Films like The Joys of Torture.

The Joys of Torture (1968) reads as Heavy, kinetic, extreme exploitation / anthology, inventive in texture. Nihilistic, intimate, cold. Every film below is ranked by distance across the same twelve hand-scored axes — with what it keeps, and where it walks away. Not a genre dump.

Eaten Alive (1976) poster
1. Eaten Alive1976

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The New York Ripper (1982) poster
2. The New York Ripper1982

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Macabre (1980) poster
3. Macabre1980

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The Killer Snakes (1974) poster
4. The Killer Snakes1974

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

And God Said to Cain (1970) poster
5. And God Said to Cain1970

Keeps the bone-dry seriousness and the pitch-dark outlook — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

A Bay of Blood (1971) poster
6. A Bay of Blood1971

Keeps the bone-dry seriousness and the pitch-dark outlook; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

Frightmare (1974) poster
7. Frightmare1974

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Alice, Sweet Alice (1976) poster
8. Alice, Sweet Alice1976

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Cut-Throats Nine (1972) poster
9. Cut-Throats Nine1972

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness; trades toward a grounded, familiar shape.

Female Prisoner Scorpion: #701's Grudge Song (1973) poster
10. Female Prisoner Scorpion: #701's Grudge Song1973

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Your Vice Is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key (1972) poster
11. Your Vice Is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key1972

Keeps the bone-dry seriousness and the pitch-dark outlook; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

The Pit and the Pendulum (1961) poster
12. The Pit and the Pendulum1961

Keeps the bone-dry seriousness and the pitch-dark outlook; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

These are The Joys of Torture’s neighbours — where are yours?

Rate five posters and the same twelve axes read you — then tonight’s pick comes from your own centre of taste.

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