Torture Porn (film subgenre?)

[phee]

Torture Porn.

This would include movies like Hostil, Cannibal Holocaust, Saw....

Does this actually exist?

I mean people clearly get off on it.... what do you think?

[DJ Nocker]

Torture Porn.

This would include movies like Hostil, Cannibal Holocaust, Saw....

Does this actually exist?

I mean people clearly get off on it.... what do you think?

Excuse while I go on an angry rant.

TORTURE PORN IS A RIDICULOUS NIKNAME FOR VIOLENT HORROR. And a lot of the time, movies that are completely different from each other (both in graphic content and feel or meaning of the movie in question)are often lumped into the stupid title.

Prime Example, CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST

First off, the whole "torture porn" name popped up shortly after "Saw" CH has been around since the 70's and is considered either a nihilistic exploitation film, or a member of the "Video Nasty" sub genre.

Very few of the movies that are lumped into this "torture porn" are filled with enough torture or pornographic content to be considered as such. Mainstream critics just wanted to come up with the most offensive words to detour people from giving money to the film makers. Alot of them are very cool and very well done. The only terribly gory scene in the first "saw" was when the guy cut his foot off, the rest was interesting suspense and mystery.

Even if this were a legit subgenre, it would be put under the same category as BDSM porno.

And I totally get off on it.

...may add more later.

[st_masey]

It is absolutely the lowest form of cinema and the fact that this shit has become the new "date movie" for many couples is a sign of human decline. "Oh darling, let's hold hands and watch someone have a screwdriver shoved up their nose!" How fucking romantic. These couples are no better off than those that trod off to the newest Chick Flick comedy in that they see their lives as so worthless that they can waste their young love on utterly depthless drivel.

What purpose are you driving at when you take in these scenes? Torture, mutilation, dismemberment here and there that is inched up every year to keep pace with their slowly solidifying tolerance. If these viewers were, at least, plagued by what they saw and if it drove them to feel despair or disgust, that could be one thing. However, most are so numbed to it that the whole charade passes them by as some sort of rite of passage so that they may claim they've "seen worse" than other people. What they're winning, who could want?

Most of the followers of these redundant, foul executions are pitiful in that they lack the capacity of appreciating more sophisticated forms of suspense: suspense derived more from the actions and transformations of a character, rather than merely the characters' butchering. True, some may say that they are "broad-minded" enough to enjoy good cinema and, from time to time, indulge in a little of this bloodthirsty genre. I can't imagine why though. Surely, no one here has seen every good film out there. I hope that you don't have that much free time. If so, why waste it? And even if you have, wouldn't even a re-viewing of Accattone be time better spent than seeing a Saw film for the first time?

One should have an open mind to new forms of art, but as Howard Devoto once said, "my mind ain't so open that anything can crawl right in".

And, writing this, I still don't feel as if I've fully satiated my anger against this moronic, yet still-thriving, genre.

Edited November 22, 2010 by st_masey

[DJ Nocker]

It is absolutely the lowest form of cinema and the fact that this shit has become the new "date movie" for many couples is a sign of human decline. "Oh darling, let's hold hands and watch someone have a screwdriver shoved up their nose!" How fucking romantic. These couples are no better off than those that trod off to the newest Chick Flick comedy in that they see their lives as so worthless that they can waste their young love on utterly depthless drivel.

What purpose are you driving at when you take in these scenes? Torture, mutilation, dismemberment here and there that is inched up every year to keep pace with their slowly solidifying tolerance. If these viewers were, at least, plagued by what they saw and if it drove them to feel despair or disgust, that could be one thing. However, most are so numbed to it that the whole charade passes them by as some sort of rite of passage so that they may claim they've "seen worse" than other people. What they're winning, who could want?

