Snuff film
A snuff film is commonly understood as a type of film that allegedly depicts real-life murder, typically in the context of sexual violence. The concept gained significant attention in the United States during the 1970s, particularly with rumors surrounding a film titled "Snuff." These rumors sparked media coverage and public concern, particularly among those advocating for the prohibition of pornography, who cited snuff films as a disturbing extension of legal adult content. Despite these concerns, law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and U.S. Customs, struggled to find evidence of such films being produced or distributed, especially from European sources.
While investigations led to some leads in Mexico, only a few instances of actual snuff films were uncovered, including one that involved a man and a woman, presumed to be a Mexican prostitute, where her murder appeared to be filmed. This particular case suggested that the film may have been created for a specific buyer at a high price. However, many details regarding the individuals involved remained elusive, leaving the issue of snuff films shrouded in mystery. The topic continues to provoke debates about legality, morality, and the dark intersections of media and violence.
Subject Terms
Snuff film
Definition: Films that purport to show actual killings of human beings
Significance: Although rumors of the existence of such films have led to efforts to suppress them, their actual existence has not been proven
During the 1970’s rumors spread throughout the United States that there was a new kind of sex film available in which women were actually killed on screen. These rumors caught the attention of the news media, and many stories were heard alleging the existence of such films—including the possibility of an actual 1977 film titled Snuff. Americans who advocated banning all pornography pointed to “snuff films” as the ultimate outgrowth of lawful pornography. Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies failed to locate purveyors or producers of such films.
The U.S. Customs Bureau also spent time examining packages from known European pornographers. Eventually the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) concluded that if European pornographers were actually producing “snuff films,” they had to be doing so on a small scale, and that any such films were not being shipped to the United States.
However, when the FBI followed leads to Mexico, it found what appeared to be at least one genuine snuff film, involving only two people: a man who was hooded throughout the film, and a woman identified as a Mexican prostitute who appeared to be killed after having sex with the man. In attempting to trace the origin of this film, agents found that the film appeared to have been made specially for a single customer, who had paid more than five thousand dollars for a copy. The producers, the customer, and the middlemen were never identified, however, and the case remained open. Since then the FBI has routinely checked with Mexican authorities, who trace pornography when prostitutes from California and other border states disappear, especially when they are found killed in Mexico.