8MM

REVIEW
An instance in which 8 isn't greater than Seven, this slick but lurid thriller attempts to be sexually provocative with its adult movies backdrop, but ultimately disintegrates into a formulaic, tired revenge flick out for blood. Written by Andrew Kevin Walker, the author of the terrific Seven, the dark-hued, somber 8MM opens promising. Private investigator Tom Welles (a sullen Cage) is hired by a millionaire's widow to determine if a "snuff movie" found in his safe is real or not. This takes him on a journey to Hollywood and the very darker side of the pornography industry. He befriends a video store clerk played by Phoenix, who thankfully seems to be in a different movie than the rest of the cast. From there, it gets ugly as Welles soon finds what he's looking for. 8MM works as a detective story, and the first half of his chase can be involving. But the story lacks in the human element it pretends to care about. The film does offer some bloody thrills, but they're neither edgy nor satisfying.