Snuff (film)

This article is about the 1976 film. For the purported genre, see snuff film. For the 2005 film, see Snuff-Movie.
Snuff
Original theatrical release poster
Directed by
Written byMichael Findlay
Produced by
  • Jack Bravman
  • Allan Shackleton
Starring
  • Margarita Amuchástegui
  • Ana Carro
  • Liliana Fernández Blanco
  • Alfredo Iglesias
  • Enrique Larratelli
  • Mirta Massa
  • Aldo Mayo
  • Clao Villanueva
CinematographyRoberta Findlay
Music byRick Howard
Distributed byMonarch Releasing Corporation
Release date
  • January 16, 1976 (1976-01-16)
Running time
80 minutes
Countries
  • United States
  • Argentina
LanguageEnglish
Budget$30,000

Snuff is a 1976 splatter film directed by Michael Findlay and Horacio Fredriksson.[1] Originally an exploitation film loosely based on the 1969 murders committed by the Manson Family, it is most notorious for being falsely marketed as if it were an actual snuff film.[2][3] The controversy about the film was deliberately manufactured to attract publicity: it prompted an investigation by the New York County District Attorney, who determined that the murder shown in the film was fake. This picture contributed to the urban legend of snuff films, although the concept did not originate with it.[4]

  1. ^ Manrupe, Raúl; Portela, María Alejandra (1995). Un diccionario de films argentinos. Buenos Aires: Corregidor. p. 28. ISBN 9500508966.
  2. ^ "Cashing in on rumors that a 'snuff' film had been smuggled into the United States from South America, Schackleton retitled his movie Snuff and released it in late 1975, advertising its faked evisceration as the real thing", David A. Cook, Lost Illusions: American Cinema in The Shadow of Watergate and Vietnam, page 233 (University of California Press, Ltd., 2000). ISBN 0-520-23265-8
  3. ^ "A Minneapolis police officer, Richard Morrill, wrote in his official report: 'Everything depicted in the final scene appeared to be in fact to be actually happening to the girl. The dismemberment of her body was so real that it made me physically sick'." Article, "Snuff: 'Real murder' brings tape censorship nearer", page 56, in Video Viewer (June–July 1982, Video International Publications Ltd. General Editor Elkan Allan).
  4. ^ Milligen, Stephen (2017). The Bloodiest Thing That Ever Happened In Front Of A Camera: Conservative Politics, 'Porno Chic' and Snuff. SCB Distributors. pp. 263–274. ISBN 9781909394094. Retrieved 6 February 2022.