I think I appreciate more, now. I still am not a big fan of it, but I certainly understand it better. The most shocking moments of the film have lost NONE of their edge.

But, what is most "scary" is how more relevant it is today. With unemployment at all time high and so many of our young men and women coming back from the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, it really hits harder than ever. It remains the single most harrowing Nam film, ever.

The DVD features the longer and more gruesome director's cut, AKA American Nightmares,(devoid of the tacked on war footage from the original release). That said the opening seems to drag more in this cut. The picture quality ain't the best, but extra features (which I am not done with) are excellent, though.

See it but only if you are truly, truly ready and prepared to see it.

*** out of ****

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The 5 Most Disturbing Movies Ever

While movie can entertain by being fun, exciting, sexy, or perhaps be touching or romantic, some films choose not to be any of these things. Instead they aim to disturb, shock, horrify, to get under your skin. These movies stay in one's subconscious well after the film has stopped. They never get easy to watch and probably not the best films to show that hot girl you bought over your house (unless she is into this type of stuff, in which case you may wanna consider marrying her).

The following list includes the five, in ascending order, of the absolute most brain and soul searing of them all:

5. - Memento meets I Spit on Your Grave, this "thinking man's" rape revenge film is notorious and shocking, yet highly respected and rightfully so. Beautifully shot and wonderfully acted, it is all horrifically violent and brutal. And, Monica Belluci's rape scene is as harrowing a scene as they come. A masterpiece that you need to see, but with caution, of course.

4. - It's funny, make-up master Tom Savini hated this film, when it came out. Highly controversial and totally misogynistic, he condemned the film. But, as time passed and it achieved cult status, he went on to do DVD running commentary and such. Whatever the case maybe, Maniac remains one of the nastiest psycho films ever made. What really makes this film so horrific is the fact that it is all told from this sick serial killer's perspective. Savini's realistic, ultra-violent effects consists mostly of violence against women, as this sicko (excellently played by Joe Spindell), who goes around brutally offing women, scalping them, and using their hair as wigs for the mannequins he keeps at home.

3. - Featuring what is inarguably the single, most harrowing rape scene, this movie, perhaps the most well-known rape-revenge film, ever, spawned lots of controversy and uproar. Equally reviled as it is hailed, this movie has been berated as the sleaziest of exploitation by some, but also praised as a feminist empowerment movie, by others. I feel the movie is the later, but the rape scene is never, ever easy to watch. It is unforgettable and stays with you long after the last reel. But, on the plus side, it is because of the brutality of this moment that one cheers Jennifer (Camille Keaton, grand-nice of Buster Keaton) as she exacts her revenge on the scumbag rapists.

2. - This German shocker is some weird combination of art-house film, sleaze, and ultra-gory, low budget horror. A dude and his chick get into necrophilia, but when she leaves him, he continues his downward spiral adding murder to corpse fucking. Extremely graphic and horrifying, the movie manages to repulse like few can. The corpse fucking, extreme gore, and the unforgettable, jaw-dropping ending manage to stay lashed on to your brain. Not for everyone, but recommended to those who dare to thread in this territory.

1. - Now, I consider myself, as hardcore a horror fan as they come. And, I have seen more movies than I can ever count, but despite this all, this remains king. No movie is more shocking, horrific, brutal, nasty, vile, or downright disturbing than Ruggero Deodato's classic of Italian cannibalism. Never, ever easy to watch the movie still shocks and repels no matter what you have seen before hand or how many viewings you give it. The repulsive, reprehensible, and unnecessary, very real violence against animals is it's gravest atrocity. But, even devoid of that, it still is a dark, bleak movie that harbors some of the most nasty images ever put to celluloid. The images of cannibalism, rape, the village being burned, the infamous stake up the ass out the mouth, and the truly nihilistic climax deliver a gut punch that is equivalent to the incredible Hulk, himself, giving it you at full strength. No doubt about it, THIS is THE single most disturbing film, I have ever seen and perhaps ever made.

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