One look at the image above and you’d be forgiven for expecting the accompanying film to be something along the lines of 8MM 3: Shaving Leather, but looks can often be deceiving. A Beginners Guide to Snuff is actually a dark comedy, and this synopsis should clarify if it’s dark or comedic enough for your own personal tastes.
Mitchell Altieri (The Hamiltons, The Violent Kind, Holy Ghost People) channels the filmmakers of the ’70s and ’80s in this homage to splatter exploitation films. Two brothers, desperate to break into the world of television and film, decide to enter a horror movie contest. And what could be more horrifying than the elusive snuff film? Of course, they won’t actually kill someone on camera – all they’re going to do is kidnap an actress, torture her, and make her think she’s going to die. What could possibly go wrong? Charming, witty, and chilling, A Beginner’s Guide to Snuff is sure to entertain lovers of black comedy and horror alike.
The big question is wondering just how dark things will get here while still remaining funny. It’s probably not quite Bowfinger meets A Serbian Film, but that seems to be the general concept it’s aiming for. Altieri’s previous eight features, at least the ones I’ve seen, all feature a smattering of grim stabs at humor among the cruelty and grue, but this looks to tilt towards being a comedy first and foremost – albeit one where the blood still flows quite liberally. Check out the trailer and first look at the film’s poster below.
And here’s the first look at the film’s stylish new poster (which adds an apostrophe into the mix):
A Beginners Guide to Snuff premieres at the Cinequest Film Festival on March 4th, 2016 in San Jose, CA.
