Well, even those who want to hate 8mm have to admit one thing: at least it isn’t Batman And Robin.
Or The Wicker Man.
But in all seriousness, 8mm wasn’t as bad as some critics have made it out to be. Yes, at times, Cage’s performances are a little overwrought, but if you can get past that, what you are left with is a taut thriller with some great actors.
It isn’t the best movie of its kind, but it is engaging and maintains your interest. And it does leave you feeling a little dirty by the end, because as a character in the movie says: “There are some things that you see, and you can’t unsee them. Know what I mean?”
This is indeed one of those movies. But what would you expect from a movie about snuff movies and the seedy underground of America?
I’ve always been curious about this one, but never quite curious enough to pick it up. It certainly looks disturbing. I want to watch it, but I don’t.
The idea behind it is indeed disturbing.
Are you saying that film itself is not really disturbing? Just the idea of it?
There are some disturbing things in the movie yes.
I think the scene that they used in the parody video there is actually really effective in 8mm and I completely agree with what you’re saying about “feeling a little dirty by the end”, the concept itself is just something one doesn’t want to confront as possible.
It could easily have crossed over into Torture Porn material and I’m glad it didn’t.