It's no big revelation to most that there is a super-fine line between what we find horrifying and what turns us on. Horror and eroticism have been blended in movies before, and recently, there have been a slew of "erotic horror" films (often starring Misty Mundae) that have fallen a bit short of the mark on both counts. Which begs the question, "In these modern times, can a film be both horrific and unquestionably erotic?" David Quitmeyer, proprieter of Steel Web Studios, has attempted to answer that question with his new sleaze epic Slaughter Disc: A Tale from the Carnal Morgue, which walks that line with aplomb, and offers up titillation in myriad forms. In Slaughter Disc, gorehounds and the porn-set alike will find something to get their blood flowing...but there's more to this flick that lurks just beneath the surface. Let me just say for the record that this review is one of the more challenging endeavours that I've undertaken...as my readers know, I usually add screenshots that (attempt to) encapsulate characters, moods, or key moments without ruining the surprises that the given film has in store. In this case, however, Slaughter Disc is so chock-full of wall-to-wall explicit sex that it was frankly difficult to get any images that wouldn't get me in serious trouble, if you get my meaning. So, is Slaughter Disc merely a hardcore porno? Erm, not quite. A word of warning: the following review contains frank, adult language and (by necessity) descriptions of explicit sexual activities. So, if you're easily offended or under eighteen, you should probably consider yourself warned and go fuck yourselves.
The synopsis...
Mike (Robert Williams) is just your average twenty-something slacker-dude. He has a job (at an autoshop, I think), and a girlfriend who dotes on him. There's just one problem...Mike is an insatiable porn addict. His daily routine seems to consist only of getting up, going to work, coming home, drinking a few beers, and masturbating to increasingly unusual porn. When his girlfriend gets fed up with his incessant jerking off, she dumps him, leaving the poor shlub to his wares. In a fit of desperation and depression, he orders a mysterious DVD from the back of a girlie magazine. The DVD is called (wait for it) "Slaughter Disc", and features a raven-haired goth chick named "Andromeda Strange" (Caroline Pierce). When the DVD finally arrives, Mike initially thinks he's gotten ripped-off, as the DVD appears to be completely transparent(!), but upon putting that sucker into his DVD player and hitting "play", he slowly begins to find that he's gotten far more than he's bargained for. Andromeda starts things off with some spirited masturbation, which ends with a bit of blood pouring from her vagina. Mike cums his brains out, and is left feeling shocked, apalled, and for the first time in a long time, sexually satisfied. Mike's increasingly erratic behavior and preoccupation with the captivating Ms. Strange result in him getting fired from his job. But, as he so succintly puts it, "Eh...that's ok...Mr. Langley was an asshole anyway!" (Mr. Langley, by the way, is briefly played by David Quitmeyer himself, using a funny Elvis-like drawl...for all eternity, I'll picture Elvis saying, "I'm a-gonna have ta' can yer mother-fuckin' ass!" ...truly priceless) Unemployed, Mike has lots more free time to jerk off, and he gets drawn deeper and deeper into the world of the "Slaughter Disc". He comes home from running errands, and he finds his TV on and the DVD "waiting" for him semi-patiently. Mike can't help himself...he's in turns disgusted and completely turned on by Andromeda's action, which by now include slashing her own wrists and throat, and covering herself in her own blood, as well as other more traditionally sexual acts. Finally, when Mike's friend John fails to show up at a previously agreed upon time, Mike finds that John is in the fuckin' movie, getting enthusiastically blown and then fucked by Ms. Strange. Mike's mind is a wreck, and he thinks that John is playing an elaborate joke on him, and calls him on his cell phone to congratulate his pal on having him on so effectivly (and for scoring with uber-babe Strange, naturally). As he watches in horror while leaving John a voicemal, the bound John has his head smashed in with a hammer by Andromeda. She then proceeds to...well...I can say no more...
Suffice it to say that things get messy from here on out. Mike's fascination with the Slaughter Disc reaches disturbing, explicit depths, and he begins to question his own reality.
If all of this sounds trite and amateurish, well, I don't know what to tell you. It's a porn-horror film, shot on a shoestring, and it shows. But, and let's just get this nice and clear, Slaughter Disc packs a wallop. Quitmeyer has written a truly interesting cautionary tale, here. It's very much in line with the spirit of "Tales from the Crypt" or "Creepshow", only much more explicit. Mike is a decent guy, it seems, but his "innocent" forays into increasingly bizarre porn have some decidedly disturbing results. Quitmeyer generates more suspense and genuine chills than any film with this kind of micro-budget has any right to generate. This works so well on the strength of the story, I think. While Slaughter Disc isn't quite the pinnacle of originality, it's still sufficiently fresh feeling, mostly due to the wit and verve with which the subject matter is handled. There are serious moments, to be sure, but in the grand tradition of EC Comics, Quitmeyer's tongue is always planted firmly in his cheek. So, Slaughter Disc never ceases to be fun...something that those Misty Mundae movies have yet to figure out how to do properly. Furthermore, Slaughter Disc, it should be mentioned, is extremely explicit. If it were released as a straight-up porn flick (scary thought), it would definitely receive an "X" rating, as both male and female genitalia are on display, and actual penetration is shown.
