Gang, I'm the first to admit there's a lot I just =don't get.= I know it's good, I know it's weathered the test of time... But I just don't =get= it. Opera comes to mind. Hip-hop too. And let's not forget Jane Austen novels.

Likewise torture porn. Can someone please explain its appeal?

Maybe I'm weak, but I just can't bear the thought of women being hurt. I think our job as men is to =protect= women. Not to watch a film where they're in helpless agony, weeping, screaming, begging for rescue that won't come. The idea sickens me. I find it literally nauseating.

What am I missing?

a backbone? or is it a life?
(just kidding)

Ummm...so if someone gives you an explanation as to the appeals of "torture porn" then what would you think of them? They must watch it in order to be able to understand it, correct?

I don't know, I don't watch the stuff. People "enjoy" different things...to each his own, I guess.

Gang, I'm the first to admit there's a lot I just =don't get.= I know it's good, I know it's weathered the test of time... But I just don't =get= it. Opera comes to mind. Hip-hop too. And let's not forget Jane Austen novels.

Likewise torture porn. Can someone please explain its appeal?

Maybe I'm weak, but I just can't bear the thought of women being hurt. I think our job as men is to =protect= women. Not to watch a film where they're in helpless agony, weeping, screaming, begging for rescue that won't come. The idea sickens me. I find it literally nauseating.

What am I missing?

Basically, I don't watch torture porn. I don't like these things, for example, "snuff films", i.e. "real murder" film. Disgusting!


However, I like "fictional" horror movies.

Gang, I'm the first to admit there's a lot I just =don't get.= I know it's good, I know it's weathered the test of time... But I just don't =get= it. Opera comes to mind. Hip-hop too. And let's not forget Jane Austen novels.

Likewise torture porn. Can someone please explain its appeal?

Maybe I'm weak, but I just can't bear the thought of women being hurt. I think our job as men is to =protect= women. Not to watch a film where they're in helpless agony, weeping, screaming, begging for rescue that won't come. The idea sickens me. I find it literally nauseating.

What am I missing?

I think we should begin by defining our terms. Doesnt that sound fun!!! :eek:

Torture Porn. It seems from your post as though you think there is a gender issue involved here, and that theis genre is about men torturing women. I imagine that this is a pre-conceived idea derived from the word 'porn' being in the title.

Porn, in the context or torture porn, isn't the same thing as porn in the context of hustler/palyboy etc. I don't think it necessarily indicates any sexual content, or even the sexes of the parties. For example, men torture men in Hostel, I seem to remeber reading somewhere that a woman tortures boys in Hostel II. This is not a genre devoted to sexually explicit images of men torturing women. This is not porn in the usual sense.

Torture Porn is to horror films as Pornography is to Erotica. It is gratuitous, explicit, and -beyond the technical skill involved with prducing the SFX- totally devoid of any artistc intention/ability. It is crude and offensive.

Marathon Man contained a torture scene that was grueling to watch and left a lingering impression. It did this through the power of the performances, the editing/direction of the shots.... lots of very skilled people creating something very intricate that was at the same time very refined and tasteful.

Hostel/Saw/August Underground etc try to do the same thing without the prodyction values/filmmaking abilities/quality of actors/scriptwriters and often without the luxury of a decent story.

They are popular becasue a) they are quicker and cheaper to make than decent horror films and b) idiots meansure how good films are in Splat-factor. The gorey the better. By making a film that is just gore they think they are getting a better horror film.

I think we should begin by defining our terms. Doesnt that sound fun!!! :eek:

Torture Porn. It seems from your post as though you think there is a gender issue involved here, and that theis genre is about men torturing women. I imagine that this is a pre-conceived idea derived from the word 'porn' being in the title.

Porn, in the context or torture porn, isn't the same thing as porn in the context of hustler/palyboy etc. I don't think it necessarily indicates any sexual content, or even the sexes of the parties. For example, men torture men in Hostel, I seem to remeber reading somewhere that a woman tortures boys in Hostel II. This is not a genre devoted to sexually explicit images of men torturing women. This is not porn in the usual sense.

Torture Porn is to horror films as Pornography is to Erotica. It is gratuitous, explicit, and -beyond the technical skill involved with prducing the SFX- totally devoid of any artistc intention/ability. It is crude and offensive.

Marathon Man contained a torture scene that was grueling to watch and left a lingering impression. It did this through the power of the performances, the editing/direction of the shots.... lots of very skilled people creating something very intricate that was at the same time very refined and tasteful.

Hostel/Saw/August Underground etc try to do the same thing without the prodyction values/filmmaking abilities/quality of actors/scriptwriters and often without the luxury of a decent story.

They are popular becasue a) they are quicker and cheaper to make than decent horror films and b) idiots meansure how good films are in Splat-factor. The gorey the better. By making a film that is just gore they think they are getting a better horror film.

Very good points, Bones.

I only want to counter 2 things you said. I do not believe any of the mainstream films you listed, i.e. Hostel, Saw, etc. can be classified as "torture porn" simply because they are not "porn". None of these films are pornographic films.

