# 8mm (film)

8mm is a 1999 film about a private investigator who is hired to research the authenticity of an alleged snuff film found in the vault of a recently deceased billionaire, which takes him to some sleazy environments.
    Directed by Joel Schumacher. Writen by Andrew Kevin Walker.

## Eddie Poole

* That's it. She's dead. She's been dead a long fucking time and nobody gives a shit but you.
* You're not gonna kill me. You don't have it in you.

## Dino Velvet

* [holding a picture of Welles' wife and daughter] What I could do with faces like these on film. On second thought, why would I need their faces?
* If there was no honor among perverts and pornographers, the whole fucking business would fall apart.
* [dying from a gunshot wound to the neck] This is wrong, something's wrong. Oh, God, not like this. I'm supposed to have something more cinematic. Kill them, Machine... kill them all. [dies]

## George Higgins

* [after removing his mask for the first time] What'd you expect? A monster?
* You know the best part of killing someone? The look on their face. It's that look. Not when they're threatened. Not when you hurt them. Not even when they see the knife. It's when they feel the knife go in. That's it. It's surprise. They just can't believe it's really happening to them. She had that look, the girl, when she knew it wasn't just porno.
* I wasn't beaten. I wasn't molested. Mommy didn't abuse me. Daddy never raped me. I'm only what I am. And that's all there is to it! There's no mystery. Things I do, I do them because I like them! Because I want to!

## Max California

* [watching a video of Machine torturing a woman] Oh, he's a lover, man... definitely loves what he does for a living.
* I can hook you up, though. You name the vice I name the price.
* [On selling porn] I don't buy it. I don't endorse it. I just point the way.
* He's a producer-slash-director-slash weirdo. He's like the Jim Jarmusch of S & M.
* So you got a wife and a daughter and a nice little yellow house and a dog named 'Shep'. What the hell are you doing here?
* There's things that you're gonna see that, that you can't unsee. They get in your head and they stay there.
* Hey! It's like a gas station, you pay before you pump!
* Dance with the devil, the devil don’t change. The devil changes you.

## Tom Welles

* If someone never saw or sold a snuff film, they shouldn't give a damn what I ask about it, if they have they got a right to be nervous.
* I'll never get tired of hurting you, Eddie!
* Can you tell me if you had to make a choice... if you were forced to choose... between imagining her out there somewhere living a good life... being happy... but you don't know... you never find out... or the worst being true... her being gone... but you know... you finally know what's happened to her.
* Hello, Machine! Love your work!

## Daniel Longdale

* Why do you think people like the Christians hire people like me? To invite us to their dinner parties? It's our job to clean up the mess. To wipe their royal asses.
* You know the only difference between you and me? I will survive this and profit by it, whereas you, you will not.

## Dialogue

    Max California: There's only three rules in life: One, there's always a victim; two, don't be it.
    Tom Welles: And three?
    Max California: I forgot three.
    Max California: [on the porn industry] All I'm saying is before you know it you're in it. Deep in it.
    Tom Welles: Don't worry about me. But thank you.
    Max California: Oh, You're welcome. Pops... If you dance with the devil, the devil don't change. The devil changes you.
    Tom Welles: Some of your lyrics?
    Max California: That's cute.
    Max California: You get turned on at places like tonight?
    Tom Welles: No, I am not.
    Max California: And you don't exactly get turned off either. (pause) Devil's changing you already.
    [Tom hands Max an envelope]
    Max California: What is this?
    Tom Welles: Money. People use it to purchase goods and services.
    Dino Velvet You trust me to take your money, but not your picture?
    Tom Welles: Those are two different kinds of trust.
    Max California: Can I interest you in a battery-operated vagina?
    Tom Welles: It's tempting, but no.
    Max California: OK. I'd hate for you to be in one of those everyday situations that calls for a battery-operated vagina and you just don't have one.
    Tom Welles: What're you reading? [Max California shows book - "Anal Secretary"] Catchy title. What are you really reading? Hard to believe that book's got any parts worth highlighting. [Max California reveals real book - In Cold Blood] Capote!
    Max California: Yeah, well. You know how it is.
    Tom Welles: Yeah. Wouldn't want to embarrass yourself in front of your fellow perverts.
    Max California: That's right. I might get drummed out of the Pornographer's Union. Where would I be then?
    [after Tom Welles has asked for his "assistance"]
    Max California: I don't know exactly what you're looking for, but just for the record - I'm straight.
    Tom Welles: Congratulations.
    Tom Welles: I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND!!! WHAT THE FUCK DID HE WANT WITH THE SNUFF FILM!!!?
    Daniel Longale: You're asking me why?
    Tom Welles: Yes. WHY!? WHY!? Why did he want a film... OF A LITTLE GIRL BEING BUTCHERED?!!!
    Daniel Longdale: Because he could!
    Tom Welles: Remember when I asked you if you'd want to know the truth, no matter what?
    Janet Mathews: What?
    Tom Welles: Some men took her, and they killed her and buried her.
    Janet Mathews: No. [sobbing] No, no, no...
    Tom Welles: I'm sorry. I want to punish them for what they did. I can hurt them. Give me your permission to hurt them! Please!
    Tom Welles: [on phone] Eddie?
    Eddie Poole: Yeah.
    Tom Welles: I know all about it.
    Eddie Poole: Yeah, you know about what?
    Tom Welles: About that girl. Six years ago. I know what you did to her.
    Eddie Poole: Who is this?
    Tom Welles: You murdered her. You and your friends.
    Eddie Poole: I don't know what the fuck you're talkin' about.
    Tom Welles: You killed her on film. And now you're fucked. You're all fucked.
    Tom Welles: I'm gonna kill you, Eddie. I'm gonna kill you, and I'm gonna leave you here just like you left her.
    Eddie Poole: You're not gonna kill me. You don't have it in you. What are you gonna do? You gonna shoot me with you own gun, huh? Registered in your name? You really fucking thought this through, didn't you, genius? You're gonna have to dig the bullets outta my head. That'll be nice, huh? Or you could dig a hole. Dig it with your own hands, and bury me in it next to your fucking girlfriend. Go ahead. Pull the fucking trigger. Well go ahead. What're you waiting for? Go ahead and do it! You faggot! What do you want me to do? Want me to start crying like a little baby? "Oh, I'm so sorry I killed the little girl." Well, fuck you, and fuck her! Go ahead! Put me outta my fucking misery! Pull the fucking trigger! (taunting) Go on. Pull the fucking trigger! Do it! Do it!
    Larry: Are you a law enforcement agent or in any way affiliated with law enforcement?
    Max California: Fuck you, Larry.
    Larry: Are you a law enforcement agent or in any way affiliated with law enforcement?
    Tom Welles: Fuck you, Larry.
    Max California: You're getting cool there, Welles.

## Taglines

* You can't prepare for where the truth will take you.
* You are never prepared for the truth.
* Be careful when you kill a monster, that you don't become one yourself.
* Some doors should never be opened.

## Cast

* Nicolas Cage - Tom Welles
* Joaquin Phoenix - Max California
* James Gandolfini - Eddie Poole
* Peter Stormare - Dino Velvet
* Anthony Heald - Daniel Longdale
* Chris Bauer - George Higgins/Machine
* Catherine Keener - Amy Welles

## External links

* 8mm quotes at the Internet Movie Database