Most of the followers of these redundant, foul executions are pitiful in that they lack the capacity of appreciating more sophisticated forms of suspense: suspense derived more from the actions and transformations of a character, rather than merely the characters' butchering. True, some may say that they are "broad-minded" enough to enjoy good cinema and, from time to time, indulge in a little of this bloodthirsty genre. I can't imagine why though. Surely, no one here has seen every good film out there. I hope that you don't have that much free time. If so, why waste it? And even if you have, wouldn't even a re-viewing of Accattone be time better spent than seeing a Saw film for the first time?

One should have an open mind to new forms of art, but as Howard Devoto once said, "my mind ain't so open that anything can crawl right in".

And, writing this, I still don't feel as if I've fully satiated my anger against this moronic, yet still-thriving, genre.

its not a genre -_- and most horror hounds hate it when people name movies as such.

[st_masey]

its not a genre -_- and most horror hounds hate it when people name movies as such.

I can imagine why they hate that name: it's honest. It's not art, it's pornography. I guess it is a "subgenre" more than a genre itself, I'll admit to that.

[bean]

It is absolutely the lowest form of cinema and the fact that this shit has become the new "date movie" for many couples is a sign of human decline. "Oh darling, let's hold hands and watch someone have a screwdriver shoved up their nose!" How fucking romantic. These couples are no better off than those that trod off to the newest Chick Flick comedy in that they see their lives as so worthless that they can waste their young love on utterly depthless drivel.

What purpose are you driving at when you take in these scenes? Torture, mutilation, dismemberment here and there that is inched up every year to keep pace with their slowly solidifying tolerance. If these viewers were, at least, plagued by what they saw and if it drove them to feel despair or disgust, that could be one thing. However, most are so numbed to it that the whole charade passes them by as some sort of rite of passage so that they may claim they've "seen worse" than other people. What they're winning, who could want?

Most of the followers of these redundant, foul executions are pitiful in that they lack the capacity of appreciating more sophisticated forms of suspense: suspense derived more from the actions and transformations of a character, rather than merely the characters' butchering. True, some may say that they are "broad-minded" enough to enjoy good cinema and, from time to time, indulge in a little of this bloodthirsty genre. I can't imagine why though. Surely, no one here has seen every good film out there. I hope that you don't have that much free time. If so, why waste it? And even if you have, wouldn't even a re-viewing of Accattone be time better spent than seeing a Saw film for the first time?

One should have an open mind to new forms of art, but as Howard Devoto once said, "my mind ain't so open that anything can crawl right in".

And, writing this, I still don't feel as if I've fully satiated my anger against this moronic, yet still-thriving, genre.

[Destroit]

I'm torn on this. There is a distinct population of people, and I know I'm going to be argued against on this, where these movies actually help. These are people who are naturally very sadistic and deranged, HOWEVER, through being properly socialized and shown love and compassion through their upbringing, not only do not act on their inner urges but understand why it is actually harmful to do so. Many movie-goers who LOVE this type of genre, people like Nocker and I, are able to use them as a vehicle of expression and for suppression of negative behavior acted out in real life. For instance, when I was in high school I watched CRAZY amounts of porn. No matter how many fail-safes Boshy put in place to prevent me from getting it, when you're addicted to something you'll go through any means necessary. My voracious appetite for watching dirty shit DID have one purpose that even she began to recognize over time: It kept me from going out and just finding some guy to act out those urges with, possibly leading to unsavory consequences for someone at that age. Coupled with being super-fat and having low self-esteem, I chose the computer approach because it was readily available and I wouldn't have to get naked in front of anyone . In essence, if I was able to watch the shit then I was able to hold off until later, so as backwards as it sounds, watching porn helped me become NON-corrupt .

On the OTHER hand, the reason this genre is a double-edged sword is it may have an opposite effect. Someone who is legitimately wanting to act out such urges because they are a psychopath and were not raised appropriately to love may be pushed over the edge from seeing stuff like this. People who are psychopaths have a skewed view of reality and no compassion for other human beings. Movies, in turn, could help make the problem worse and not better.

