Italy, a country renowned for its exceptional cuisine, art, architecture, fashion, Opera, literature, design, and, yes, film. Birthing a long list of talented filmmakers, it is surprising to think that the region has also produced a truly unique Horror cinema scene. At a glance, a handful of names that come to mind include Mario Bava, Lucio Fulci, Dario Argento, as well as the one and only Ruggero Deodato. For Deodato, often associated with his highly controversial 1980 film Cannibal Holocaust, the label “Horror Director” may not truly justify his talents, and this is evident in the new Documentary film, Deodato Holocaust.
The work of Brazilian Filmmaker Felipe M. Guerra, making its world premiere at the Fantaspoa Film Festival, Deodato Holocaust is a long-overdue look into the career of Ruggero Deodato. Premiering on May 16th and running through June 2nd at what is considered the largest genre film festival in Latin America, it is worth noting that the production is remarkably independent. This in mind, for the most part, it consists of various video interviews casually held between the filmmaker and Deodato.
There are no guest interviews from others who have worked with Deodato through the years; sometimes you can faintly hear Guerra’s voice behind the camera, and the entirety of the interviews is in Italian with English subtitles. Cut and dry, the film is not without editing and intriguing footage, though. Instead of just interview footage, the film is carefully edited to include various images, newspaper headlines, and video clips from Deodato’s extensive filmography. Melding together and making the viewing experience more visually enticing, while singular in focus, Deodato Holocaust is quite well done.
These technical aspects, addressed, in truth, are remarkable if you are interested in the filmography of Ruggero Deodato. The very fact that you can experience him telling you his story in his own words is fantastic. Let us keep in mind that this is a now 80-year-old man, one who lives a relatively low-key life, so the fact that Guerra was able to track him down and have him agree to participate in this Documentary is remarkable in itself. This in mind, Deodato’s interviews are candid and intelligent, providing a broader sense of who he is.
Presented in chronological order, you are given insight into Deodato’s start in film, right from his very first production down to the more recent. Amidst it all, you learn that he never truly set out to be known as a Horror film director, and that his body of work is quite diverse, ranging from Romance to Action to Westerns. Then, of course, there is a good deal of focus on his most infamous and popular film, Cannibal Holocaust. Perhaps a drawing card for fans to check out the Documentary, you quickly learn the essence of what Deodato was genuinely trying to accomplish with the harshness, and that was realism.
You see, Deodato is very much from a different time and place in the world, and this is reflected in the strong imagery of films such as Cannibal Holocaust and The House on the Edge of the Park. Judging from the final minutes of his interviews for Deodato Holocaust, he was raised to face the reality of death, and although sometimes it can be ugly, to deal with it. Ironic, considering everything is sugarcoated in modern society, Deodato leaves you with a very thought-provoking opinion about the public perception of Cannibal Holocaust, and with that, you need to decide for yourself what is truly horrifying.
Overall, Deodato Holocaust is an insightful, personal look into the world of Ruggero Deodato. Given a catchy title to grab the attention of Horror fans, it could be argued that it does not truly do Ruggero Deodato justice, because he is not a Horror film director. Brilliantly put in his own words, he is an adventurous director, and, adding to that, one who has always been truly passionate about creating a realistic viewing experience. Come in looking to learn about Cannibal Holocaust and leave with more acute knowledge about a dying breed of filmmakers. For these reasons, Cryptic Rock gives Deodato Holocaust 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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