If you are a horror film fan than you know about the ugly stepchild known as torture porn. This horror film sub genre has become quite popular over the last decade. In April 2012 Morality in Media called for a national boycott of the website Groupon, which offered tour discounts of the film studio Kinks[1] (a California based film studio that produces torture porn). What is Torture Porn? This article will explore this sub genre’s pop cultural influence and its future. So let’s get started.
What is Torture Porn? It’s a term used to explain hard-core violence. A more in depth definition I found, comes from a horror film fan site Dave’s Movie Site states,
“Essentially what it means is that these movies function much the way porn movies function, except replacing sex with torture. The purpose of the movie becomes the torture, not the story or characters, but the violence itself. All porn movies have a plot, but in people watch porn film to see people fuck. It’s as simple as that. People watch Torture Porn to see people get tortured.[2]”
If you are a horror film fan the options for seeing good developed stories and characters are few these days. Dave’s Move Site goes on to state,
“Modern horror filmmakers, it must be said, lack imagination and intelligence. They just throw crap on the screen and sees what sticks.”
The controversial film Compliance opened in NY in limited release this weekend. This film is considered apart of the Torture Porn genre and based on a true story. Compliance was one of the best-reviewed films from Sundance this year despite one patron protesting and shouting “Sundance you can do better!” Here’s the general plot of this film.
“…a young female fast-food employee is subjected to degrading treatment by her supervisor responding to police instructions over the phone — sounds offputting, but Craig Zobel’s drama is a compelling examination of human psychology.”
Here’s an example of what Kinks (Torture Porn studio) advertise on their website according to Morality in Media.
“young sexy teens who are overwhelmed and outnumbered…who need to learn a lesson by multiple men;” women being “bound, whipped, objectified and humiliated. They are immobilized, caged and humiliated as objects;” of women “suspended and tied in rope bondage…tormented beyond all reason;” and of women “naked, tied up, bound, punished, exposed in public…who are taken to public bars for public humiliation..,” [3]
Here are some film titles that might be familiar to you, Train, Saw, Hostel & Hostel II, Insidious, Captivity and Wolf Creek. All these films push the boundaries on how creative filmmakers (in the last decade) have become with torture. Have you seen any of these films? If not? Would you want to?
comicreleaf
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Comic Relief
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Open Book
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linkedinhollywood.com 
OB,
Are you talking about this movie?
Oh my hell! The movie totally cancelled itself out when real detectives didn’t show up to interrogate the girl. If this really is inspired by true events, then these people were @#$%#$ stupid!!!
Sorry, I have absolutely no tolerance for this type of filmmaking. I will try and reign it in for the discussion, but I make no promises.
Yes! It’s sad.
Here’s the real story and video it’s based on. Warning! The video is disturbing.
http://www.moviesonline.ca/2012/07/compliance-based-terrifying-true-story/
Just like I thought. That lady was so effin stupid!!!! What a moron and I hope she lost her job. Just because someone calls and says they are a police officer???? Helloooo!!!! I am about to lose my mind with the lack of intelligence in this world. I couldn’t finish the video because I wanted to punch someone so bad!!!!
Ok, I tried watching that video again. First, everyone except for that young girl are F#@#$ A$$-HOLES and incredibly stupid!! Sorry, OB, I couldn’t hold it in any longer. Second, the fact that people make movies about these true, abhorrent stories to get other people “off” is sick and disgusting. Fictional stories are gross but non-fictional films? What a slap in the face to the innocent victims.
That poor girl will never be the same and if I were her parents I would have wanted everyone a part of that situation to be dealt with the same way! Now I have to google how that story ended because I can’t watch the video.
BTW: The Police station was only a quarter mile down the street from the restaurant. At anytime she could have had another employees go to the Police station to get help. This story is very sad. It really is exploiting poor people and their lack of education IMO.