I'm torn on this. There is a distinct population of people, and I know I'm going to be argued against on this, where these movies actually help. These are people who are naturally very sadistic and deranged, HOWEVER, through being properly socialized and shown love and compassion through their upbringing, not only do not act on their inner urges but understand why it is actually harmful to do so. Many movie-goers who LOVE this type of genre, people like Nocker and I, are able to use them as a vehicle of expression and for suppression of negative behavior acted out in real life. For instance, when I was in high school I watched CRAZY amounts of porn. No matter how many fail-safes Boshy put in place to prevent me from getting it, when you're addicted to something you'll go through any means necessary. My voracious appetite for watching dirty shit DID have one purpose that even she began to recognize over time: It kept me from going out and just finding some guy to act out those urges with, possibly leading to unsavory consequences for someone at that age. Coupled with being super-fat and having low self-esteem, I chose the computer approach because it was readily available and I wouldn't have to get naked in front of anyone . In essence, if I was able to watch the shit then I was able to hold off until later, so as backwards as it sounds, watching porn helped me become NON-corrupt .

On the OTHER hand, the reason this genre is a double-edged sword is it may have an opposite effect. Someone who is legitimately wanting to act out such urges because they are a psychopath and were not raised appropriately to love may be pushed over the edge from seeing stuff like this. People who are psychopaths have a skewed view of reality and no compassion for other human beings. Movies, in turn, could help make the problem worse and not better.

Edited November 22, 2010 by Chernobyl

[TheGimp]

I'm torn on this. There is a distinct population of people, and I know I'm going to be argued against on this, where these movies actually help. These are people who are naturally very sadistic and deranged, HOWEVER, through being properly socialized and shown love and compassion through their upbringing, not only do not act on their inner urges but understand why it is actually harmful to do so. Many movie-goers who LOVE this type of genre, people like Nocker and I, are able to use them as a vehicle of expression and for suppression of negative behavior acted out in real life. For instance, when I was in high school I watched CRAZY amounts of porn. No matter how many fail-safes Boshy put in place to prevent me from getting it, when you're addicted to something you'll go through any means necessary. My voracious appetite for watching dirty shit DID have one purpose that even she began to recognize over time: It kept me from going out and just finding some guy to act out those urges with, possibly leading to unsavory consequences for someone at that age. Coupled with being super-fat and having low self-esteem, I chose the computer approach because it was readily available and I wouldn't have to get naked in front of anyone . In essence, if I was able to watch the shit then I was able to hold off until later, so as backwards as it sounds, watching porn helped me become NON-corrupt .

On the OTHER hand, the reason this genre is a double-edged sword is it may have an opposite effect. Someone who is legitimately wanting to act out such urges because they are a psychopath and were not raised appropriately to love may be pushed over the edge from seeing stuff like this. People who are psychopaths have a skewed view of reality and no compassion for other human beings. Movies, in turn, could help make the problem worse and not better.

i concur

some films i will admit however go a bit over the top and are just simply a film to show massive ammounts of tits, ass and blood and guts and all that good yummy stuff...I'm a huge horror fan or whats been ladled torture-porn. i for example LOVE every single SAW made dont like it oh well (not directed at anyone here)and i agree with enjoying said movies cuz it helps to let out pent up negitive emotion and what have you... all in all i dont think its hurting a fucking soul unless parents permit there children to watch as well, other then that i don't see myself walking out of a SAW movie chloroforming someone strapping them to a board with a scalpel and telling them the only way to stop the giant blade from cutting there face off is to cut off there own dick and fish out the key to live...

[Destroit]

other then that i don't see myself walking out of a SAW movie chloroforming someone strapping them to a board with a scalpel and telling them the only way to stop the giant blade from cutting there face off is to cut off there own dick and fish out the key to live...

Oh...

So that's just me then? Huh...

Oh...

So that's just me then? Huh...

