"Torture Porn"

[Bonehead-XL]

First off, I think the term "torture porn" is retarded. Its a trendy press catchword dreamed up by a bunch of media critics that have little to no actual understanding or appreciation for the genre.

Am I tired of torture films right now? Yes, because they're overexposed and overdone at the moment. I have nothing against the subgenre in and off its self. I basically see it as a ramped up modern verison of the slasher genre, especially the Saw films, though that franchise needs to be retired for a few years. I thought "Hostel" was lame but enjoyed "Cabin Fever," "Wolf Creek," and all of Rob Zombie and Alexandre Aja's films thus far. (though they have more in common with old school exploitation and eighties slashers then the current trend.) The Chainsaw Massacre remake was terrible but for reasons that had nothing to due with their level or intensity of gore.

And I liked "I Know Who Killed Me." It was defnately a homage to Italian horror films more then anything else. Stylish direction and squirmy gore scenes took precedence over story or acting. I think the negative response has more to due with Lohan's overexposure then anything.

[HappyGilmore]

Probably a bad idea to bring it up, but I quite liked the TCM remake. 

I should start ducking the huge boulders that will inevitably be chucked at my head now.

[Pilgermann]

First off, I think the term "torture porn" is retarded. Its a trendy press catchword dreamed up by a bunch of media critics that have little to no actual understanding or appreciation for the genre.

Karma!  I agree.

Anyways, I'm not drawn to any of these films in particular.  I've seen parts of the Hostel films (they didn't seem terrible, but they weren't that interesting either), and I hated Saw and could care less about its sequels. 

BTM mentioned Funny Games but that movie doesn't really qualify as it breaks a lot of rules of these sorts of films, plus it isn't very graphic.  It's uncomfortable as hell, though.  I'd recommend watching it if one is curious, but I don't think it's as insightful as it's intended.

[Jack]

Those sort of films don't interest me at all.  However, I really liked the Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake.  It had a believable story, excellent acting and the character arc that the main girl went through was awesome.  I've never heard it lumped into the "torture porn" category though.  About the only movie I've seen that I would put in that category is Touristas, and the only redeeming quality that had was that it was vaguely amusing watching these idiots get what's coming to them after their multiple acts of wanton stupidity.  Like, you're not in Fort Lauderdale any more you morons.  :teddy:

[akiratubo]

Probably a bad idea to bring it up, but I quite liked the TCM remake. 

I should start ducking the huge boulders that will inevitably be chucked at my head now.

I liked it, too.  Better than the original, which I think kind of sucks.  The original's all right until the other kids get kacked and they catch the girl, then it's just some people sitting at a dinner table yelling and screaming for an intolerably long time.

[Dave M]

I think the term's only retarded when it's used for anything with gore, rather than to differentiate a movie with torture in it from a movie with nothing but torture in it (with just the same minimal plot and characterization that one might expect in porn). I love terms that differentiate things from other things, LOVE THEM!

I think I had a guy who posts here and has a blog half convinced to make his own movie called "Torture Porn". If he does it, he has to give me credit for the idea.