Ok, I’ve caught up with the article and I’m speechless… Do people not have common sense? I would of called the police on the “police” as I would assume it was some sick prank call! I also would of requested a solicitor too. That’s if I was the girl. If I was the woman, I would of hung up again assuming it was a sick prank call. I would need the police officers there with identification before I even started to believe it.
I think I could tolerate watching this movie but it would be difficult to try and not scream logical thoughts at the screen. Maybe that’s another aspect of the torture? See how long someone with common sense would last before they scream it’s bs and walk out, lol!
I’m going to watch the video in that link now. *deep breathe* Here I go!
LOL!! Good luck Ozzie! I hope u return.
Again, I’m speechless. Poor kid…
Yes! This is the movie.
pass the barf bucket please.
Do u think films based on real events about someone being tortured is different then fictional ones?
OB,
I just googled the rest of the story and for those who can’t continue the video, there’s good reason. Note to all young adults, if you ever find yourself in a situation like this RUN and get the hell out of there!
Honestly, I will have to come back to this discussion because I have nothing positive to contribute. I am so appalled and abhorrently disgusted and need to let it get out of my head.
OB I truly appreciate your bravery to write on such a disturbing, yet apparently common theme. I will come back to the discussion. 🙂 Just not now.
No problem! I understand. I hope u come back and discuss it. I’m sure u are expressing the opinion of many.
LB, what did you google (search word wise)? I would like to know what happened after. I hopefully someone went to jail.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strip_search_prank_call_scam
Here’s another question for everyone.
Do u think seeing people having intercourse or being tortured on screen makes a film more realistic or enhances the story?
Hi OB,
….answering your question.
“Do u think seeing people having intercourse or being tortured on screen makes a film more realistic or enhances the story?”
People having intercourse or being tortured on screen is fairly common in some parts of the world. Sorry some of this is graphic.
http://www.rottengods.com/2009/04/dubai-sheikh-torture-video.html
http://www.bestgore.com/category/torture/
Thanks CR! I think I got the picture.
That wasn’t for your enjoyment. That was to illustrate that some will bypass drama for their torture kicks.
Producers of Porn and Torture Porn claim rapes has gone down because of these films.
“Rape” is another term people seem to have a hard time defining.
In an offending quote, Twilight saga star Kristen Stewart compared
paparazzi photos of herself to images of a woman being raped. Almost
immediately, everyone from fans to spokespeople for rape victims’
advocacy organizations were publicly criticizing the actress.
“I really made an enormous mistake – clearly and obviously,” Stewart,
currently in Korea to promote the new installment of the Twilight
series Eclipse, tells PEOPLE exclusively. “And I’m really sorry about
my choice of words.”
http://www.people.com/people/package/article/0,,20316279_20391187,00.html
Tell me OB,
it seems one has to have some boundaries to embrace or manage discussions of any of these topics.
Standards regulate our ability to define:
– Torture tapes from journalism
– Torture exploitation from horror films
– Daring acting from groundless exhibitionism
Do you believe our standards are out of control?
I think theyre both hard to stomach.
I couldn’t make it past a minute on each of those videos. Someone pass the sick bucket! I can’t believe there’s stuff like this out there and that people enjoy it. Do they have any compassion or empathy?
Here’s the bucket Ozzie! I know this is a tough subject but a subject that is becoming a trend. It’s really becoming apart of popular culture. People are becoming desensitized unable to make distinction. This is so sad women have embraced 50 Shades given this crap is going on.
Wanted to add the “legitimate rape” wasn’t actually of rape so I could watch that whole. I think he’s a bloody idiot though! Let me know what happens to him. I’m interested to see how it plays out. Over here it would be a career ender for possibly a few people (the press can be vicious, add the general public behind them and they’re a deadly combination!).
Thank you for the bucket OB! 🙂
Hello? Did I get the right day ? Lol!
Hi Ozzie
Yes! U did. How are u? I will give u time to get caught up. This is a difficult topic today.
The big E is playing up (i have no idea what day it is so I had to ask!) so expect some wierd stuff on my end. I’ve just realised I’ve spent 15 minutes staring at the computer screen with a completely blank mind, lol! How are you?
hi Ozzie.
Hi CR! How are you?
great. good to hear from you again
Good to hear you are doing well!
Will keep u posted!
Question: Where does one draw the line between art and porn?
I’m amazed at how few people know how porn is defined; I looked it up for this topic
And????? Please elaborate!
be patient
So basically, art rules your brain, porn rules your genitals and the two shouldn’t mix together too much?
hahahahahahahahaha! I love it!!! This is classic!
Noun 1. porn – creative activity (writing or pictures or films etc.)
of no literary or artistic value other than to stimulate sexual desire
erotica, porno, pornography, smut
child pornography, kiddie porn, kiddy porn – the illegal use of
children in pornographic pictures or films
creation, creative activity – the human act of creating
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/porn
porn also por•no /ˈpoɚn/ /ˈpoɚnoʊ/noun
[noncount] informal:PORNOGRAPHY
▪ making/selling porn— often used before another noun ▪ a porn movie▪
the porn industry
http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/porn
O.k. now that we have defined Porn. How about ART?
I can find that too. Are you claiming this torture porn aspires to art?
Didn’t David Cronenberg predict this ( torture film and tv issue) as the future norm in “Videodrome?”
I guess what I’m saying the moment it becomes predictable it’s no longer original.
When Artist are following popular culture they are no longer creators but followers. IMO! All this Torture Porn & Porn crap is nothing more than over produced CGI films. No longer is it about the narrative or dialogue but how big the explosions are. BORING!!
Very true!
Well that’s what seems to be the going thing these days. I’m just asking because at what point does it become gimmicky? Like this film being made called Nymphomaniac.
Here’s some info on it.
“LaBeouf will star in Lars von Trier’s “Nymphomaniac,” a two-part film about a woman’s sexual misadventures. Charlotte Gainsbourg will play the lead role.
Here’s the clincher: LaBeouf’s sex scenes in the film won’t be simulated or choreographed. They’ll be real sex scenes on camera. “It is what you think it is,” LaBeouf tells MTV. “It is Lars von Trier, making a movie about what he’s making. For instance, there’s a disclaimer at the top of the script that basically says we’re doing it for real. Everything that is illegal, we’ll shoot in blurred images. Other than that, everything is happening.”
http://blog.zap2it.com/pop2it/2012/08/shia-labeouf-drunk-on-set-and-having-sex-on-camera-is-he-going-too-far.html
I guess my point is with the Shia story. At what point is he showing off his “acting chops” if he’s having real sex. This is such a joke!!!
Why am I not surprised by this move by Shia, lol! Personally, I think it blurs the line between reality and fiction, therefore should be kept separate. They’re already peole out there that think that sex scenes in films (not porn) are real and they don’t need encouraging! It’s kind of hard to describe what I mean but I’ll try. When real sex happens it’s no longer the characters that are the focus as everyone is aware that the actors actually did it. The attention is on the actors, not the story. It’s no longer the film “Nymphomaniac” but the film where Shia and the actress really had sex. I think art is supposed to reflect society and not be reality. It can portray real stories to make us reflect just not the real thing. That’s what the news, documentaries and porn exist for!
Ozzie! BRAVO!! Applause!!
U Said: “They’re already peole out there that think that sex scenes in films (not porn) are real and they don’t need encouraging!”
This is so true!! I wonder what fanbase are u referring too?
I think performers call it a free pass.
I said performers because it’s hard to believe any actors outside of the 1970’s would think this was cool.
Yes! And I call it BS….. Just go do porn films!
I like your definition of those type of performers CR! LOL!
Yes, I wonder who could I be talking about…. 🙂 Muahahahaha!
Wasn’t Lars von Trier responsible for this debacle also.
Yes! This is the same HOT MESS!!
Poor Kirsten. I really feel sorry for her! I would of been pulling the mike away saying “Please stop, you’re digging your grave even deeper with every word you say!” If that didn’t work, I’d have my head covered with my hands mouthing the words “I’m sorry” to everyone and then hide under the table, lol!
OB,
Sorry having a ton posting issues, great and extremely tough topic.
CR
U Said:Tell me OB,
it seems one has to have some boundaries to embrace or manage discussions of any of these topics.
Standards regulate our ability to define:
– Torture tapes from journalism
– Torture exploitation from horror films
– Daring acting from groundless exhibitionism
Do you believe our standards are out of control?”
Me: Yes! I think in an efforts to please diverse groups of people artist have lost touch with their humanity. I mean at some point u have to have some distinctive quality standards within u otherwise your not a visionary. IMO!!
I also like to add when artist lose touch with their own humanity they fail to connect or move audiences on any spiritual level. In other words if artist lack empathy so will their work.
I came back. Referring to artists losing “touch with their own humanity” don’t you think that having sex on film and torture porn are just signs these creators are lost regardless of what successes placed them in the spot light.
I’d love to post Shia’s odd music video appearance that he does almost entirely in the nude but I don’t want to make any more crazy video posts tonight.
Oh! Please don’t……
believe me it will never
happen
I saw it! Well, I saw it up to the naked part. Then I shook my head, rolled my eyes and turned it off! I’m still not sure if I’m supposed to view as real art or an actor who thinks he’s become rogue and real, when in fact he’s just another pretencious wannabe hipster who get’s off on pot stirring audiences, but won’t admit it, not even to himself.
Yes! When artist start resorting to gimmicks then that’s when they need to go and find themselves or the meaning of life. In other words Shia needs better content then the stuff he currently selling.
Yes, someone else needs to do that too…..:) Mwahahahahaha!
Here’s a definition of art: “Fine art means that a skill is being used to express the artist’s creativity, or to engage the audience’s aesthetic sensibilities, or to draw the audience towards consideration of the finer things.”
Thanks for the definition.
Isn’t it true the pressures of Hollywood creative producers may be so extreme that many have just resulted to every form of extreme measure to get and keep attention?
Is art possible in that environment?
Yes! It’s possible if the general public demands it. Remember we are the 99%. We have the power to dictate what Hollywood produces not the other way around.
Those are bold words. I wonder if they will stop the factories already spewing out the material you are rejecting.
Years ago CNN seemed to confirm your expectations of viewer back lash.
http://articles.cnn.com/2009-12-29/entertainment/sex.doesnt.sell.movies_1_top-grossing-films-box-office-study?_s=PM:SHOWBIZ
So according to this theory 50 Shades should tank at the box office. No?
yes.
For my sanity, I hope so, lol!
Is it possible that the season may change and we may see much of this work and discussion disappear? I origially thought torture porn was carried out against viewers; not characters. And like the example below this can take many forms.
I think with movies like the Saw franchise, it’s intention is to torture the audience rather than the characters because the actors aren’t really hurt. So I agree with you there. It’s the real life stuff that it’s meant to be the other way round I think. People in the films genuinely get hurt and the people watching enjoy it I mean.
That video did torture me though, lol! I’m going to have the song going round my head all night!
As I said before this was a very difficult topic. Great job OB. Bye everyone.
hahahaha! This is our version of the MIB wand to erase your memory. Well I know this was a difficult subject to discuss but it needed to be done. Thanks CR and goodnight!
LB-I hope u are doing well!
Well dispite the difficult topic, I’ve had fun discussing it. It actually kept my brain from playing up too up until now. So I’ll go before I start staring blankly at the screen again, lol! Night all! 🙂
Ozzie-Everyone!
Thanks for coming to the discussion. Ozzie wonderful comments on a difficult topic. Goodnight!
TC!
Hey Everyone!
I missed a great convo I see! I remember vaguely reading about the girl in the restaurant when that happened and thinking why would no one even question things? As far as torture porn goes, IMO, I don’t think that people actually get off on the sex act but the “power of control” over another person.