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Amateur Porn Star Killer
SCREENER/APPROX. 71 MINS/2005/USA UNRATED
SCREENER/APPROX. 71 MINS/2005/USA UNRATED
7
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Here's another shot-on-video pseudo-snuff flick, this one comes from Shane Ryan who up until now has worked predominantly in the short film and
music video format.
The film opens with a quote regarding snuff films from Paul Schrader director of Hardcore ('1979) & Auto Focus and screenwriter for Taxi Driver
& Raging Bull. We then see some of what looks like homemade porn footage followed by some more text explaining how snuff has generally been
put down to urban legend as no one has ever actually seen one. Right away this gives you an idea of what you're about to witness.
Shot from amateur pornographer/serial killer Brandon's (played by director Shane Ryan) point of view, we see him cruising the streets with his
camera and eventually pick up a girl, Stacey (Michiko Jimenez) who he convinces to come back to his hotel room. From here on out the action is
confined to the claustrophobic setting of a hotel room. Brandon constantly films Stacey, asking her questions - ie: how old she is, what does she
do, etc. (she mentions she is eighteen and that she lives with at home with her Mother) after a lotta chit-chat & probing questions - scenes which
are intercut with footage of Brandon fucking an earlier victim - he soon manages to convince her to strip down to her bra and panties, she
uncomfortably does so. On seeing her lolita-esque figure Brandon presses her further on her age and she shyly reveals she is actually thirteen,
which doesn't bother him in the least.
Things quickly become a little more tense as Brandon becomes more confrontational, verbally intimidating her (but in a creepy smooth way) and
persuading her to give him a blowjob. Afterward she seems visibly shaken, her nervous laughter and flirtatious smiles gone, she seems to know
what's coming next. He lays on top of her on the bed and attempts to smother her with a pillow, when that doesn't work he brutally beats her to
death (off screen). The end credits explain how Brandon goes to video shops and swaps their rental tapes for tapes of his crimes a la The Last
Horror Movie.
I honestly wasn't expecting much from this film, I figured here's yet another SOV wannabe "extreme'' fake-snuff flick, ho hum, but I enjoyed it
immensely. Even though Amateur Porn Star Killer has not one drop of blood I found it to be far more disconcerting and unpleasant than say the
August Underground films or Slaughtered Vomit Dolls because it felt a lot more realistic - I mean yeah, I enjoyed those flicks for the gore,
nastiness and overall nihilism and its always good to have the controversial boundary-pushers but they're just not disturbing to me. While
watching Amateur Porn Star Killer you actually feel quite uncomfortable, like a voyeur witnessing something you're not meant to be (I guess the
age thing has something to do with it too). Then again, empty-headed gorehounds would probably be bored outta their skulls. Another one of the
elements which make this film work is the superb acting of Michiko Jimenez, she is completely believable as a nervous young girl, giggling shyly,
constantly fidgeting, uneasily scanning the room, not making eye contact, etc.
Although a couple of things that brought this down a few notches for me was the visual effect used which tries to make it look like the film was
shot on old 16MM film stock with grain, scratches and a jumpy picture even though its obviously set in recent times and shot on DV. Also the
stylized way it is shot combined with the infrequent red-hued visual effects often work to blur and conceal some of the graphic nudity. The other
irritating thing was that it had a soundtrack (which often drowns out the actors lines), it would've seemed a lot more credible if there was no
soundtrack at all. Apart from those minor flaws, an excellent feature film debut from Shane Ryan.
music video format.
The film opens with a quote regarding snuff films from Paul Schrader director of Hardcore ('1979) & Auto Focus and screenwriter for Taxi Driver
& Raging Bull. We then see some of what looks like homemade porn footage followed by some more text explaining how snuff has generally been
put down to urban legend as no one has ever actually seen one. Right away this gives you an idea of what you're about to witness.
Shot from amateur pornographer/serial killer Brandon's (played by director Shane Ryan) point of view, we see him cruising the streets with his
camera and eventually pick up a girl, Stacey (Michiko Jimenez) who he convinces to come back to his hotel room. From here on out the action is
confined to the claustrophobic setting of a hotel room. Brandon constantly films Stacey, asking her questions - ie: how old she is, what does she
do, etc. (she mentions she is eighteen and that she lives with at home with her Mother) after a lotta chit-chat & probing questions - scenes which
are intercut with footage of Brandon fucking an earlier victim - he soon manages to convince her to strip down to her bra and panties, she
uncomfortably does so. On seeing her lolita-esque figure Brandon presses her further on her age and she shyly reveals she is actually thirteen,
which doesn't bother him in the least.
Things quickly become a little more tense as Brandon becomes more confrontational, verbally intimidating her (but in a creepy smooth way) and
persuading her to give him a blowjob. Afterward she seems visibly shaken, her nervous laughter and flirtatious smiles gone, she seems to know
what's coming next. He lays on top of her on the bed and attempts to smother her with a pillow, when that doesn't work he brutally beats her to
death (off screen). The end credits explain how Brandon goes to video shops and swaps their rental tapes for tapes of his crimes a la The Last
Horror Movie.
I honestly wasn't expecting much from this film, I figured here's yet another SOV wannabe "extreme'' fake-snuff flick, ho hum, but I enjoyed it
immensely. Even though Amateur Porn Star Killer has not one drop of blood I found it to be far more disconcerting and unpleasant than say the
August Underground films or Slaughtered Vomit Dolls because it felt a lot more realistic - I mean yeah, I enjoyed those flicks for the gore,
nastiness and overall nihilism and its always good to have the controversial boundary-pushers but they're just not disturbing to me. While
watching Amateur Porn Star Killer you actually feel quite uncomfortable, like a voyeur witnessing something you're not meant to be (I guess the
age thing has something to do with it too). Then again, empty-headed gorehounds would probably be bored outta their skulls. Another one of the
elements which make this film work is the superb acting of Michiko Jimenez, she is completely believable as a nervous young girl, giggling shyly,
constantly fidgeting, uneasily scanning the room, not making eye contact, etc.
Although a couple of things that brought this down a few notches for me was the visual effect used which tries to make it look like the film was
shot on old 16MM film stock with grain, scratches and a jumpy picture even though its obviously set in recent times and shot on DV. Also the
stylized way it is shot combined with the infrequent red-hued visual effects often work to blur and conceal some of the graphic nudity. The other
irritating thing was that it had a soundtrack (which often drowns out the actors lines), it would've seemed a lot more credible if there was no
soundtrack at all. Apart from those minor flaws, an excellent feature film debut from Shane Ryan.
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