Dan Aykroyd’s Shocking Murder Investigation Linked to a Flop Comedy!

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The question of whether ‘snuff’ – a controversial topic – persists, largely due to confusion about its nature. Contrary to popular belief, films such as Faces of Death and the ‘mondo’ genre do not qualify as snuff, despite their graphic content. Snuff, by definition, refers to films where actors are killed for profit from the sale of these violent videos. However, it should be noted that accusations of snuff films have persisted due to high-profile cases, like Ruggero Deodato’s court battles over Cannibal Holocaust, and Charlie Sheen’s mistaken belief that a Japanese horror film depicted real-life murder, leading him to contact the FBI.

Canadian actor Dan Aykroyd found himself entangled in rumors about snuff films as well. The famous Saturday Night Live performer was accused of being part of the production of a snuff video linked to the buddy-cop comedy “Loose Cannons” that he co-starred with Gene Hackman. So, how on earth did this come about? Let’s delve into the details.

The Painful Comedy of ‘Loose Cannons’

1990’s film “Loose Cannons” features Detective MacArthur “Mac” Stern (Gene Hackman) and his partner, Detective Ellis Fielding (Dan Aykroyd), who struggles with multiple personality disorder. They become entangled in an unusual case involving a former German Nazi officer, Kirk von Metz (Robert Prosky). A video emerged showing Metz engaging in sexual activity with Adolf Hitler, leading him to employ Nazi sympathizers to kill anyone who has seen or could access the footage. Despite his exceptional investigative skills, Ellis Fielding depends on Mac in dangerous situations because when confronted with such scenarios, he transforms into different popular cultural characters like The Road Runner and Popeye.

The buddy cop comedy “Loose Cannons,” boasting big-name stars like Gene Hackman and Dan Aykroyd, surprisingly flopped at the box office. Despite Bob Clark, renowned for hits such as “Black Christmas,” “Porky’s,” and “A Christmas Story,” directing and co-writing the film, it garnered only $5 million of its $15 million budget. Both Dan Aykroyd and critics panned the movie, with Gene Siskel calling it “ludicrous” and criticizing the entire production, particularly the cringe-worthy shtick from Aykroyd. Roger Ebert echoed these sentiments during an episode of “At the Movies.

In terms of Dan Aykroyd’s performance, it feels awkward when he’s doing characters like Tweetie Pie, Sylvester, Pee Wee Herman, and numerous others throughout the film. It’s as if a variety show act is abruptly inserted into the movie every few minutes.

Time passed, and the memory of the incident known as “Loose Cannons” faded away. It wasn’t until many years later that it was rediscovered and mistakenly identified as a snuff film.

How a Forgotten Comedy Got Mistaken for Snuff

In May 2013, an employee at a Canadian landfill in Calgary, Alberta, stumbled upon what appeared to be a chilling find. The waste management worker unearthed a distorted piece of 35mm celluloid film or photo negative, the clear plastic previously utilized in movie and photographic processing, showing a man wielding a knife, threateningly positioned over a corpse. The picture unnerved him, causing him to inform the Calgary police department about his discovery, who took the matter seriously.

Kevin Brookwell, a representative for the police department, stated that upon initial analysis, the incident may have appeared to be a homicide, or possibly someone filming a homicide, or even a snuff film. However, after further examination of the image, it turned out that the suspected killer bore an uncanny resemblance to the legendary Canadian comedian Dan Aykroyd.

The court hearing went on all day, and the authorities labeled the occurrence as somewhat amusing. TMZ might ask Dan Aykroyd to comment on the incident, and his humorous response mirrors the criticism the film has received from both audiences and critics: “The movie was better off in the dump where it was discarded.” The police never reached out to Aykroyd or his representatives for any further discussion about the discovery.

Should ‘Loose Cannons’ Have Been “Left in the Landfill?”

Dan Aykroyd gained initial fame for his memorable roles in movies such as Ghostbusters and The Blues Brothers. However, as time progressed, he made a name for himself more so through his entrepreneurial ventures like the House of Blues and Crystal Head Vodka which saw considerable success. Today, Aykroyd is often recognized not just as an accomplished comedic actor, but also as a successful businessman. Some might overlook the fact that he has had several films in the past with less-than-stellar reviews, such as On the Nose (2001), Exit to Eden (1994), and Nothing But Trouble (1991). While these movies were not well-received at the time and are mostly forgotten today, they remain a part of Aykroyd’s storied career. The latter is particularly notable as it was his first attempt at directing, which ultimately turned into a passion project that didn’t fare well at the box office.

The actor’s past roles in dubious films suggests that even a talented comedian’s presence doesn’t ensure a project will be enjoyable or a hidden gem. If the only surviving copy of Loose Cannons was found in a dump, preservation would be more important than quality when deciding whether it should have been there. However, as Aykroyd himself admitted, Loose Cannons is essentially the ‘trash’ he referred to. If you’re still curious, you can rent or buy Loose Cannons on digital platforms like Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, and Fandango Now, or stream it for free on Tubi through the link provided. And rest assured, it’s not a snuff film.

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2025-01-18 06:02