Newsgroups: alt.folklore.urban
From: Hoey@AIC.NRL.Navy.Mil (Dan Hoey)
Date: 1997/12/04
Subject: Re: Snuff films, cont.

ang...@mindspring.com (Angus Johnston) writes:

> The standard afu definition of snuff involves an onscreen murder
> staged as a business enterprise. A few months ago, I argued that
> the way the story has evolved in the camcorder age necessitated a
> slightly broader definition---snuff being a movie that---a) depicts
> a murder, b) was filmed by one of the perpetrators, and c) has been
> sold by someone involved in its production for d) entertainment
> viewing by a non-participant. This definition places the emphasis
> on the production and sale, rather than on the motivation of the
> filmmaker....

It seems to me that the "snuff film" urban legend includes at its core
a fifth element (more critical that c) or d)) that

e) the victim was hired as an actor.

This is the fundamental "fear of unknown situations/dangerous
professions" cautionary tale that makes it an urban legend.

After all, if an urban legend doesn't keep 'em down on the farm,
what use is it?

Dan Hoey
Hoey@AIC.NRL.Navy.Mil