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Cannibal Holocaust

Play trailer Poster for Cannibal Holocaust 1980 1h 35m Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
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65% Tomatometer 17 Reviews 61% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
A professor (Francesca Ciardi) finds the remains of a film crew in the Amazon and brings the camera footage back to America.
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Cannibal Holocaust

Critics Reviews

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Time Out Its pointed attack on exploitative film-making seems somewhat rich in the circumstances, but this is well made, uniquely unpleasant and almost deserving of its huge cult status. Jun 24, 2006 Full Review Eric Henderson Slant Magazine Most of the enduring grindhouse movies lose the residue of sweaty misanthropy through the simple, inevitable obsolescence of their hard-candied centers of shock value. Rated: 0/4 Oct 6, 2005 Full Review Nick Schager Lessons of Darkness The actual savages involved with Cannibal Holocaust are the ones behind the camera. Rated: D Aug 30, 2005 Full Review Chase Hutchinson Collider ...the film is, to put it bluntly, one of the most intentionally distasteful and violent experiences one could ever watch. It also remains one of the genre’s most enduring, for better and worse, after all these years. Rated: B- Dec 29, 2022 Full Review Brian Orndorf Blu-ray.com Rough, but it's an interesting type of sensationalism from a (thankfully) bygone production era. It's not a film to be enjoyed, but it certainly offers a singular genre bite that's impressively gonzo. Rated: B Jul 5, 2014 Full Review Felix Vasquez Jr. Cinema Crazed An enormous master work from Ruggero Deodato whose own film has pretty much guaranteed to outlive its creator. Jun 26, 2014 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Christian M a questionable ethics; a profound social critique. 'cannibal holocaust' is a mockumentary that starts as a low-budget film with a modest appearance, but beneath that facade, it seeks to convey a powerful message. through its plot, it confronts us with a contrast between indigenous life and modern society, showing characters marked by hypocrisy, violence, and ruthless logic. the film does not shy away from harsh, unpleasant, and repulsive images; although exaggerated in human injuries, this explicitness is necessary to tell the story it intends. i do not agree with killing an animal for a movie; i consider it reprehensible. that said, the scene generates a debate about ethics: what we call 'evil' is a human construction, while in nature it is normal. i do not justify what is shown, but it confronts the viewer with the tension between the 'civilized' and the 'savage'. for some, killing an animal is survival; for others, completely immoral. and this is more than proven by the film. as one of the pioneers of found footage, deodato paved the way for a format that would later be established in horror and grotesque cinema, demonstrating how the technique can intensify the viewer's experience and generate disturbing realism. one of the most controversial elements is the famous turtle scene. it is clear that killing an animal for the film is ethically questionable, and many rightly criticize it. but it also serves to expose the hypocrisy of our society: we eat meat and often enjoy it without questioning it. the scene aims for realism and probably a critique of human cruelty and the public's morbid curiosity, confronting us with our relationship with violence and consumption. the reaction of many viewers, who remain only in superficial outrage, highlights basic conformity and a lack of reflection on what the film really proposes. beyond the ethical debate, "cannibal holocaust" is a work that opens deep discussions and offers multiple perspectives on morality, society, and extreme cinema. if you want to experience its impact and reflect on what it shows, it is a film worth watching… although i warn that some scenes are so explicit that you might end up feeling uncomfortable. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/13/25 Full Review Maksim S Cannibal Holocaust is a film whose notoriety far outweighs its actual cinematic merit. While much has been made of its shocking violence and sexual content, those are not what make it difficult to watch. The real problems lie in the cheesy script, wooden performances, and poorly executed production, which undermine any tension or atmosphere the film attempts to create. It is a movie that is only famous for its extreme content, lacking the craft, nuance, or storytelling to make it compelling beyond its shock value. For all its infamy, Cannibal Holocaust remains a film that is more notorious than enjoyable, a cautionary example of style over substance. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 11/02/25 Full Review Dillon P. Probably one of the most insane things you can watch Rated 3 out of 5 stars 09/08/25 Full Review Dane S Cheesey and sophomoric. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 07/22/25 Full Review Sto C It feels like a film known more for it's reputation than for any real cinematic value. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 07/31/25 Full Review Craig W. Not a good movie at all Rated 1 out of 5 stars 07/15/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Cannibal Holocaust

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Movie Info

Synopsis A professor (Francesca Ciardi) finds the remains of a film crew in the Amazon and brings the camera footage back to America.
Director
Ruggero Deodato
Screenwriter
Gianfranco Clerici
Production Co
F.D. Cinematografica
Genre
Horror
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 7, 1980, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 21, 2017
Runtime
1h 35m
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