Pornography: A Thriller

Pornography: A Thriller is a peculiar movie; it blends elements of "8MM," "The Ring" and "Saw" with hot naked guys. The film is a psychological thriller that follows porn star Mark Anton (Jared Grey) whose mysterious disappearance causes a strange supernatural curse. Surprisingly cerebral and twisted, the film explores the darker side of what porn is and what being photographed really means.

Mark Anton is a down on his luck porn star who wants to quit the business; he does one last job and disappears under mysterious circumstances. He becomes the obsession of a writer, Michael (Matthew Montgomery), and a porn star, Matt Stevens (Pete Scherer), who become obsessed with his one great film Manhattan Video Boys. They also become obsessed with the urban legend of how Mark Anton was allegedly the subject of a snuff film. Pornography: A Thriller is shot and written in an interesting way that challenges filmmaking and adds to the general spookiness of the film. It has a feeling similar to Mulholland Drive.

The film explores the dark underbelly of the porn industry and the simultaneous disposable nature of porn stars and their capacity to become icons. Manhattan Video Boys is cursed and the two male protagonists unwittingly get sucked into a dark and mysterious world where a creepy Freddy Krueger/Jigsaw character haunts them through their obsession with Anton.

If you have a well-developed dark side or a love of the macabre you will enjoy this film. It is true to the genre of psychological thrillers and horror flicks. It will freak you out and make you think, which is more than some attempted gay thrillers have done. Like many horror films it isn't for everyone, but definitely takes you on an interesting journey.