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For the best of the Horror/Cult/Exploitation film experience
Amateur Porn Star Killer (2006)
Exploitation aficionados beware of the most uncompromising, repugnant and necessary film for all fans of sleaze and boundary pushing cinema. While using very similar elements to the “August Underground” series like the faux snuff tactics and the amateurish camera work, this is still an uncomfortable viewing experience that was both tedious and relevant to the truth many are to afraid to confront.
The film begins with a long picture in picture opening credit sequence with an acoustic theme until a driver named Brandon picks up a alleged 18 year old female that was originally waiting for a ride from her mother! She ditches that idea and hitches a ride with one of the vilest characters in cinematic history although his face is hardly ever focused on for a long period of time. Instead most of the focus in on the naïve girl, Stacy who would have been better off waiting for her mother. You gotta love disobedient teens. Anyhow the focus is almost entirely on Stacy during her confused and uncomfortable moments from her being lured into the car until the chilling climax.
This film is filled with graphic sex and explicit close ups but nothing matches what starts out as subtle pushiness. Eventually this leads to sleazy control and disgusting manipulation. The oral sex scenes are not sexy and even though the shots are blurry they still are effective. Stacy never screams but she never seems at ease with Brandon. Watching this film was like sitting through a marathon of rape scenes. I wasn’t scared but I was unnerved by this style of film that has been done before but with less character development. I sympathized with the victim for nearly an hour although she made the reckless decision to take a late night ride with a stranger. Watching the truth about her age was just as a heart crushing experience and how the killer reacted was even more unsettling.
This is not a gore film and won’t excite the entire horror community but I find films like this to be creative. There are lots of similar ones like this but next to “August Underground” it is the most relentless journey into the world of a killer via fake snuff film. I am not interested in seeing a real snuff film, not even when I am in my most morbidly curious moods. Still I find works like this film and “Alone with Her” to be remarkable. Viewers will rush to take this out of their player but this film will never leave their memories and that’s a promise. The performances are subtle and the tension moves at a snails pace until the inevitable ending in a film posing as snuff.
My only complaint is the way too obvious damaged film editing. It strayed away from the actors authenticity and was far too distracting and gives the “August Underground” supporters a big reason to further call this a copy cat. Still this movie stands on its own and is arguably the most sickening and gut wrenching film since Douglas Buck’s short “Cutting Moment’s”. The performers were brave, effective and should be expecting some critical backlash from folks that think any form of filth shouldn’t be on screen. I feel that what they showed had purpose. I am sure that this film will create the argument that the film used the most realistic approach possible as an excuse to show scenes with porn. I am truly trying to examine this film and I am realizing more and more that is a piece of art and history. When was the last time you’ve scene a faux snuff cautionary tale with a one room 60 minute build up that used porn to repulse it’s audience. Some will consider this film a classic for kiddy porn lovers and other’s will praise it as gutsy filmmaking. I say that it’s one of my top independent films this year and a showcase for Actor/Director Shane Ryan and Actress/Writer Michiko Jimenez. If porn is 100% against your values I advise you to stay away but please realize everything is done with reason even if it’s offensive. Cinema Epoch will actually be releasing this film in the future. I believe their acquisition is just as gutsy as the sexually explicit scenes the filmmakers decided to utilize in length rather than edit. I don’t want to get political and my stance on the death penalty is on the fence until I realize this story was based on a true case. I hope that anyone that commits acts like the one showed in this film get their heads danced on by butt loving Nazis in prison instead of getting the electric chair. I recommend that those accustomed to watching shock cinema buy this unnerving and claustrophobic pseudo snuff porn lesson for any parent. I never thought I would be bitch slapped by a commentary filled film laced with smut and dynamic performances shot on a hand held digital budget.
Fans of the following films should really anticipate this film’s release:
“Tape”, “Sympathy”, “August Underground”, “Alone With Her”, “Scrapbook”, “L.I.E”, “Hard Candy” and “Last Horror Movie”.
Rating - ***1/2
-Russ Rutter
