Underrated thriller set among the seedy underworld LA's less mainstream porn industry. Nicholas Cage plays a Private Investigator hired by an elderly widow to uncover the truth behind an 8mm home movie found in her husband's safe. The movie apparently depicts the brutal murder of a young girl, a so-called 'snuff' film, something that upsets family man Cage. Strongly believing that the film is a fake but hired anyway, Cage sets about discovering the identity of the girl and, if possible, her whereabouts. Rigourously searching missing person records and covertly interviewing old friends of the girls he slowly realises that perhaps 'snuff' movies are not merely urban legend. Perhaps in this case the girl really was murdered.
Joel Schumacher, a man hated worldwide for his personal destruction of the Batman franchise, does an excellent job conveying the darkness and decay that comes with the subject matter. He keeps the film moving at a good pace and directs the oft-to-overact Cage with care. Cage in turn puts in an excellent performance as the decent P.I. slowly drawn to, but never drowned in, the sea of filth he has to wade through. While at first the 'snuff' movie disgusts him to the point of regurgitation you soon see him watching it and others of its ilk in his pants eating breakfast, looking all the time for the tell tale clues that could help him nail the killers.
The ending is excellent, the 'revelation' unnecessary. I obviously won't spoil it but it puts a nice finishing touch on what is somewhat of a downward spiral for the lead character. His constant fight to maintain his decency in the face of the worst humanity has to offer is expertly crafted and the wonder for the viewer is always; will he make it? Helped by good supporting turns by Joaquin (Wakeen?) Pheonix, James Gandolfini (The Mighty), Peter Stormare (Fargo) and a bizarre yet fantastic ethnic-style musical store, 8mm is well worth a watch for anyone who can stomach the material. |
