8mm

Rating: ***
Date Seen: 1999-03-24

Words to describe this movie: disturbing... dark... nauseating... sickening... stark. You get the idea. Before I went to this movie, a friend who had seen it told me it was very well crafted, had great cinematography, story, and acting, but he still wasn't sure if it was worth seeing because the subject matter was so profusely dark. I guess I'm glad I saw it, because otherwise I'd always wonder what I had missed.

The movie portrays Tom Welles's (Nicholas Cage) quest to find the maker of a movie suspected to be a snuff film. The widow of a extremely rich man finds a film hidden in his safe briefly after his death. This film depicts what appears to be a teenage girl being brutally raped and murdered. Wanting to put her own mind to rest, the widow hires a private investigator, Cage's character, to find out whether or not it is authentic. To this end, he must work his way into an underground world of perverts, pornography, and exploitation.

In a different mood, I think I could have enjoyed this movie more. It brings one to ask questions concerning the nature of darkness. What drives men to such evil? Is there a way to venture in without becoming mentally and spiritually entwined?

Well, I gave the movie relatively high marks in every area except enjoyment. That was largely because I hadn't braced myself (as I would be necessary) for such a sadistic experience. To quote a comment on IMDB: "Buyer beware. Know what you're going to see and you won't be disappointed."