Ruggero Deodato, director of Cannibal Holocaust, dies at 83

On December 29, 2022, Italian director Ruggero Deodato passed away at the age of 83. He was born in Potenza in 1939 and began his filmmaking journey as an assistant director for Roberto Rossellini on Il generale Della Rovere (1959) and Viva l'Italia (1961). He also trained under notable figures like Sergio Corbucci, Riccardo Freda, and Antonio Margheriti, exploring various genres from spaghetti westerns to erotic thrillers. Deodato's notable work includes the 1976 film Uomini si nasce poliziotti si muore, penned by Fernando Di Leo. His most recognized film, Cannibal Holocaust (1980), is a pivotal horror film known for its realistic mockumentary style. Other significant projects included La casa sperduta nel parco (1980) and I predatori di Atlantide (1983). Despite his impact, he struggled to find support in the Italian film industry later on. This summary was authored by Christian Caliandro, an art historian and professor at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze.