cannibals
The most controversial of all the Italian film genres, mainly because of two men, Umberto Lenzi and Ruggero Deodato. Lenzi started it with Il paese del sesso selvaggio in 1972 which he followed with Mangiati vivi! in 1980 and Cannibal Ferox in 1981. Deodato's contributions are Ultimo mondo cannibale and Cannibal Holocaust, from 1977 and 1980 respectively. Holocaust is apparently considered to be a snuff film by British authorities (the snuff myth was big in ' 76). Deodato considers it an exposure of media's use of violence.
One thing about these films that upsets many otherwise blasé fans are the frequent animal killings shown in extended scenes. Sergio Martino's La montagna del dio cannibale (relatively tame in cannibalism) has a disturbing scene where a large snake has caught (or been given?) an ape who is seen struggling in vain for its life.
Horror fans looking for the most gross films may want to avoid Mondo Cannibale (aka: The Cannibals aka: White Cannibal Queen). Starring Al Cliver and Sabrina Siani and often credited to Franco Prosperi (whose name appears on some versions), this is actually a 1980 Jess Franco film from Paris' Eurociné.
Ca 1972-1981 		Cannibal Ferox
Cannibals hungry for sausage.