8mm (1999)
Happy New Year’s Eve, movie lovers! This week, the Shat crew bids farewell to 2024 with a truly twisted trip back to 1999 and Joel Schumacher’s descent into darkness: 8mm. Nicholas Cage trades in his bees for smokes, Joaquin Phoenix dons the most questionable crop tops ever filmed, and we discover that apparently, “Are you a cop?” is still the universal password for underground crime rings.
Join Gene Lyons and Big D as they wrestle with the true horrors of the film: not just snuff movies, but also parenting during awkward sex scenes, inexplicably bad investigative decisions, and the economics of murder in an era where a 20-inch shovel costs less than a Big Mac combo. Is 8mm a misunderstood thriller or a time capsule of 1999’s obsession with edgy “dark detective” tales?
Find out if this cinematic black hole ends the year with a bang or just wipes itself out. Spoiler alert: It’s not the bees, but it might be the belly tees.
Plot Summary:
In the 1999 psychological thriller 8mm, directed by Joel Schumacher, Nicolas Cage stars as Tom Welles, a private investigator whose life takes a dark turn when he is hired to investigate a disturbing mystery. A wealthy widow discovers an old 8mm film in her late husband’s safe, depicting what appears to be a real murder. Desperate for answers, she enlists Welles to determine the authenticity of the film and uncover the truth about its origins.
Welles’ investigation takes him deep into the underworld of illegal pornography and snuff films, exposing him to a seedy and depraved subculture he never knew existed. As he delves deeper, he encounters Max California (Joaquin Phoenix), a streetwise adult store clerk who becomes his reluctant guide through the grim and dangerous world of underground filmmaking. Together, they trace the origins of the film, uncovering a network of morally bankrupt individuals who profit from human suffering.
The case quickly becomes personal for Welles, testing his morality and resolve as he grapples with the horrors he uncovers. His obsession with seeking justice threatens to unravel his life, straining his relationship with his wife, Amy (Catherine Keener), and putting himself in grave danger. The film builds to a tense and morally complex climax as Welles faces the perpetrators of the crime and the weight of his own choices.
8mm is a haunting exploration of humanity’s darker impulses, combining noir-style storytelling with themes of obsession, justice, and the cost of uncovering the truth. Join our podcast review as we revisit this intense thriller, discussing its performances, controversial subject matter, and whether its dark themes still resonate with modern audiences.
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