“Porn Kills”

The combination of porn and horror is nothing new throughout cinematic history.  While never widely accepted or appreciated by mainstream audiences it has always held its place, particularly in European markets.  With Joe D’Amato’s 1977 film Emanuelle in America, the hardcore scenes were recorded at the request of their French distributors.  D’Amato continued his progression into the world of horror and porn with such films as Erotic Nights of the Living Dead, Porno Holocaust not to mention his non-pornography films that still included hardcore situations.  Jess Franco was doing the same thing.  Not only were European filmmakers embracing the amalgamation of horror and porn, but underground American films were being made on the subject, like Michael Hugo’s 1974 sleazefest Hardgore.  Now some 30 years later horror and porn are still juxtaposed into filmmaking and continue to test the boundaries of taboo.  Most recently is the film Re-Penetrator, and of course Steel Web Studio’s The Carnal Morgue presentation of morbid gothic erotica in Slaughter Disc.

The film opens with some cool footage from Clown Porn (Written/Produced by Quitmeyer) which is sure to spark the viewer’s interest.  With cock-in-hand, Mike (Robert Williams) enjoys the flick but is interrupted by his girlfriend at the door.  Mike is a guy like the rest of us who likes to watch porn.  The only difference is porn overwhelms every aspect of his adult life, conflicting with his schoolwork, his job and his girlfriend.  He even lies to his best friend John about his whereabouts while immersed in porn. 

One day when exploring the local porn shop he finds an article in a magazine on porn star Andromeda Strange (Caroline Pierce): “Why is She Banned in Every Country?”  Sparking his primal perversion he asks the porn clerk about Andromeda Strange, and finds out the best place to find her flicks are from her website www.andromedastrange.com (which actually exists).  Once home he quickly orders “Andromedia Strange Unleashed and Unforgiving” from her website.  The package arrives the following day, but the disc is unlike any DVD he has seen; it’s completely clear.  When he pops in the disc he finds the sexy gothic vixen that eventually masturbates, but it takes a grotesque turn when Strange uses a dildo so vigorously it causes bleeding.  The sequence is completed with the slitting of her wrist and neck and the smearing of blood.  Mike completes his penile mission none-the-less, but slightly disturbed.

Mike becomes desensitized to the violence and continues to enter the realm of Andromeda Strange.  His addiction spirals out of control, in a world of sadistic pornography which starts to affect his life (and others) in a way he couldn’t possibly envision.  The SLAUGHTER DISC now holds his future in the savage hands of Andromeda Strange.

Slaughter Disc was directed, written, produced, shot and cut by newcomer David Quitmeyer, with a purpose of making his first horror film while containing an underlying topic of self destruction not usually explored in film, let alone pornography.  Rather than the typical portrayal of a character’s downward spiral through drug addiction or alcoholism (which is often journeyed upon within the horror genre) Quitmeyer examines a character’s path into a life of hardcore pornography addiction and the progressive repercussions that follow.  What sets this horror/porn hybrid apart from others is the director’s morality message.  The message of how pornography addiction can be detrimental to ones self, being told through an actual horror porno will come across to some as a catch-22.  Then again, how can a film portray the dangers of pornography abuse without showing the problem?  It’s a complex proposition.

Slaughter Disc is equal parts horror and pornography.  The horror storyline however is so effective that during its 90 minute runtime the viewer won’t be reaching for the fast forward button like your average 90 minute porno flick.  The film was developed by a short story titled “The Tape” written over 15 years ago by Quitmeyer.  It was readapted to fit into modern technology.  The original story contained a clear VHS tape, so naturally technology brought on the possibility of a clear DVD.  In addition to the film’s engaging storyline, the acting is surprising well done.  Williams does a fine job with the Mike character (who jacks off so much he needs a nut-sack icepack) in his first feature role.  Even the director makes a memorable cameo as Mike’s boss Mister “Christ on his motherfuckin’ thrown” Langley.  Caroline Pierce -- who is more becoming without the Gothic getup (see extra features) -- is also successful as fiendish female Andromeda Strange and performs some pretty brutal actions on film.  She slices a man’s throat after ejecting a straight razor from her pussy, and even bashes a guy’s skull in with a hammer and slurps on his brain matter.  Don’t worry though, she was courteous enough to suck and fuck them prior to their demise.  If there was ever a contest for scary deep-throat blowjobs, Andromeda Strange would win in flying cumshots!

Whether you're a fan of horror or porn or films that ingeniously combine these two wonderful elements, adventurous gorehounds should check out the entertaining and often repulsive Slaughter Disc.

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL:
- Behind the Scenes - Outtakes - Photo Gallery - The Curse of SLAUGHTER DISC - SLAUGHTER DISC Teaser - Easter Eggs Steel Web Studios does a great job with this interactive DVD. The main menu and special features section are both introduced by Andromeda Strange. The “Behind the Scenes” section is found under the “$p3cial F3eatur3s” menu which is an informative look on set during makeup sessions and filming as well as some interviews with the cast and crew. It also shows that the actors involved were not actually harmed during the making of the film. Next up is a 5 minute “Outtakes” showing some pretty funny goofs and an animated “Photo Gallery” of behind the scenes, images and promotional photos. “Curse of the Slaughter Disc” goes through the many problems Quitmeyer faced while making the film which almost stopped production. You may have noticed a slight blue silhouette around the characters in the porn shop checkout scene during the film, which is explained under “Curse”. To complete the extra features is a Slaughter Disc teaser and 3 Easter Eggs. Happy hunting!
RATING:
VIDEO: 4:3 Full Frame
AUDIO: LPCM 2 Channel - English
DVD: Steel Web Studios
MOVIE: "Slaughter Disc"