DVD REVIEW: CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST
DVD REVIEW: GRINDHOUSE RELEASING [ 2005 ] 96'
DVD REVIEW: AVG. BITRATE: 6.60 Mb/sec
WTFFILM RATING:

A long time staple of gray market releases and available in various cut and uncut forms for years, CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST has truly led a troubled life on home video - though not nearly so troubled as its brief life in theaters. The absolute best of the short-lived cannibal sub-genre, Ruggero Deodato's masterpiece is equal parts commended for its commentary on society and reviled for the shear amount of uncensored (and often real) violence present. Whether you love it or hate it, Grindhouse Releasing has issued the film in an ultimate 2 disc edition that rivals any release of the film before it.

THE FEATURE PRESENTATION:

The transfer on display for this disc is new and, by far, the best available out there for the film. Presented in 16:9 anamorphically enhanced widescreen, the only complaint I have is that it's interlaced. The feature can be viewed in two different forms - the original uncut version and an edited "animal cruelty free" version that is just what it sounds like. The video quality is superb - if you've only seen this film via European bootlegs or rips of the old LD, you're in for a major surprise. There are minor instances of speckling and dirt throughout the 35mm segments of the film, none of which are overly distracting or that can't be forgiven given the nature of the shoot. The 16mm segments show much more damage but, as most of you will know, all of this is quite intentional. Colors and contrast are natural and well reproduced and I noticed no compression artifacts. There are three audio options to choose from, a Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo remix, the original English monophonic track, or the commentary track by Ruggero Deodato (more on that later). There is no Italian track here which is quite excusable considering the film was made in English. All of the audio tracks sound as good as if they were newly recorded. Overall, this is a top notch feature presentation that could only have been better if it was progressive scan.

THE EXTRAS:

While disc 2 of this set contains the majority of the supplemental material, disc 1 isn't too shabby either. The full length commentary track by Ruggero Deodato, while a bit awkward at first (a translator is initially used to communicate but Deodato opts early on for just speaking in English), is entertaining and highly informative. Aside from various anecdotes about the film's production he also provides a very useful insight into the nature of Italian film making at the time. Also present on disc 1 is "Inside The Green Inferno", a mostly text and images extra dedicated to the film's characters, locations, and other various whatsits. Included here is an alternate version of "The Last Road To Hell" that looks to have been taken from a laserdisc source. Also in this section is the original script for the film (DVD-ROM only). A large selection of trailers for the film (including the Italian, German, International, U.S., and U.S. re-release) rounds out disc one of this set.

While disc 1 would certainly have sufficed given the wonderful presentation and amount of supplemental material present, disc 2 really takes this release above and beyond the call of duty. First up is the hour + featurette "In the Jungle: The making of Cannibal Holocaust". Presented in Italian with English subtitles, this is an excellent little documentary covering the cast and crew of the production in depth. Next up are a cycle of shorter interviews covering Robert Kerman, Riz Ortalani, and the man who played Alan Yates in the film. The least of the extras is next - a music video by Necrophagia that's every bit as unimpressive as that made for the earlier dvd release of THE BEYOND [1981]. Biographies/filmographies of the major players in the film production and trailers for several other Grindhouse releases (including THE BEYOND and CANNIBAL FEROX) round out disc 2. Be on the lookout for a number of easter eggs throughout this release - while some are simply fun, many reveal additional interview footage and other interesting tidbits. There's certainly plenty to see on these two discs and Grindhouse should be commended for providing such a wealth of material for such an under-seen film.

THE OVERALL PRESENTATION:

CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST's two discs come packaged in a sturdy digipack case feature full artwork both inside and out and an attractive slip-sleeve to house it all. Inside is a folded insert that features two posters for the film, some brief information, and a list of chapter stops. The discs themselves are beautifully designed to mimic the look of weathered 16mm film reels and are labeled simply "reel 1" and "reel 2". My only complaint with the packaging is that the digipack case seems to be a bit crudely constructed and the two plastic trays that hold the discs seem rather un-secure. This could simply be an issue with my copy and I have resolved it easily enough by keeping the discs in a 2 disc DVD case seperate from the other packaging to avoid any potential issue. This is a minor quibble and the reason for the half star drop in the grading for this section of the release. There are no complaints in regards to the presentation of content within the discs however. All of the menus are fully animated in various ways - most feature scenes from the film itself. All menu options are easy to access and the easter eggs that permeate disc 2 are fun to hunt for. Aside from my minor quibble with the packaging, this is an excellent presentation that suits the release perfectly.

THE VERDICT:

This is, without a doubt, one of the most anticipated horror film DVD releases ever. Luckily Grindhouse does not disappoint. Excellent feature presentation, attractive packaging, and a wealth of supplements make this one of the best DVD releases of the decade. If you're a fan of the film then you've no doubt already picked this up - if not then I highly suggest you do so. It's definitely worth it.