An independently produced movie is playing in St. Petersburg tonight. I won't tell you where because that would just send more people to see or protest it, and that might lead to trouble that, honestly, the city doesn't need, in light of its history of racial unease.

The intended audience knows what and where it is. There's a sturdy grapevine among sickos.

If this loathsome movie -- judging from the trailer, which I would post but tampabay.com prohibits displaying gratuitous racism, sexism, gore, nudity and profanity -- played in a conventional theater, and for a longer engagement, maybe I would steer folks there.

Grudgingly, and only for the chance that it might be shut down, hopefully without incident.

But I get the feeling that folks behind this one-time presentation are baiting me and I won't play into it. They want me to help increase ticket sales and quite possibly set off a protest that can be marketed into a greater haul at other such screenings and on DVD. I don't wish to assist such a cynical, possibly dangerous plan.

The movie is titled Black Devil Doll, in which a demonic, Chucky-style doll with a big Afro and Dolemite diction spews derogatory comments toward women as he rapes, beats and slashes them. That's about all you need to know about the plot.

Black Devil Doll is directed by California filmmaker Jonathan Lewis, who is identified in the trailer as having "been labeled a self-hating Negro." The other n-word is heard a lot in only four minutes. When a woman asks the puppet why he says it so often, it replies: "B----, I say n----- over a hundred times a day. It's the only thing that keeps my teeth white."

That's the level of entertainment here.

The trailer claims the movie is produced "in association with Ostein and Mayberg," although the Internet Movie Database doesn't list anyone with such Jewish-sounding names associated with the project. The credit appears to be simply another ethnic provocation.

The trailer also claims the movie is "rated X by an all-white jury," although it hasn't been submitted to the MPAA for a rating, and the X was retired 19 years ago. The reference to an all-white jury is stolen from Melvin Van Peebles' groundbreaking 1968 film Sweet Sweetback's Baadassss Song, and I don't think he would appreciate that.

If you really must watch the definitely NSFW trailer, you can find it on YouTube here, after jumping through a few hoops confirming that you're over 18. I don't recommend it.

I only mention Black Devil Doll now because I received two e-mails plugging the screening. I get promotional e-mails like that all of the time. Tampa Bay is crawling with nearly-amateur filmmakers. Not all of them go the gore route, or merit much attention.

I won't mention the promoter's name, either. Maybe he'll thank me in the long run. Or perhaps he'll never reach that point at which enough is enough, even in exceedingly gruesome and tasteless movies created for a sick, niche audience demanding them. I enjoy tasteless and gruesome when delivered with style that isn't suggested by the Black Devil Doll trailer.

The situation reminds me of a guy I know named Scotty who can get pretty obnoxious when he has too much to drink. His mouth gets engaged while his brain is disconnected. It's obviously a desperate attempt for attention. Scotty is often the only person in the bar who believes he's entertaining. Sometimes an equally buzzed customer will laugh and egg him on, often regretting that after a few more raw comments.

I've told Scotty to cool it before, when what he says gets too uncomfortable for other customers. His usual, loud response to that suggestion is: "I don't give a f---."

"No, man, sometimes you need to give a f---," I've told him.

That's what I'm saying to anyone believing Black Devil Doll is just a harmless joke that doesn't pander to base, racist instincts, with ramifications beyond its running time; people who'll use the fact that Lewis is African-American as justification for the bile. People who'll say: "Chill out, it's only a movie." There are others outside their circle who would disagree, and not as rationally as I've tried.

By the way, the Web site for Black Devil Doll lists another Tampa Bay playdate in June, at a legitimate movie theater whose participation shocks me. That could change, of course. Even in a bad economy, there are some things I wouldn't do for money.