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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.
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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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