[Destroit]

i concur

some films i will admit however go a bit over the top and are just simply a film to show massive ammounts of tits, ass and blood and guts and all that good yummy stuff...I'm a huge horror fan or whats been ladled torture-porn. i for example LOVE every single SAW made dont like it oh well (not directed at anyone here)and i agree with enjoying said movies cuz it helps to let out pent up negitive emotion and what have you... all in all i dont think its hurting a fucking soul unless parents permit there children to watch as well, other then that i don't see myself walking out of a SAW movie chloroforming someone strapping them to a board with a scalpel and telling them the only way to stop the giant blade from cutting there face off is to cut off there own dick and fish out the key to live...

Yes, I've also personally noticed that the only people who seem to be vehemently against this movie-style are non-aggressive feminine or effeminate types. As people of the violently aggressive assortment, clearly we don't expect these people to understand both where we are coming from and why in turn these films help us instead of being a hindrance. It's just ironic that you see these sorts ready to rabble outside of any "objectionable" screening...but you don't see us flooding the opening of Runaway Bride going off about how damaging girly movies are to, well ironically enough, women. Better things to do perhaps? Odd phenomenon that I've noticed throughout the years. Maybe women tend to complain more and be more vocal? I dunno, another interesting area to expand upon.

Yes, I've also personally noticed that the only people who seem to be vehemently against this movie-style are non-aggressive feminine or effeminate types. As people of the violently aggressive assortment, clearly we don't expect these people to understand both where we are coming from and why in turn these films help us instead of being a hindrance. It's just ironic that you see these sorts ready to rabble outside of any "objectionable" screening...but you don't see us flooding the opening of Runaway Bride going off about how damaging girly movies are to, well ironically enough, women. Better things to do perhaps? Odd phenomenon that I've noticed throughout the years. Maybe women tend to complain more and be more vocal? I dunno, another interesting area to expand upon.

[TheGimp]

Oh...

So that's just me then? Huh...

lol i'm more "hands on" then watching it happen

[DJ Nocker]

I can imagine why they hate that name: it's honest. It's not art, it's pornography. I guess it is a "subgenre" more than a genre itself, I'll admit to that.

Clearly you have narrow views on what "Art" is. And there is nothing wrong with pornography anyways.

Also, horror movies have ALWAYS been date movies, the sterio type of going to a scary movie to get the girl to clutch your arm is a truth that has been going on since the early 70's. People get tired of the same thing over and over, and thus have to keep going further, thats the way of the world. with horror, you have to keep getting more extreme, otherwise its boring to a population that has seen since they were 12.

[Destroit]

I can imagine why they hate that name: it's honest. It's not art, it's pornography. I guess it is a "subgenre" more than a genre itself, I'll admit to that.

Porn = Art (sometimes)

*puts dick away and zips up zipper*

Different strokes for different folks I suppose .

Porn = Art (sometimes)

*puts dick away and zips up zipper*

Different strokes for different folks I suppose .

[st_masey]

Yes, I've also personally noticed that the only people who seem to be vehemently against this movie-style are non-aggressive feminine or effeminate types. As people of the violently aggressive assortment, clearly we don't expect these people to understand both where we are coming from and why in turn these films help us instead of being a hindrance. It's just ironic that you see these sorts ready to rabble outside of any "objectionable" screening...but you don't see us flooding the opening of Runaway Bride going off about how damaging girly movies are to, well ironically enough, women. Better things to do perhaps? Odd phenomenon that I've noticed throughout the years. Maybe women tend to complain more and be more vocal? I dunno, another interesting area to expand upon.

Well, my point was that films like Runaway Bride and Saw are equally bad. I know I'm probably just one of those "effeminate types", but I'm really only effeminate if one equates masculinity with brutishness.

