Tell that to Rodleen Getsic.. The NEW YORK TIMES reports that the address who stars in the direct to video horror torture porn movie actually has branding scars on her back to prove that most of what occurred to her in the movie was done in .. real terms.
The movie is a simple concept--as most torture porn flicks have been. A truck driver kidnaps her to rape her, torture her, slap her, spit on her.. all of those things that a mentally deranged truck driver would do.
Oh, and he puts a rabbit-shaped hood on her, giving the movie the name THE BUNNY GAME.
THE NEW YORK TIMES profiled the movie and quoted the actress Getsic saying "Part of my soul did die in making this film."
The TIMES also reports that horror fans are split on this movie. (As they are about this whole newfound torture porn element of scary movies)..
I myself don't think I'll be watching the BUNNY GAME. Though the image of the rabbit mask it itself is chilling, plus the fact it was shot in black and white also has a creepy factor, the movie seemed to be complete garbage. More sickening torture for .. the purpose of? What? To showcase how someone can scream in pain? To show how someone loses a soul through constant rape? This is what entertainment is? I don't find myself compelled to view a movie that has such disturbing elements -- if the elements were tamed by more of a storyline perhaps the movie would have a societal point. But with the absence of a story besides rape and horrific brandings, I doubt this film has any point at all. Other reviewers, including this one from INSIDE PULSE, seem to agree. PULSE goes on to write:
I understand film as art and I understand showing the unpleasant side of life. But I don’t understand, nor do I want to understand, the desire to make a dark twisted film like this. If anything like what really happened in this film really did happen to Getsic then I’m really sorry for her, but I don’t see why she had to reenact it on film. Some may call The Bunny Game an art film, others will want to call it a snuff film.
But the movie's existence in itself shows how horror is evolving, or perhaps devolving. Even though this is a low budget movie, THE BUNNY GAME produced physical pain for Getsic. She 'got into her work' I suppose.
From the SAW franchise to HOSTEL .. to remakes of 1970s good horror films added the newfound torture porn element, I am just sick of it all. Rob Zombie is a bit of a genius. But to date I have refused to watch more than three minutes of his HALLOWEEN remakes. I just can't find myself eager to watch brutality and gore without more than gore for more than that much time.
I liked SAW when it came out .. the first one. That was good. It appeared to me to be a more graphic and gory SILENCE OF THE LAMBS. But then it phased out its freshness and created just regular old sickening scenes with torture and hopelessness. There is something about horror that can provide hope. The women in horror movies who fight back.
THE BUNNY GAME appears to be a doing a great disservice to horror in itself. After all, there is a common thought out there that women are just abused without point in horror movies. THE BUNNY GAME seems to do that. It makes the point for detractors who already think horror is a genre not worth watching.
Maybe I am getting old.. maybe being a dad has tempered me too a place where I can only view PG-13 horror and enjoy it.. But call my crazy, there is something wrong with society if it wants to emulate torture.
I have always believed that professional wrestling and horror movies are good working examples of the pop culture and society of the day. Being that I have not watched wrestling in years, and have steered clear of torture porn since I got sick of it mid-2000s, I can only say it appears society continues to turn into a mass of dribbling and morbidly rancid-souled folks.
Is it unfair for me to review THE BUNNY GAME without even seeing it? Maybe. Judging from descriptions of the depictions, there isn't much at all to review anyway..