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© Copyright 2002, Jim Loy
A snuff film (sometimes inaccurately called a "slasher film" which means something else) is a movie in which actual actors (usually actresses) are actually killed. Supposedly there is some kind of thrill in seeing such an event.
Women's groups and antipornography groups seem to think that it is obvious that many such movies have been made, and are now being made. It is one of their arguments against pornography. The evidence, however, suggests that there has never been a snuff film. The whole thing is an "urban legend."
Clearly, there may be snuff films, and the police may just have never caught anyone. But we don't believe thin rumor, do we? If you want to be accurate, you must agree that, as far as we actually know, there has never been a snuff film.
Ah, but how about the movie Snuff? Have you seen Snuff? This is a really bad, Argentinian, blood and gore movie in which actresses are obviously not killed, despite rumors. As a publicity gimmick, the U.S. distributors advertised it by implying that actresses had been killed in the making of the movie. It was a lie, as is much advertising.
Special effects can fake death. We saw Darth Maul get cut in half, didn't we? We saw the Nazis get melted in Indiana Jones. Movie makers don't need to kill anyone to make money. Just the hint of a rumor will make money. But maybe they kill people anyway, just 'cause they're bad guys, you think?
Addendum:
I finally got a response to this article:
hey jim
there are real snuff films in this country.made and distributed for big money,meaning either for porn purposes to the people who hold high positions in certain groups for the pleasure of watching or getting off thier rocks.our own government also supplies snuff films of a sort to the military and high politicians. also used for self gratification;and oh yes,for training purposes for the modern soldier and for the viewers at home for entertainment purposes. no real snuff films huh! research again and this time open your eyes to reality.
Another reader sent me a link and pointed out that there is some really gruesome stuff out there, which may not technically be snuff films, but are close. My response:
Thank you, I don't know what that link does, it didn't work on my computer. I guess there have been plenty of gruesome deaths shown on what became television news footage. Such events include suicides, war deaths, executions, assassinations including a beheading, murder, accidental deaths of many kinds, and lesser injuries. I suppose people can buy those and watch them. Some of these can even be shown in legitimate movies. Those are very close to the public idea of snuff film, and should maybe be illegal. The only difference is that "snuff film" apparently means that an actor is hired to act, but is instead murdered.