The film world has lost one of its most controversial figures, as it has been confirmed that Italian screenwriter, director, and actor Ruggero Deodato has passed away at the age of 83. Described by filmmaker Mick Garris as “a sweet man who made brutal cinema”, Deodato was best known for directing the 1980 film Cannibal Holocaust, which got him arrested because the authorities suspected he had really murdered members of his cast. They were all just fine, but Cannibal Holocaust has also sickened and disturbed many viewers with its depiction of multiple real animal killings. Deodato would later say he regretted including the deaths of those animals (including a pig, a monkey, a turtle, and a coatimundi), saying it was “stupid” to put those moments in the movie.
Deodato was born on May 7, 1939, and got involved with filmmaking at the end of his teens because the area in Rome where he lived also happened to be the neighborhood where the major film studios were located. He was friends with Renzo Rossellini, the son of director Roberto Rossellini, a connection that helped him get jobs as an assistant director. Which is a job he had on the popular “spaghetti Western” Django.
Deodato quickly worked his way up to directing his own features. Although Cannibal Holocaust is, by far, the most well-known film Deodato ever directed, it was just one of his thirty-six directing credits. His other films include Zenabel; Waves of Lust; Live Like a Cop, Die Like a Man; Last Feelings; Concorde Affaire ’79; Atlantis Interceptors; House on the Edge of the Park; Cut and Run; Body Count; The Lone Runner; The Barbarians; Phantom of Death; Dial Help; The Washing Machine; Ballad in Blood; and segments of the anthologies The Profane Exhibit and Deathcember.
He also appeared on screen in several projects over the years, perhaps most notably in Eli Roth‘s Hostel: Part II, where he was cast as “The Italian Cannibal”.
Those who are only familiar with the controversy surrounding Cannibal Holocaust may be surprised to hear that Deodato was a caring family man in his personal life. Something I saw for myself at a convention several years ago, where I witnessed the unexpected sight of the director of Cannibal Holocaust being a doting grandfather.
Our sincere condolences go out to Deodato’s family, friends, and fans.