[Sicknero]

Snuff 102 (2007)

The film begins with a (to me) pretty disingenuous warning that says "All documented torture scenes in this film are real", which they obviously aren't. What it means is that there are scenes of animal suffering and some images from the internet that are real. Not a good start.

There are a couple of animal scenes but this is no Cannibal Holocaust; they are real sequences of vivisection and slaughter of the type you'd find in a PETA release - distressing but relatively tame compared to animal rights films. Aside from that there are some bits of internet footage which are difficult to make out because of being "artistically" degraded for the movie.

So all that aside ... the plot revolves around an investigative journalist who goes looking into snuff movies, with not unpredictable results. It isn't a linear film either so it's a little confusing until you get the hang of what's going on.

There's some nasty and horrific stuff in here, so if you're a fan of Vogel et al it's worth a watch. I found it quite annoying though - I mean there was obviously some time and effort spent on creating some pretty convincing footage, but then the effect is ruined by OTT music and sfx that detracts totally from the sense of reality. A "real" soundtrack would have made these bits infinitely more shocking and disturbing.

Some reviewers praise this movie for asking "Important Questions", which I guess it does really. The thing is though that it asks them directly and overtly, in voice overs and in interviews carried out by the journalist. This approach does work, but ultimately it doesn't raise any questions that aren't raised by any other piece of extreme cinema, or indeed any other screen violence.

The ending is ok I thought - it moves from faux-snuff to a more traditional horror sequence and finishes in a way that enjoyably (to me at least) reverses the trend in this type of movie.

Why "102"...? You'll have to watch it. :-)