Skip to content
What's After the Movie?
Horror thriller

A Beginner's Guide to Snuff (2017): Cast, Ratings & Box Office

A Beginner's Guide to Snuff (2017) movie poster

A Beginner's Guide to Snuff is a 2017 horror thriller directed by Mitchell Altieri, starring Brad Greenquist, Luke Edwards and Joey Kern. It runs 1 hour 27 minutes and earned $21,031 worldwide on a $1.8 million budget. IMDb users rate it 3.4/10.

IMDb rating
3.4/10
worldwide gross
$21K
Echo Score
63
budget
$1.8M
Loading streaming availability…
A Beginner's Guide to Snuff (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 27m (87 min)
Director
Mitchell Altieri
Genres
Thriller , Horror , Comedy
Original language
English
Budget
$1.8M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is A Beginner's Guide to Snuff About?

The premise of A Beginner's Guide to Snuff without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Two brothers set out to create a shocking film, intending to capture genuine terror on camera. Their plan involves kidnapping a woman to act as their subject, but things take a dark and unexpected turn when they discover their captive is not the actress they believed she was. The resulting ordeal blends thriller, horror, and dark comedy in a disturbing and unsettling narrative.

A Beginner's Guide to Snuff Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • high school
  • sex education
  • virgin
  • teacher
  • female nudity
  • big cleavage
  • female topless nudity
  • woman flashes
  • seduction
  • sex scene
  • sex comedy
  • dream
+38 more
  • sex dream
  • erotic dream
  • talking to a stuffed rabbit
  • trampoline
  • stuffed animal
  • mother daughter relationship
  • bumper sticker
  • school
  • classroom
  • immature woman
  • talking about sex
  • adult virgin
  • car accident
  • graffiti
  • locker
  • throwing eggs
  • first day on the job
  • reference to helen keller
  • spilled milk
  • virginity
  • pancake
  • immaturity
  • reference to punky brewster
  • pretending to be mentally challenged
  • librarian
  • reference to huckleberry finn
  • reference to the marquis de sade
  • kama sutra
  • gay slur
  • watching porn
  • pornography
  • ketchup
  • mustard
  • hot dog costume
  • scream
  • sister sister relationship
  • gym teacher
  • sex education teacher
Loading streaming availability…
Cast & crew

A Beginner's Guide to Snuff Cast

Brad Greenquist leads the cast, with Luke Edwards and Joey Kern. Directed by Mitchell Altieri; 10 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Mitchell Altieri

More films directed by Mitchell Altieri: Consumed, Broken Ties, Star Light and The Night Watchmen.

Full filmography
Ratings

A Beginner's Guide to Snuff Reviews & Ratings

IMDb users rate A Beginner's Guide to Snuff 3.4/10. Our Echo Score gives it 63/100, strongest in character & emotion (80) and weakest in sensory experience (55).

63 /100

A Beginner's Guide to Snuff Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, A Beginner's Guide to Snuff presents a mixed tonal execution that delivers sporadic comedic rewards but suffers from uneven pacing and inconsistent tone. Critics noted that the film’s outré premise often fails to sustain surprises, while some viewers praised the energetic lead performances and dark humor. User reactions highlight a blend of sharp one-liners and moments of discomfort arising from abrupt shifts between raunchy comedy and unsettling tension. Ultimately, the film offers modest entertainment for niche audiences but balances novelty with structural flaws.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 55

    In terms of art direction, the film exhibits a modest indie aesthetic with minimal production design details and restrained visual flair. The low-budget nature is evident in straightforward setups and basic editing rhythms, which some reviewers found serviceable but unremarkable. Critics did not highlight standout cinematography, and viewers rarely mentioned visual style or sound design. As a result, the presentation remains functional without distinct artistic signatures.

  • Character & Emotion 80

    When it comes to character depth, the film benefits from vibrant lead performances that bring emotional vitality to its concept. Multiple viewers praised Whitney Moore’s engaging presence and found supporting actors like Simon Rex and Tom Arnold broadly effective. While a few observers criticized occasional two-dimensional portrayals and uneven stereotyping, the majority response highlights lively portrayals and palpable on-screen chemistry. The net effect is a cast performance that sustains viewer interest despite sporadic depth limitations.

