Cannibal films, like Jallo, are purely Italian. Of course, the films of such directors as Umberto Lenzi and Ruggero Deodato had a great influence on the world horror, but even Americans, with their large budgets, did not make cannibal films in pure form, except perhaps as an homage to the Italians.
Sisvoro Gautama Putra (1938 – 1993) – a talented Indonesian horror maker, famous primarily for the aesthetic horror story “Slaves of Satan” (1980). However, in the late 1970s, he also shot one of the few, if not the only, cannibal horror of Indonesia “Primitives”, which gained fame abroad, perhaps in the wake of the recognition of his later paintings.
Sisvoro Gautama Putra may have been involved in the filming of Ruggero Deodato's Last Cannibals (1977), which was shot in Indonesia because there are undeniable similarities between the two films. Putra, of course, avoided overt imitation, but that he was inspired by the film of the more famous Italian director is beyond doubt.
“Primitive” is a kind of movie, which is more likely to appeal to fans of exotic adventure films, since there is very little horror. Cannibalism is only present in conversation, and in reality the tribe of savages will never eat anyone. Scenes of violence against animals have been replaced from real to cuts from documentaries or filming models, of which the most realistic crocodile looks. Many animal rights activists criticized Italians and Ruggero Deodato for real animal abuse, but Ruggero was willing to do it for the sake of naturalism. Indonesian horror, by contrast, has never been naturalistic, as Indonesia is a Muslim country. However, there is a certain violence in the film Putra, but it does not exceed the concentration of it in the average adventure movie.
Of course, “Primitive” is almost in everything inferior to Italian cannibal films, but the fact of the appearance of such a film outside Italy is curious. But it remained an isolated phenomenon, because the Indonesians continued to shoot horror based on their folklore.
Putra's early film is unlikely to appeal to the average viewer, because it is cheap and devoid of visual style of cinema. However, those who appreciate the non-stop action, the efforts of the director will appreciate – his film is definitely not boring. In addition, this is the first film in the filmography of the famous Indonesian action hero Barry Prim, who will show some good fights with the warriors of the tribe of savages.
6 out of 10