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Quote:

Zombies are the middle children of the otherworldly family. Vampires are the oldest brother who gets to have a room in the attic, all tripped out with a disco ball and shag carpet. Werewolves are the youngest, the babies, always getting pinched and told they're cute. With all that attention stolen away from the middle child zombie, no wonder she shuffles off grumbling, "Marsha, Marsha, Marsha."

- Kevin James Breaux

Sunday, November 30, 2014

Book Review: CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST AND THE SAVAGE CINEMA OF RUGGERO DEODATO Edited by Harvey Fenton



The name Ruggero Deodato is most recognizable because of his infamous film Cannibal Holocaust (1980) but he is a director that had a profound impact on Italian cinema and the horror genre itself.  In the book Cannibal Holocaust & the Savage Cinema of Ruggero Deodato Editor Harvey Fenton puts together a collection of interviews, photographs, posters and other memorabilia to represent director Deodato’s long career in film making.  Deodato’s entire career in films represents a response to not being predictable and complacent with his place in Italian cinema. 

He may be most famous for his horror films such as House on the Edge of the Park (1980), Last Cannibal World (1976), and Bodycount (1986), but he has also dabbled in post apocalyptic (The Lone Runner – 1986), fantasy (The Barbarians – 1987), disaster film (Concorde Affair – 1979), and even several television series (of which Italians are most familiar with him and where he has made a huge impact).  This book not only celebrates the Cannibal Holocaust, widely considered the best cannibal movie ever crafted as well as the fore runner for the found footage style of film making, but all of Deodato’s films and their place in his career and the impact of those films not only in Italian cinema but in film making as a whole.

Contained within the book are two separate interviews with Deodato that allow him to discuss how his films have impacted his career for both the good and the bad as well as a synopsis and brief look at all of his films and television series.  A huge chunk of the book focuses on Cannibal Holocaust’s impact but the book is also an eye opener on all of Deodato’s other films.  There is a huge collection of posters and production stills from his films (including some from other countries).  This is a book not only for people wanting to know more about Cannibal Holocaust but also and incite on Deodato and his many films and his own personal outlook.

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