Famous filmmaker Ruggero Deodato, best known for directing the 1980 horror film “Cannibal Holocaust,” died at the age of 83, an Italian news outlet first reported Thursday.
Deodato’s cause of death has not been publicly confirmed after Il Messaggero announced the news of his passing. Deodato is credited for inspiring a number of prominent American filmmakers, including Oliver Stone, Eli Roth and Quentin Tarantino, according to the New York Post. He was also known for pushing the boundaries of film. Deodato’s most notorious film, “Cannibal Holocaust,” featured acts of sadomasochism and real animal slaughter, which led the film to be banned in numerous countries, the outlet continued.
Deodato went to extremes when it came to filming “Cannibal Holocaust.” In an attempt to make the film seem “authentic,” he allegedly encouraged the actors to completely disappear from the public eye for one year. Police became involved and took all copies of his movie as part of their investigation, and then charged Deodato for purportedly murdering all his actors, the NY Post reported.
Deodato faced a 30-year prison sentence, but he managed to convince the actors to appear in court to prove they were alive and well, the outlet continued. His charges were later dropped. The movie starred Robert Kerman, Carl Gabriel Yorke and Francesca Ciardi. (RELATED: Family Files Missing Person Report, Claims Music Artist Theophilus London Disappeared Five Months Ago)
Deodato also directed the 1977 film “Last Cannibal World,” and he released a number of films after “Cannibal Holocaust,” including “Body Count” (1986) and “Phantom of Death” (1988).
Fans took to social media to remember the filmmaker and his contributions to the world of film.
RIP Ruggero Deodato, masterful, revolutionary, misunderstood today and in his time. Director of many films I love. I wrote one of my earliest columns on Cut and Run, a favourite of mine. May you be uncensored in the heavens, Ruggero. pic.twitter.com/4XHd1rdfLT
— SaoirseAndTheAgenda (@AndSaoirse) December 29, 2022
A sad farewell to Ruggero Deodato. A sweet man who made brutal cinema. https://t.co/qG399cwSSn
— Mick Garris & The Post Mortem Podcast (@MickGarrisPM) December 29, 2022
“A sad farewell to Ruggero Deodato. A sweet man who made brutal cinema,” Mick Garris of the Post Mortem podcast wrote.