Stuff They Don't Want You To Know Snuff Films: Fact and Fiction
Oct 1, 2025
The hosts delve into the chilling myth of snuff films, examining their origins in 1970s splatter cinema. They contrast real-life violent footage with fictional horrors that haunted them. Technology's role is scrutinized, especially how it blurs the line between reality and entertainment. Notable cases, including Armin Meiwes and the Wagner Group, raise ethical questions around filmed violence. The discussion culminates in a potential verified snuff film, pushing the definition into modern territory and warning about the implications of monetized brutality.
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How Snuff Became Cultural Myth
- The snuff-film urban legend surged in public consciousness after the 1976 film Snuff and its manipulative marketing.
- Producer Alan Shackleton faked reality to create controversy and public outrage, proving marketing can manufacture belief.
Shackleton's Publicity Stunt
- Ben and Noel recount how Shackleton removed credits, added a fake murder ending, and hired protesters to imply reality.
- New York DA Robert Morgenthau later verified the apparent victim was alive and called the film reprehensible but fictional.
Definition Matters For 'Snuff'
- Fangoria's working definition: a snuff film is a filmed premeditated killing made to earn money.
- This legalistic definition excludes many filmed deaths like executions or propaganda videos.