There has been a lot of discourse on here about torture porn being, just as erotic pornography, an outlet. I guess if one needs to medicate their urges with that, I'd rather they do so seated in a cinema than on the streets of Detroit. That we have relegated the discussion directly to a matter of nearly being a biological necessity for people and have forgone any attempt to speak of the sub-genre's possible artistic merits is telling. Perhaps if people saw film and literature as means of learning about themselves and the world around them, they would transcend the need of violent impulses and understand their anger better. Most of the fans of these films, I imagine, are controlled by very immature forms of anger, like children's tantrums. Maybe if they got out and dealt with the real world and saw the real implications of violence it would break them of the mundane cycle of watching carbon-copies of the same few trashy movies.

[Destroit]

Well, my point was that films like Runaway Bride and Saw are equally bad. I know I'm probably just one of those "effeminate types", but I'm really only effeminate if one equates masculinity with brutishness.

There has been a lot of discourse on here about torture porn being, just as erotic pornography, an outlet. I guess if one needs to medicate their urges with that, I'd rather they do so seated in a cinema than on the streets of Detroit. That we have relegated the discussion directly to a matter of nearly being a biological necessity for people and have forgone any attempt to speak of the sub-genre's possible artistic merits is telling. Perhaps if people saw film and literature as means of learning about themselves and the world around them, they would transcend the need of violent impulses and understand their anger better. Most of the fans of these films, I imagine, are controlled by very immature forms of anger, like children's tantrums. Maybe if they got out and dealt with the real world and saw the real implications of violence it would break them of the mundane cycle of watching carbon-copies of the same few trashy movies.

I understand what you're getting at, but it doesn't work for everyone. There are some people who can get out and deal with the real world and will still have these urges no matter what. Also, needless to say, the real world is full of people doing WORSE stuff to human flesh than ever depicted in any movie. If we're going on that stance, dealing with the real world and having people learn about themselves is the exact same mental process as watching these movies and may prove to be just as damaging. That's all on my theories from observing humans and behavior, so it's not fact or anything, just how I see it.

I understand what you're getting at, but it doesn't work for everyone. There are some people who can get out and deal with the real world and will still have these urges no matter what. Also, needless to say, the real world is full of people doing WORSE stuff to human flesh than ever depicted in any movie. If we're going on that stance, dealing with the real world and having people learn about themselves is the exact same mental process as watching these movies and may prove to be just as damaging. That's all on my theories from observing humans and behavior, so it's not fact or anything, just how I see it.

[st_masey]

Clearly you have narrow views on what "Art" is. And there is nothing wrong with pornography anyways.

Also, horror movies have ALWAYS been date movies, the sterio type of going to a scary movie to get the girl to clutch your arm is a truth that has been going on since the early 70's. People get tired of the same thing over and over, and thus have to keep going further, thats the way of the world. with horror, you have to keep getting more extreme, otherwise its boring to a population that has seen since they were 12.

No, nothing wrong with pornography. I'm not a puritan on the matter. My point was only that if fans of this sub-genre shrug off the title then they are lying to themselves.

What you describe about the escalation of violence in horror shows that you have a narrow view of horror. The original Alien film by Ridley Scott has aged fantastically, despite being overdone in the pure violence department several times over by later films. So much more goes on in driving that girl to clutch your arm than just slashing someone up- that's merely her flinching. This cycle you mentioned seems more like chasing the high of drug fix, and like drug addicts, I think fans of torture porn are wasting their lives. It's dreadfully depressing. I think the declining box office grosses of the Saw franchise are testament to the fact that now this "high" has been placed so far up that no film can reach it.

[DJ Nocker]

No, nothing wrong with pornography. I'm not a puritan on the matter. My point was only that if fans of this sub-genre shrug off the title then they are lying to themselves.

What you describe about the escalation of violence in horror shows that you have a narrow view of horror. The original Alien film by Ridley Scott has aged fantastically, despite being overdone in the pure violence department several times over by later films. So much more goes on in driving that girl to clutch your arm than just slashing someone up- that's merely her flinching. This cycle you mentioned seems more like chasing the high of drug fix, and like drug addicts, I think fans of torture porn are wasting their lives. It's dreadfully depressing. I think the declining box office grosses of the Saw franchise are testament to the fact that now this "high" has been placed so far up that no film can reach it.

