Reason.com
The Horror
Obscenity in Canada
The Montreal makeup artist Rémy Couture has been charged with “corrupting morals” by making “obscene” movies. But his specialty is horror, not pornography.
Under Canadian law, material is deemed obscene if “a dominant characteristic” of it is “the undue exploitation of sex” or sex combined with “crime, horror, cruelty [or] violence.” The two-pronged definition means sex and horror scenes that would be legal on their own can trigger prosecution when combined in the same film. This standard arguably makes just about any R-rated American horror movie obscene in Canada.
Couture’s short films, which he posted on his website innerdepravity.com, chronicle the crimes of a serial killer who likes to have sex with his victims after they’re dead. Couture, who pleaded not guilty in October and faces up to two years in prison if convicted by a jury, emphasizes that his work does not feature rape scenes and that all the gory violence is simulated.
Simulated too well, apparently. The Montreal Gazette reports that the case against Couture originated with complaints to Interpol from people who “thought the depicted events were real.”
More Articles by Jacob Sullum
- Is That a Spy in Your Pocket?, Jacob Sullum, May 23, 2012
- Romney's Gay Marriage Challenge, Jacob Sullum, May 16, 2012
- Obama's Gay Marriage Equivocation, Jacob Sullum, May 9, 2012
Most Popular Stories
- St. Louis Cops Worry That In-Car Cameras 'Are Being Used Against Them' (5.23)
- Here Are the 15 Senators Who Voted to Stop Armed FDA Agents From Conducting Warrantless Raids on America's Farmers (Not One of Them is a Democrat) (5.24)
- Reason "Hero of Freedom" Larry Flynt's Latest Stunt? Photoshopping a Penis into Mouth of Conservative Pundit S.E. Cupp (5.24)
- Plastic Bag Ban Will Put Los Angeles In Landfill (5.23)
- When Government Privileges Trump the Rights of Citizens (5.25)
Reason RUPE: Public Opinion Survey
- Reason-Rupe: Wisconsinites Favor Increasing Public Union Retirement Contributions to Address Budget Deficit (5.25)
- Reason-Rupe Poll Finds Support for Public Union Reforms (5.25)
- New Poll: Obama Leads Romney In Wisconsin, But Gary Johnson Could Impact the Race (5.24)
- Wisconsin Recall: Walker Leads Barrett 50-42 Among Likely Voters (5.24)
- Reason-Rupe Poll: Walker Leads Barrett 50-42, Obama Leads Romney 46-36 (5.24)
advertisements
Get Reason E-mail Updates!
Manage your Reason e-mail list subscriptionsSite comments/questions:
Media Inquiries and Reprint Permissions:
(310) 367-6109
Editorial & Production Offices:
3415 S. Sepulveda Blvd.
Suite 400
Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 391-2245
Editor's Note: We invite comments and request that they be civil and on-topic. We do not moderate or assume any responsibility for comments, which are owned by the readers who post them. Comments do not represent the views of Reason.com or Reason Foundation. We reserve the right to delete any comment or disable your ability to comment for any reason at any time.
nike shoes UK|8.5.11 @ 11:39PM|#
is good
discount mbt|12.15.11 @ 9:51PM|#
perfect
topsbdunksale|12.27.11 @ 1:37AM|#
perfect
Cheap adidas shoes|12.27.11 @ 1:51AM|#
perfect
wubai|3.3.12 @ 11:34PM|#
How about mbt kisumu sandals this one: there are X driving deaths a year- what % of driving deaths (or serious injuries) involve alcohol, or other intoxicating substances? kisumu 2 People are pretty darn good drivers when they are not impaired.
qiaofeng|3.4.12 @ 2:20AM|#
outlet
xiaofeng|3.5.12 @ 9:48AM|#
outlet
jiusuan|3.6.12 @ 1:32AM|#
outlet
cajia|3.8.12 @ 6:13AM|#
outlet
fantasy|4.27.12 @ 1:41AM|#
impairment" that corresponds to a probability nike shox tl3 of an accident. Standard psychomotor tests of impairment do not test driving habits. For instance almost *all* people over the age of 60 are "impaired" in terms of those tests, oakely sunglasses but these people do not have a higher accident rate. Older people develop compensatory driving habits