Plot: What’s it about?
As the production of Hot Blooded began, a tragic turn of events took place and as such, the film was never completed. After a tough series of takes, the director ended up murdered and the film was halted, doomed to remain unfinished for years. As time passed, word was spread about the film and the producer hired someone to complete it, but as the man viewed the print, he was killed right in the theater. As such, the film was labeled as cursed and no one would touch it again…until now. A team of student filmmakers plans to finish the picture and end the legacy, hopefully on a prosperous note, of course. The team includes director Raffy (Jessica Napier) and producer Hester (Sarah Kants), who are dedicated to making the project work, no matter what it takes. The production even manages to gain the services of Hot Blooded’s lead star, Vanessa (Molly Ringwald). So it seems the curse has been broken to the young filmmakers, but as they soon discover, the curse is very much real and is about to take some new victims.
If you’re looking for a serious horror picture, then Cut is not the title to spin, but I found it to be an entertaining flick. Not a good movie by any means, but some rather hilarious moments to be sure, though I think most were unintentional. Molly Ringwald is so bad in her role that I was stunned, but her poor performance pulls some laughs also, which is welcome. The rest of the cast is a bunch of Australians, which adds humor also for those who love accents, as well as random humorous local dialect terms. The story is a rehashed one, the characters are rehashed, and the scare tactics are rehashed, so don’t expect an original horror movie with Cut. But if you’re a horror junkie, then you probably don’t care about how original it is, just how cool it is. I don’t think Cut will get many additional spins in my home theater, but it was fun to watch once and as such, I recommend it to horror fans out there as a rental.
I have to admit, I thought it would fun to see Molly Ringwald in a slasher movie, but I wasn’t all that thrilled in the end. I happen to find a lot of promise in even the worst performances, but Ringwald seems so uninterested here, not just within her character either. Yes, she is supposed to be uninterested within the film, but it seems like she wishes she was somewhere else, anywhere but on the set of Cut, that is. I’ve liked Ringwald’s work prior to this film and I know she could have done better, but I guess she just wasn’t that interested here. But then again, with this often weak material to work with, perhaps this is the best she could manage. You can also see Ringwald in such films as Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink, Stephen King’s The Stand, Betsy’s Wedding, and of course, The Breakfast Club. The cast also includes Kylie Minogue (Street Fighter, Moulin Rouge), Jessica Napier (Blackrock, Twitch), Sarah Kants, Frank Roberts, and Geoff Revell (Kiss or Kill).
Video: How does it look?
Cut is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. This is a very solid overall presentation, but the film’s low budget origins are obvious at times. This means some small flaws during production that are enhanced here, which makes them stand out more than before. Even so, this is an above average transfer and in the end, I don’t think anyone will be let down. The contrast is a little shaky at times, but is usually well balanced and effective. No problems with color either, as the hues seem bright enough and flesh tones surface in fine, natural form. As I said, the film’s low budget nature is evident at times, but this is more than adequate in all respects.
Audio: How does it sound?
I wasn’t expecting much from the included 2.0 surround track, but in the end, it offers an active and immersive atmosphere. The surrounds are used often to very effective means, while there’s also quite a bit of directional use, very cool indeed. The suspense filled moments are given additional tension thanks to this mix, which of course, enhances the overall experience here. The musical soundtrack is well presented also, which means the mostly rock tunes are hard and loud, just as they should be. I was unable to detect flaws with the dialogue either, it was always crisp and at a proper volume. This disc also includes subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes the film’s theatrical trailer.
