The Green Inferno -2013- -
The Green Inferno (2013) is a graphic cannibal horror film directed by Eli Roth, designed as a modern homage to Italian cannibal exploitation films of the 1970s and '80s, most notably Cannibal Holocaust Plot Summary
Conclusion: A Film for Hardened Horror Fans Only
If you are squeamish, skip The Green Inferno -2013-. If you are easily offended by depictions of tribal violence, skip it. If you need your horror heroes to be likable, definitely skip it. The Green Inferno -2013-
- Are squeamish about body horror.
- Dislike movies with unlikable protagonists (the students are intentionally annoying).
- Want a serious political commentary on the Amazon.
Style and Influences: The "Grindhouse" Ethos
Roth has never been subtle about his influences. The title The Green Inferno is borrowed directly from the fictional film-within-a-film in Cannibal Holocaust (the documentary the crew is shooting). The movie is drenched in the aesthetic of 1970s Italian exploitation cinema: grainy textures, jarring zooms, and a relentless, amoral tone. The Green Inferno (2013) is a graphic cannibal
The Green Inferno is heavily influenced by Italian cannibal films of the 1980s, such as Cannibal Holocaust (1980) and Cannibal Man (1980). These films, known for their graphic violence and gore, were often criticized for their perceived misogyny and fascism. Roth's film pays homage to these films, incorporating similar themes and imagery into his own work. Are squeamish about body horror
Trivia and Behind-the-Scenes
4. The Internet as the True Inferno
The film’s bookends take place in New York. The final scene shows Justine watching her own abduction video go viral, while news anchors debate whether the tribe deserves to be “pacified.” The green inferno isn’t the jungle—it’s the digital outrage machine that consumes tragedy for clicks. The activists went to save the tribe from developers; instead, they delivered themselves as content. Roth’s punchline: The cannibals are more honest about their appetites than we are.
Ethical questions—about the portrayal of indigenous peoples, the use of extreme violence, and the film’s appetite for spectacle—keep the conversation alive. Film scholars and critics have used the movie as a springboard to discuss representation in horror, the legacy of exploitation cinema, and where responsibility lies when filmmakers depict vulnerable groups.