Oddly enough, Jungle Holocaust (1977) wasn’t just a cheap little horror/exploitation crank-’em-out, though the budget certainly was paltry. In an attempt to imbue the movie with realism, he shot it all on location in Malaysia and Mindanao, using a mostly native cast; the title card which starts the movie claims it to be a true story. I don’t know about that claim, but I know that treating it as if it was a recreation rather than a tawdry B-movie adds something to it — a patina, almost, of respectability.
#1 by Blake on November 26, 2009 - 5:01 am
Quote
Very thoughtful review of this film.
With regards to cannibal culture, I can offer a few thoughts about it in Brazil. If you can find the English translation of the book, Ubirajara (by Jose Alencar), you should read it. The story is interesting, but the author’s footnotes are far more so.
The indigenous peoples of Brazil practiced a form of ritual cannibalism upon their prisoners of war. To them it was considered something of an honor to die in such a manner (they preferred it to slavery). Those eating the warrior’s flesh believed they were absorbing the abilities of their prey. However, you weren’t just immediately eaten upon capture. You were allowed to be nursed back to health and given a wife (almost always the most beautiful virgin who wasn’t betrothed to someone else) in order to sire children that would continue your legacy.
#2 by Blake on November 26, 2009 - 5:04 am
Quote
cont’d…
With regards to sex among these tribes, at least in South America, they had a fairly traditional form of morality. All women had a red cord/string tied around their thigh. When they got married and consummated their marriage, the cord was broken as a symbol that they had been possessed by their husbands. Nonetheless, women who lost their viriginity out of wedlock had to break the cord so that the members of the tribe knew of their acts (they were still part of the tribe, but would lose certain privileges).
#3 by Joshua on November 27, 2009 - 6:47 am
Quote
An Italian cannibal flick? Does this mean you’re out of kid vids to review?
#4 by Nathan Shumate on November 27, 2009 - 8:53 am
Quote
Yes, one thing I barely covered was the fact that the cannibal tribe didn’t seem to be structured for stability and survivability in a Darwinian sense — in other words, there’s no way that a tribe like this could survive into the 20th century.
The Hieratic Head mentioned beliefly the main problem: How can a single tribe consistently practice cannibalism? As you note, most societies which incorporate cannibalism do it using members of some other group as “candidates”. But there’s no sign here that there are actually TWO cannibal tribes in the jungle, and I find it had to believe that a tribe could make cannibalism a regular part of their culture relying solely on oil explorers who drop out of the sky.
Then there’s the gender imbalance. I mentioned that there are very few females in evidence, and when we see one woman giving birth to what turns out to be a female child, she throws it in the river. In that case, where does that plentiful gaggle of adolescent males come from? It doesn’t look like there are enough breeding females to keep the tribe at replacement levels. The gender proportions are exactly backwards, as the common structures for bands of great apes demonstrates.
Joshua: No, not hardly. I just needed to expand my beyond my recent output of kidvids and noir flicks.
#5 by El Santo on November 27, 2009 - 1:21 pm
Quote
“An Italian cannibal flick? Does this mean you’re out of kid vids to review?”
No, but it does mean it’s time for Nathan to cut the little red cord tied around his thigh!
Also, Nathan– two comments regarding the lineup of movie posters and video box art along the right margin of the page:
1. Cool! Now I know how to say “Cannibal” in Turkish!
2. The two images bearing the Mondo Cannibale title are actually posters/video covers for The Man from Deep River.
#6 by Blake on November 27, 2009 - 2:49 pm
Quote
So what made this film better in your mind than, say, Cannibal Ferrox?
Oohh…I’m waiting impatiently for a review of The Man from Deep River and Emerald Jungle (or Forest or whatever).
#7 by Nathan Shumate on November 27, 2009 - 3:25 pm
Quote
Santo:
Actually, on checking, you’re half-right — the first “Mondo Cannibale” poster is directed by Lenzi, but the second one lists Deodato as the director. (Even though the lower image on it isn’t even from the right movie.)
Blake:
Who said I thought it was better than Cannibal Ferox? You’ll just have to wait for a review of that movie to get my views of it (because I haven’t seen it yet). Might be a bit of a wait, though; I’ve got Mountain of Cannibal God and Cannibal Holocaust on my shelf, but not Ferox.
#8 by Blake on November 27, 2009 - 4:00 pm
Quote
Consistency gun: your Ironmaster review.
#9 by Nathan Shumate on November 27, 2009 - 9:42 pm
Quote
I said they’re known to be sucky movies. I didn’t say I knew it from personal experience.
#10 by Blake on November 28, 2009 - 3:49 am
Quote
Gotcha.
When you get around to doing a review of any cannibal film set in South America, let me know and I’ll dig up some supplementary material for you.
#11 by Chad on November 28, 2009 - 10:51 pm
Quote
There are really only two genres of popular film that the Italians can claim as their own: the “pepla” or “sword-and-sandal” flicks (which, truth be told, were inspired by American-produced historical/Biblical epics), and cannibal movies.
Don’t forget “nunsploitation”! I guess you can argue that it’s not a genre of “popular film”, but I’d retort it is one as much as cannibal movies.
#12 by Nathan Shumate on November 29, 2009 - 9:52 am
Quote
I stand corrected.
#13 by Rabukurafuto on November 30, 2009 - 12:43 am
Quote
Nunsploitation may be associated with Italy but it is not an Italian-exclusive sub-genre.
#14 by Al Bruno III on November 30, 2009 - 9:11 pm
Quote
Just wanted to let you know that was a fine and thoughtful review. I always enjoy your site.
#15 by Nathan Shumate on November 30, 2009 - 9:43 pm
Quote
Golly — I hope I haven’t peaked. (Thanks.)