3/5 dragged back to the stone age . . .
  by trebe
A pretty realistic entry in the cannibal genre, shot in the jungles of Malaysia, director Ruggero Deodao's Jungle Holocaust (aka Last Cannibal World) (1977) is a pretty chilling look at civilized man's encounter with aboriginal natives.

A plane lands deep in the jungle with a group of four aboard, the field crew they were to meet is missing, and their camp deserted. Required repairs to the plane, forces the group to remain overnight, during which one member disappears screaming. The pilot is killed the next day by an ingenious native trap. The two remaining survivors, Harper (Mossimo Foschi) and Rolf (Ivan Rassimov), build a raft and take to a nearby river, only to crash on some rocks. In the aftermath, Rolf is missing and Harper is washed up on shore, where he is soon captured by natives, and taken to their camp. The film is very effective in capturing the abject terror of being at the mercy of a large tribe of savage natives, as Harper is taken to a huge cave, tied to a rock, stripped naked, yanked high in the air, and then imprisoned. Harper adapts to the situation quickly, and after killing some natives with a rock, he escapes from the cave with one of the native women, played by the voluptuous Me Me Lai. With her help, Harper is able to find sustenance, and continue his escape attempt. Harper will find that to survive, he will descend down close to the level of his pursuers.

Apparently based on true events on the island of Mindanao, in the Philippines, the film is rather riveting, with graphic violence, nudity, rape, cannibalism, female infanticide, and human and animal butchery. The cannibals have the preparation of human flesh, practically down to science. Both Mossimo Foschi and Me Me Lai, who spend much of the film almost completely naked, deserve much credit for what they endured. While the location may be realistic, some plot elements do not ring true, including an encounter with crocodiles with an unlikely result. It may seem odd that men with no apparent survival skills, could construct a raft so quickly. After being launched in the river, the raft changes its physical construction, because it would not float as originally built. One might think that a machete might be quite a prize, or an airplane a source of curiosity, but the natives don't seem to have use for anything from the modern world.

This edition has some nice extras, including a commentary track by Ruggero Deodao (in Italian, but with subtitles), and interviews with Mossimo Foschi and Ivan Rassimov. The film is also available as part of the budget priced Jungle Horrors Triple Feature, which includes the films Eaten Alive and Massacre in Dinosaur Valley.

4/5 Best Cannibal Movie
  by Concrete Dovetail (Groningen, Netherlands)
If you are curious about the infamous Spaghetti Cannibal genre then this is the movie to start with. It's a real jungle adventure from beginning to end with beautifully weird music. I would give it five stars if it was possible to watch the movie without the scenes of animal killings. The interview with the lead actor is painful to watch but worth it for the line "That sheep's liver was my destiny" (or something like that). Many people skip this one and go right to Deodato's other movie in the genre, Cannibal Holocaust. I don't really consider that a representative cannibal movie as it is more artistically disturbing and seems to have a deeper meaning about human trust. Jungle Holocaust is just a fun movie where the cannibals really are cannibals and want to eat you for the same reason you might enjoy a well cooked leg of lamb. They take even take the time to properly prepare and season their meals. Buon Appetito!

5/5 Satisfies Lover's Of The Red Stuff
  by BUB13 (NM)
This film is a great cannibal film, Almost as good as Cannibal Holocaust. This movie is the prequel to Cannibal Holocaust, By the time Cannibal Holocaust came out Ruggero Deodato had already made a reputation for being a good trash director by the time this movie came out in 1977. Supposedly based on a true case, an explorer in the Philippine jungles gets lost after his plane with friends left and is captured by hungry cannibal tribes. He escapes by capturing a lovely tribal girl to find food and shelter if they can avoid the rest of her tribe from having them for dinner.

Exciting and realistic film about survival in the jungle filled with gory violence especially actual animal butchery. Like for example, the infamous Alligator butchering sequence that might turn you green. There's some disturbing moments like a pregnant woman who delivers her child as she throws it into a river where an alligator eats it and of course a chest being ripped open, then filled with hot coals.

Fans of this genre will love this. I guarantee it.

5/5 I Iove this movie!
  by M. (Mass.)
This was the first cannibal movie I ever saw and I was completely blown away by it. I found it used at a local cd store and it really got me into Italian movies. Now that I watch it again after seeing a lot of these movies it still remains one of my favorites. Ruggero Deodato has a style like no other directer, his use of music, editing and camera work are amazing and his movies always seem to have that documentary feel to them, its like a mixture of "Jacopetti"&"Prosperi"and "Lucio Fulci" movies. As for the animal violence, I am against cruelty to animals but feel it was needed to make this movie what it is, absolutely horrifying.

5/5 oddly impressive
  by M. T. Walters (Huntington, WV USA)
chances are, if you're looking at getting jungle holocaust you've probably already been introduced to cannibal holocaust, or make them die slowly, etc etc. jungle holocaust is actually a rather well-paced enjoyable entry in the cannibal sub-genre. imagine parts of indiana jones with cannibals. of course there is the requisite italian exploitation animal cruelty, women getting slapped left and right, and lots of gloppy blood and guts. also, for the easily offended, seeing a woman get raped and then turn around to basically become a jungle gatherer/housewife may not be your cup of tea. all in all, if you like these sort of movies, you will like jungle holocaust. if you don't, then i would save the money and buy something else.