Second, even though I was not offended since I do not fall into the catergory, I think your choice to use the word "idiot" to describe people who watch these movies was a bit excessive and presumptious on your part. Who are you to judge others as "idiots" just because they may enjoy a genre that you do not? Its not illegal like child pornography, so really is it for you to make such assertions as to these peoples lifestyles? Is that really necessary?

Very good points, Bones.

I only want to counter 2 things you said. I do not believe any of the mainstream films you listed, i.e. Hostel, Saw, etc. can be classified as "torture porn" simply because they are not "porn". None of these films are pornographic films.

Second, even though I was not offended since I do not fall into the catergory, I think your choice to use the word "idiot" to describe people who watch these movies was a bit excessive and presumptious on your part. Who are you to judge others as "idiots" just because they may enjoy a genre that you do not? Its not illegal like child pornography, so really is it for you to make such assertions as to these peoples lifestyles? Is that really necessary?

Hey-yo Sig

Nice post, am glad someone replied countering my points, I was afraid I was just typing a massive guff that no one would take seriously

1) I do not believe any of the mainstream films you listed, i.e. Hostel, Saw, etc. can be classified as "torture porn" simply because they are not "porn". None of these films are pornographic films.

I was trying to address this point in my original post, but I shall try to say it another way.

I take it you mean 'porn' as being boobs and willies? I think that this is what Bluesman was thinking too, because he mentioned men hurting women and porno is often accused of exploiting women too. When compared to Erotica (which is tasteful and artistically valid) pornogrpahy is distinguished as being gratuitous, obscene, and without any redeeming artistic qualification whatsoever.

How many times have you sat down to watch a Jenna Jameson movie with tub of popcorn instead of a box of tissues? I can't even begin to imagine how messed up in the head someone would have to be to enjoy a porno for the storyline alone. There is only one thing of use in a Jenna Jameson movie, and I don't need to type it here for us all to understand.

Torture porn is the same thing. Obvioulsy it isnt designed to create a sensation of sexual arousal in the viewer (though no doubt it does happen :eek: ) but that is why it is given the prefix 'torture'. It is gratuitous, sustained, graphic, explicit, obscene. It has no redeeming artistic intentions. If you substitute the sadism in a film like Hostel for sex then you realise how similar they are.

So I'm not disagreeing with you, really. There is no 'pornography' in these films, (not during the torture parts, at least. Hostel has some other pornographic scenes). I am just trying to explain how the term 'porn' has been changed to describe this new genre.

2) I think your choice to use the word "idiot" to describe people who watch these movies was a bit excessive and presumptious on your part. Who are you to judge others as "idiots" just because they may enjoy a genre that you do not?

That's easy to answer: because these films are stoooopid

No, seriously, in fact I do enjoy these films too. In fact I have even gone to lengths to acquire some over the internet that aren't legal here in the UK.

But I enjoy them the same way I enjoy the Transporter movies; with my brain thoroughly switched off. And in my experience the people who prefer these films over older (in my opinion) better horror films are the plebs who rate the quality of a film by the quality of it's special effects.

On another note, Sig; why do you not like these films?

I think there's some confusion here regarding the terminology. Torture porn doesn't refer to actual porn. Torture porn is a term used to describe a certain genre of horror film: the Saw movies, the Hostel movies, Wolf Creek, The Devil's Rejects, The Hills Have Eyes, Captivity and Turistas have all been classified as torture porn.

That's not to say that Mike wasn't referring to actual pornographic films, he may have been. But the phrase "torture porn" usually applies to that genre of films. Just thought that might clear some of this up.

I guess I was also misinformed. I thought Bluesman was referring to films that were made as "porn" and had some torture that was ratcheted up. Films such as Hostel and Saw didn't come to my mind. Shows you that you learn something new every day!

I think there's some confusion here regarding the terminology. Torture porn doesn't refer to actual porn. Torture porn is a term used to describe a certain genre of horror film: the Saw movies, the Hostel movies, Wolf Creek, The Devil's Rejects, The Hills Have Eyes, Captivity and Turistas have all been classified as torture porn.

Ah, I see! *nods and understood*

I think there's some confusion here regarding the terminology. Torture porn doesn't refer to actual porn. Torture porn is a term used to describe a certain genre of horror film: the Saw movies, the Hostel movies, Wolf Creek, The Devil's Rejects, The Hills Have Eyes, Captivity and Turistas have all been classified as torture porn.

That's not to say that Mike wasn't referring to actual pornographic films, he may have been. But the phrase "torture porn" usually applies to that genre of films. Just thought that might clear some of this up.

That makes it clear and yes I was one of those that was confused then.

But I know that there are pornographic films out there were the main "theme" if you will is torture. I thought that was what Mike was referring to.

I'm actually very surprised that those movies you listed are classified as "torture porn". It just seems odd to me...yeah there was torture and some very graphic sex (in some, but not all of them) and even a horrid rape scene that made me cringe (Hills Have Eyes). So they fit into the "torture" aspect, but not the "porn" aspect to me...but hell what do I know...I'm not the one making the movies...lol.

I'll just stick with my regular porn thank you very much!

Y chromosome?

No, I've got the "Y" chromosome. People who like torture porn have the "why" chromosome.