  • Story & Flow 60

    In terms of story coherence, the narrative displays a high-concept premise that delivers uneven pacing and tonal shifts. Some critics and users noted smart storytelling choices and fresh comedic writing, while others described the plot as confusing and dragging in places. Abrupt transitions between raunchy humor, discomfort, and attempted avant-garde elements contribute to mixed engagement. Overall, the storyline engages intermittently but struggles to maintain consistency throughout its runtime.

  • Sensory Experience 55

    In terms of sensory design, the film offers a functional sound mix and straightforward score that support its comedic moments without standing out. Visual style aligns with an indie production, employing basic lighting and straightforward compositions that emphasize the performances rather than flourish in cinematographic invention. Soundtrack and design were largely unremarked upon, suggesting a satisfying but unremarkable audio-visual experience. The result is a passable sensory package lacking strong stylistic distinction.

  • Rewatch Factor 65

    In terms of rewatch value, the film’s memorable one-liners and bold humor provide occasional appeal on repeat viewings. Enthusiasts of edgy comedies may revisit scenes for clever dark jokes and the lead’s spirited delivery, as evidenced by positive viewer recommendations. However, mixed tonal execution and uneven pacing may limit repeated enjoyment for a broader audience. Consequently, the movie retains niche replay potential tempered by its structural inconsistencies.

Plot

A Beginner's Guide to Snuff Plot Summary

What happens in A Beginner's Guide to Snuff from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 10 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In a daring attempt to break into the horror genre, aspiring filmmakers Dresden and Dominic decide to create a found footage film that skillfully blurs the line between reality and fiction. Their journey begins with auditions for an unsuspecting actress named Jennifer, who unwittingly gets caught in their devious plot. The brothers deliberately choose to keep their true intentions hidden, aiming to elicit authentic reactions from Jennifer without her knowledge or consent. Driven by an intense passion for cinema, Dresden defends their unorthodox strategy as a necessary step in pushing the limits of art and ethics.

Full summary

The whole story of A Beginner's Guide to Snuff, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

A Beginner's Guide to Snuff Box Office & Budget

A Beginner's Guide to Snuff grossed $21,031 worldwide on a $1.8 million budget.

2017 box office

Worldwide gross

$21K

US & Canada
$21K
Budget
$1.8M
Videos

A Beginner's Guide to Snuff Trailers & Videos

The trailer of A Beginner's Guide to Snuff.

A Beginners Guide to Snuff [OFFICIAL TRAILER] (2017)
Quiz

How Well Do You Know A Beginner's Guide to Snuff?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What genre is the movie 'A Beginner's Guide to Snuff'?

Details

A Beginner's Guide to Snuff Also Known As

3 alternative titles, including “Руководство для начинающих по снафф-видео” and “어 비기너스 가이드 투 스너프”.

Also known as
  • Руководство для начинающих по снафф-видео
  • 어 비기너스 가이드 투 스너프
  • 初学者的鼻烟指南

Seen A Beginner's Guide to Snuff?

FAQ

A Beginner's Guide to Snuff FAQ: Cast & Box Office

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of A Beginner's Guide to Snuff, each answered in a sentence.

How long is A Beginner's Guide to Snuff?

A Beginner's Guide to Snuff runs 1 hour 27 minutes (87 minutes).

When was A Beginner's Guide to Snuff released?

A Beginner's Guide to Snuff was released on June 23, 2017.

Who directed A Beginner's Guide to Snuff?

A Beginner's Guide to Snuff was directed by Mitchell Altieri.

More films by Mitchell Altieri

Who is in the cast of A Beginner's Guide to Snuff?

A Beginner's Guide to Snuff stars Brad Greenquist, Luke Edwards and Joey Kern, among 10 credited actors.

How much did A Beginner's Guide to Snuff make at the box office?

A Beginner's Guide to Snuff grossed $21,031 worldwide on a budget of $1.8 million.

How is A Beginner's Guide to Snuff rated?

A Beginner's Guide to Snuff has 3.4/10 on IMDb, 50% on TMDB, 3.0/5 on Letterboxd and 2.3/5 on Movie Insider.

Does A Beginner's Guide to Snuff have a post-credit scene?

No. A Beginner's Guide to Snuff has no extra scene during or after the credits.

Coming soon to your phone

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app