8 Horror Movies That Broke All The Rules

7. Handheld Horror - Cannibal Holocaust

Scream Sidney
United Productions Europa

A film so realistic it was taken to court for potentially being a snuff film, Cannibal Holocaust was the first shaky step into the world of handheld horror, that being the found footage movie as we know it, later made infamous by titles such as The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity.

Making a film in raw mockumentary style, Ruggero Deodato unwittingly created a whole new genre of movie, one where cheap budgets, amateur effects, and unknown actors all come together to make the most real-to-life examples of horror possible.

Cannibal Holocaust is the defining title, telling the story of a lost group of filmmakers in the Amazon rainforest making a documentary on cannibal tribes. You can probably guess where it went from there.

Featuring real life animal abuse and horrific special effects, the movie pushed the envelope both in its presentation and in its technological decisions, sparking both controversy and intrigue in equal measure. And it still stands up against its competition today, impressively enough, again reinforcing its genre-bending capabilities with high quality skinning and maiming. What more could you ask for?

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