Margaret Pomeranz never intended to work in front of the camera

Having famously walked out of a screening of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre back in 2003, Margaret Pomeranz has made no secret of her dislike for what she describes as “torture porn” movies.

Having famously walked out of a screening of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre back in 2003, Margaret Pomeranz has made no secret of her dislike for what she describes as “torture porn” movies.

But Australia’s top film and TV critic would never call for an end to the genre altogether.

“Certain genres are not my taste — prison dramas, man’s cruelty to other men or women … I used to embrace violence in cinema in a lot of ways, but I’m reacting against that,” Pomeranz tells the latest issue of Foxtel magazine.

Margaret Pomeranz is a tough TV and film critic. Picture: Supplied/Foxtel Magazine

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“I’m totally against any form of censorship, but for me it’s a personal taste thing. I saw the first two Saw movies and didn’t want to see another one, but they sponsored real Australian talent, so good luck to them. But it’s not my favourite genre, torture porn.”

Appearing on the cover of the magazine, 74-year-old Pomeranz speaks of her passion for the film industry.

Pomeranz has been a much loved constant on our television screens since 1986 when she and David Stratton launched The Movie Show on SBS.

Pomeranz famously walked out on a filming of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

In a revelation that might shock fans, Pomeranz never intended to work in front of the camera.

“I was only ever going to produce the show but I really wanted a woman’s point of view, as well as David’s,” she said, initially working as a producer on the series that ran until 2004 when the duo moved to the ABC to host At The Movies.

“I had all these wonderful females in mind, but everyone I suggested, he would go, ‘nuh, nuh, nuh!’ to all of them. We were getting very close to being on air and he eventually said to me, ‘Why don’t you give it a go?’ and whammo, here I am.”

Last year she hosted Screen alongside legendary actor Graeme Blundell.

In 2014, Pomeranz finished up with Stratton. She has co-hosted Screen on Foxtel Arts since 2015.

“I think I have been extremely lucky, but, after a lucky break, you still have to put in the effort. It’s hard work making the most of that luck, but I do love cinema. I think good cinema can provoke you to look at yourself, the world — to examine your own morality and that of the world around you.

“Films reflectsociety and ask questions of society as well. I think they are a tremendously significant art form, because they reach so many people. Even if I wasn’t involved with the movies in my career, I would still go to see two or three films per week. It’s just one of those things.”

Originally published as Margaret Pomeranz never intended to work in front of the camera