In 1997, a former professor at Carnegie Mellon University started the violent porn website Insex.com, devoted to bondage, fetish and sadomasochistic scenarios. Inspired by Japanese rope bondage and the art of Randa Mai and John Willie, Brent Scott (aka “pd”) managed to capture a moment and by the time the website was shut down by the Department of Homeland Security in 2005, the site had 35,000 members paying $60 a month to view its content. Now, in their documentary Graphic Sexual Horror, directors Barbara Bell and Anna Lorentzon interview pd and some of his more popular models to candidly tell the behind-the-scenes story as only true insiders can.

It is impressive how much access the directors are given to the subject and participants. There is no moral judgment or finger-pointing at the content of the website or its creator, and the models are forthright in their reasons for participating. Some were in it for the money but others simply for the thrill and the experience. The film stresses everyone was a willing participant, showing the models on camera holding their release forms acknowledging they are consenting adults. Some view the content not as pornography but as graphic art showcasing the beauty of bondage and the female form.

The ladies were well-compensated for their sessions and a safe word was provided for when they needed to stop, although using that word was greatly discouraged. Some models admit they resisted ending a session early for fear they would never be invited back. When pd felt the ladies were capitalizing on their names by appearing on competitor websites, he began identifying some of them as “model 42” or “model 19” and so on. As the site grew, pd came up with scenarios on a grander scale, including a woman submerged in a giant tank of water. pd admits the stunt was dangerous and thus canceled, but neither he nor the rigger accept responsibility for putting anyone in harm’s way.

The first hour of Graphic Sexual Horror covers the beauty of physical restraint and how extreme pain leads to a more powerful sexual release. Everyone defends the art and the artist, but in time, the darker side of pd’s world comes into focus. It is revealed pd was regularly pressuring ladies to have off-camera sexual relations with him to inspire future sessions, and he became mentally and emotionally abusive, shaming and demeaning the models. One woman says she specifically listed in the things she was uncomfortable with was having her face touched. During their session, pd repeatedly slaps her in the face and then gets angry when she is upset he crossed the line. Their following struggle is incredibly cringe-inducing. Another woman says she was only comfortable with vaginal penetration, but was anally raped by a metal sex toy. pd was prone to tantrums, constantly threatening to close the site if the women continued to resist his creativity. One session was scheduled for two days at a remote farmhouse, but lasted weeks, with everyone afraid to leave for fear of being fired.

Graphic Sexual Horror is a terrific look into a world unfamiliar to many, where an opportunistic man started off respectably before slipping into all sorts of abuse and degradation. pd is a complex and intense guy, but it’s the interviews with the women that will keep you watching. There are some comments from contemporary bondage webmasters who have followed the Insex.com model, but sadly not much from the fans. This documentary is filled with captivating imagery and will likely appeal to curious viewers and die-hard fans alike.