I really must stress that Slaughter Disc manages...somehow...to transcend its budgetary and conceptual limitations. If it weren't for all the graphic sex, it would make as effective an "anti-porn" tool as any given TV preacher could hope to have. That's another fascinating aspect of Slaughter Disc...it's almost Puritanical in its outlook, in that it shows Mike as being pretty much destined to fall victim to his own excesses...to become victimized by his own dark fascinations...to lose everything and everyone he holds dear...all because he couldn't keep his hands out of his pants. Slaughter Disc, then, can almost be seen as the ultimate "Catholic Movie". The EC-like-moral seems to be "touch yourself, spill your seed, watch naked ladies eating brains, and you'll go straight to hell, young man...and don't think for a minute that I don't know about you smoking in the boys' room all the time..."
Now, one issue needs to be addressed. Is Slaughter Disc scary? Well...scary is a subjective term. The film isn't "scary" like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre was scary. It's more appropriate to say that Slaughter Disc is "get-under-your-skin-disturbing"...it's creepy, unnerving, and even shocking...but it's not "boo-scary". That's probably a good thing. Quitmeyer has the sense not to rely on superficial "jump" scares...that would have been woefully out of place in this context, and probably would have made the film play far worse than it does. Instead, he relies on the viewers' sense that something just ain't right...that nagging feeling that Mike has bitten off far more than he could possibly chew. Quitmeyer and company have done a remarkable thing, really...they've made what is either the creepiest porno movie ever or the raunchiest horror film ever...and either way you look at it, it's a success. Quitmeyer clearly knows how to handle shocking imagery, whether it's painted with cum or with viscera.
Now, to the disc itself...the copy that I'm reviewing here is a "promotional screener", and not the final version that will be available for purchase. The image quality is serviceable, as is the sound quality, but understand that this is indeed a low-budget production. As such, one shouldn't go into it expecting Hollywood (or even C-grade) production values. Quitmeyer and all involved at Steel Web Studios have made the most of their budget and their resources, and have created an effective, erotic, gory, and quite creepy shocker that delivers the goods more than many recent horror films. Citizen Kane it ain't, but it just might be the Citizen Kane of erotic horror. You heard it here first, people. Now, if you're an adventurous sort of person, who craves a bit more T&A than your average horror film, or a bit more gore than your average adult film, you'll absolutely love Slaughter Disc. David Quitmeyer is a nice, well spoken fellow, and he clearly has a grasp on what makes his audience tick, so give him, Slaughter Disc, and the balls-out approach to genre filmmaking that they represent more than a passing glance. You won't be sorry!
By the way, I recently had the opportunity to talk with David Quitmeyer about Slaughter Disc, and other stuff...
Click h e r e to read my exclusive interview!
It's no big revelation to most that there is a super-fine line between what we find horrifying and what turns us on. Horror and eroticism have been blended in movies before, and recently, there have been a slew of "erotic horror" films (often starring Misty Mundae) that have fallen a bit short of the mark on both counts. Which begs the question, "In these modern times, can a film be both horrific and unquestionably erotic?" David Quitmeyer, proprieter of Steel Web Studios, has attempted to answer that question with his new sleaze epic Slaughter Disc: A Tale from the Carnal Morgue, which walks that line with aplomb, and offers up titillation in myriad forms. In Slaughter Disc, gorehounds and the porn-set alike will find something to get their blood flowing...but there's more to this flick that lurks just beneath the surface. Let me just say for the record that this review is one of the more challenging endeavours that I've undertaken...as my readers know, I usually add screenshots that (attempt to) encapsulate characters, moods, or key moments without ruining the surprises that the given film has in store. In this case, however, Slaughter Disc is so chock-full of wall-to-wall explicit sex that it was frankly difficult to get any images that wouldn't get me in serious trouble, if you get my meaning. So, is Slaughter Disc merely a hardcore porno? Erm, not quite. A word of warning: the following review contains frank, adult language and (by necessity) descriptions of explicit sexual activities. So, if you're easily offended or under eighteen, you should probably consider yourself warned and go fuck yourselves.