Um, dont judge my knowledge of horror or my taste in it until you see it lol. I own all of the Alien Movies first of all. And Alien is in my top 10 favorite horror movies of all time. I also own several black and white films, along with a few silent films, as well as some extreme horror and some movies you call "Torture porn". I also own classic movies, drama, arthousae films, ect. I like movies more than I do Music.I love the genre of horror and think its one of the best genres out there, regardless it getting the least credit.

And as far as calling the rush for horror a high, yea, alot of people go for the rush, and I sure as hell would rather my kid go see a gore movie than go shoot up.

Edited November 22, 2010 by DJ Nocker

[st_masey]

Um, dont judge my knowledge of horror or my taste in it until you see it lol. I own all of the Alien Movies first of all. And Alien is in my top 10 favorite horror movies of all time. I also own several black and white films, along with a few silent films, as well as some extreme horror and some movies you call "Torture porn". I also own classic movies, drama, arthousae films, ect. I like movies more than I do Music.I love the genre of horror and think its one of the best genres out there, regardless it getting the least credit.

And as far as calling the rush for horror a high, yea, alot of people go for the rush, and I sure as hell would rather my kid go see a gore movie than go shoot up.

Yeah, I guess that is one reason why I've dedicated so much time to this talk here. I read your favorite films list and you had a lot of good ones on there. Eraserhead is one of my favorite films of all time! So what I can't figure out is how someone with good taste could see any film of this, call it what you will, subgenre as worth their time. It doesn't strike me as being broad-minded, it seems like selling out.

[DJ Nocker]

Yeah, I guess that is one reason why I've dedicated so much time to this talk here. I read your favorite films list and you had a lot of good ones on there. Eraserhead is one of my favorite films of all time! So what I can't figure out is how someone with good taste could see any film of this, call it what you will, subgenre as worth their time. It doesn't strike me as being broad-minded, it seems like selling out.

I can see where you are coming from in a sense, as you also seem to like a lot of movies I do (Eraserhead, Taxadermia, ect). I will say this, there is only 1 good extreme horror out of every 20. There is a TON of garbage out there. You have to sift through the crap to find gold. I think its going to be a long time before I find another movie like "Martyrs" again.

[Guest Megalicious]

I'm torn on this. There is a distinct population of people, and I know I'm going to be argued against on this, where these movies actually help. These are people who are naturally very sadistic and deranged, HOWEVER, through being properly socialized and shown love and compassion through their upbringing, not only do not act on their inner urges but understand why it is actually harmful to do so. Many movie-goers who LOVE this type of genre, people like Nocker and I, are able to use them as a vehicle of expression and for suppression of negative behavior acted out in real life.

On the OTHER hand, the reason this genre is a double-edged sword is it may have an opposite effect. Someone who is legitimately wanting to act out such urges because they are a psychopath and were not raised appropriately to love may be pushed over the edge from seeing stuff like this. People who are psychopaths have a skewed view of reality and no compassion for other human beings. Movies, in turn, could help make the problem worse and not better.

This is a wonderfully thought out post. It is sublimation, in the freudian sense, at its finest.

I do see the "other-hand" point, but a killer is a killer. Doesn't matter what they watch, listen to , drink, eat, fuck, they kill/torture because they enjoy it - it has nothing to do with something as superficial as movie watching (even if it is ultrahorror). I think honestly, they sit and laugh at our horrible attempt to recreate what they see as an art form- like my 4 year old trying to recreate The Burning Giraffe. But I guess that sets off a whole other realm of emotions to support your "over the edge" hypothesis, in the sense that, they would be constantly thinking " that's not how it's done, I'll show them how it's REALLY done".

I genre I dig, for various different reasons, as I do many movies.