Snuff by Chuck Palahniuk begins in a dingy, basement greenroom where six-hundred men are gathered to break a world record. Cassie Wright is an aging pornstar attempting to break the record for serial fornication. Immediately we are introduced to Mr. 600 (the number his casting number) who explains the various types of “dudes” in the room and is himself a veteran in the adult industry. The point of view then shifts to Mr. 72, himself a young kid who wears a cross around his neck. The last performer who takes a spot in the center stage is Mr. 137, a disgraced former television actor who starred in a primetime detective show. The final person to be introduced is Sheila, the talent wrangler, who seems to hold all of the male performers in contempt but has an uncanny knowledge about pornographic facts.
Throughout the middle portion of the novel the characters various “secrets” are revealed. Mr. 72 thinks himself to be the son of Cassie Wright, and has fantasized about her for years, not wishing to think about her like that, but seeing as she is a pornstar it is his only means of “communication” with her. Mr. 137 acted in a gay pornographic film before his career took off and was the cause of his downfall, he was also molested by his father. Sheila helped Cassie Wright take out ten million dollars in life insurance on her before the shoot, and Mr. 600 is positive that Cassie intends to die during the shoot.
During the last few moments of the book after Mr. 72 has had his “turn” with Cassie Wright, it is shown that everything is not as it seems. Before Mr. 72 went with Cassie Wright, Mr. 600 gave him a cyanide pill to give to Cassie, but he does not. Once he gives the pill back to Mr. 600 Sheila tells the truth that Mr. 72 is not Cassie’s son, but rather she is and is going to take the ten million in life insurance money to the bank. In a twist however, Mr. 600 (who is Sheila’s father) takes the cyanide killing himself. When the paramedics arrive Cassie “jumps” on him in a rage and when the defibralaters are used they end up being “stuck” together. Mr. 72 and Zelda Zonk (Sheila’s birth name) presumably live happily ever after.
Throughout the middle portion of the novel the characters various “secrets” are revealed. Mr. 72 thinks himself to be the son of Cassie Wright, and has fantasized about her for years, not wishing to think about her like that, but seeing as she is a pornstar it is his only means of “communication” with her. Mr. 137 acted in a gay pornographic film before his career took off and was the cause of his downfall, he was also molested by his father. Sheila helped Cassie Wright take out ten million dollars in life insurance on her before the shoot, and Mr. 600 is positive that Cassie intends to die during the shoot.
During the last few moments of the book after Mr. 72 has had his “turn” with Cassie Wright, it is shown that everything is not as it seems. Before Mr. 72 went with Cassie Wright, Mr. 600 gave him a cyanide pill to give to Cassie, but he does not. Once he gives the pill back to Mr. 600 Sheila tells the truth that Mr. 72 is not Cassie’s son, but rather she is and is going to take the ten million in life insurance money to the bank. In a twist however, Mr. 600 (who is Sheila’s father) takes the cyanide killing himself. When the paramedics arrive Cassie “jumps” on him in a rage and when the defibralaters are used they end up being “stuck” together. Mr. 72 and Zelda Zonk (Sheila’s birth name) presumably live happily ever after.