Shameless proudly presents the 1st ever CINEMA-OF-DEATH anthology of Ruggero Deodato, “Mr Cannibal” himself, the director of possibly the nastiest Video Nasties which have since become cult must-see and now subject of top academic research, public debates and high-brow critical acclaim. The set contains Cannibal Holocaust, The House on the Edge of the Park and Phantom of Death.
The artwork of this limited numbered edition Boxset, available from Amazon, has been exclusively created for Shameless by top British film poster artist Graham Humphreys.
CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST on its 1st release, director Deodato was charged with killing his own cast and jailed! In UK, it incarnated THE Video Nasty. Banned and then cut by several minutes, it took a full 30 years for the censors to relax their grip!
DEODATO’S CINEMA OF DEATH presents two versions of this, the most controversial film ever made: A unique Director’s re-edit (shown 1st in London s West-End) which tones down the animal cruelty (to fit better with 21st Century sensibilities) without shortening the film. The other is the full strength 80s dish! Very strong stuff – especially because of its unsurpassed, documentary-like, extremely realistic depiction of gory violence. With this landmark film Deodato single-handedly invented the ‘found-footage’ genre (imitated by Blair Witch et al). Often imitated, this is The Original and unequaled best.
THE HOUSE ON THE EDGE OF THE PARK also a Video Nasty, this claustrophobic staging of a vicious home-invasion scenario explodes into slasher torture hell, with star David Hess giving one of the strongest performances of his career and Deodato a master-class in directing, proving again that under the blood and guts there is a brilliant film maker formed by Neo-realism.
Extras include Deodato and star Giovanni Lombardo Radice in a public debate with senior BBFC examiner, plus a last in-depth interview with the late David Hess.
In THE PHANTOM OF DEATH Deodato’s unwavering directing meets a barnstorming performance from Michael York (Cabaret, Austin Powers) as the pianist virtuoso who suddenly starts aging at alarming speed – progeria, a devastating real-life affliction. With death closing in fast, the pianist looses his mind in a murderous frenzy of brutal hackings.. Edwige Fenech and Donald Pleasence co-star.
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