Cannibal Holocaust (1985)

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  TheMovieDiorama

  6 / 10

  Cannibal Holocaust, although unorthodox, does present savagery through innovation. There I was eating a couple of bland Rich Tea biscuits, when all of a sudden an innocent monkey is decapitated with a tribesman devouring its tiny skull. Safe to say, I did not eat anymore Rich Tea biscuits. Often regarded as the "most controversial film of all-time", naturally I prepped my mind and body for the worst. Although I do not condone various practices during its filming, Cannibal Holocaust surprised me. There is textual substance to be found beneath the excessive gore and sexual violence. A professor travels to the Amazon to locate missing filmmakers who were creating a documentary on the "Green Inferno". When he finds their skeletal remains and the films, he returns back to civilisation to watch the footage. A fundamental question is raised as the documentary reveals its true nature. Are the civilised just as savage as the primitive? Are we the true cannibals of humanity? By pioneering the "found footage" technique, this film was widely regarded for its shocking realism (so much so that the director was accused of murder). And with this technique, the exploration into societal savagery is a thorough bloody presentation. The blood-soaked actions of the tribal individuals are reactions from the filmmakers who cause destruction to their village. Sexually assaulting their women and unnecessarily murdering the inhabitants. Their monstrous actions are exaggerated to absurd levels that, whilst frequently feels derivative, does highlight the violence ensued by white colonials. The acting was mediocre and the editing often haphazard, but the amateur style offers a contagious charm that makes the whole scenario feel even more real.
  
  However, despite the BBFC cutting these scenes out, I do take issue with the obscene amount of animal cruelty. No creature should be slaughtered for the sake of art. So slicing tarantulas and snakes with a machete is a no from me. Dragging a turtle onto shore and removing its insides is a no from me. Authenticity has its limits. The first thirty minutes were particularly slow as you patiently wait for the controversy to ensue (a disadvantage of acquiring such a title). However the pace picks up as soon as the professor interacts with the tribe. It's also worth mentioning that the act of sexual violence was completely unnecessary and seems like its sole purpose is just to justify the damnation of these documentarians. They've already done enough to be viewed as the antagonists, therefore proving this scene to be nothing more than obscenity. So whilst I condemn certain excessive segments and filmmaking techniques, there is a surprising amount of substance. Just make sure you don't eat anything as you watch it...

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