Nicolas Cage’s long face dominates the DVD cover for a little feature called 8mm. Talk about top billing. At the time, he was the only big name in it, although James Gandolfini, Catherine Keener and Joaquin Phoenix have since found their own paths. Cage was already his post-Moonstruck, post-Face/Off self. So why, exactly, did he choose to participate in a move about snuff?

For the innocent among you, in this context, “snuff” isn’t just a cute term for chewing tobaccy. It refers to, shall we say, films (often pornographic) in which at least one participant doesn’t survive until the end. Such films have been the stuff of legends for years, and have mostly stayed there - over the years, all alleged “snuff films” have been proven to be fake or not intended for distribution. But with 8mm, Joel Schumacher creates a world in which a young aspiring actress can easily fall prey to the sort of sick men who will slay a woman for a million bucks.

Despite the ridiculous premise and simplistic plot, 8mm is as absorbing as a thriller can be. Joaquin Phoenix’s lighthearted performance as a carefree punk gives the film a needed respite from relentless darkness, but when focus shifts to Nicolas Cage’s quest for revenge, there is no relief to be had. After a viewing of this one, you’ll want to take a long hot shower (crying is optional) and hug your nearest loved one. And for a sensationalist, exploitative thriller, that’s not bad at all.

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