Hey gang, Valkor here. I have friends who ask me why I review
a lot of indie films; the main reason I do, whether the film is
good or bad, is that the review brings traffic to the site. That’s
just being honest because that’s a huge reason why I do them.
But the second reason would be, if the film is a good one, then
I’m introducing it to an audience who might overlook it. Which
brings us to the next MediaView nugget that's up on deck – Cut
Shoot Kill. A film I thought I was going to take a pass, but instead
I fell in love with it!
“Cut Shoot Kill” puts the focus on Serena (Alexandra Socha), an actress who is looking to make her mark in the film world. She scores a starring role in a horror film produced by a bunch of backwoods hillbillies, who make amazing horror films that look a little “too real”. The shoot starts out like a typical film shoot would, but when the murder scenes kick in… people start disappearing leaving Serena as the last gal standing. Eventually, she discovers what’s really happening, but now she’s faced with a dilemma of whether to make a run for safety or continue with the troupe, becoming their latest “scream queen”. There’s a lot more going on underneath than what I just mentioned, but to say any more would give away too much. And this is the type of film where you don’t want to spoil as much because it’s just that awesome.
Going in, I thought “Cut Shoot Kill” would be something like “Grave Encounters”, a found-footage type of film but from the actor’s perspective. I was plenty surprised when it was none of that, but something much cooler! I know it’s kind of jumping the gun from the breakdown, but this is the reason why one should never assume what a film is going to be, based on its synopsis. And I make that mistake plenty of times!
The Good:
"Cut Shoot Kill" is a combination of great writing, great directing, and great acting coming together to form unique yet enjoyable horror experience. While the idea of a “film within a film” is nothing new, what “Cut Shoot Kill” does is serve up a refreshing take on the genre. It’s a slasher horror, but with a tad more drama, which isn’t a bad thing as the film is capable enough to carry you from start to finish in an entertaining fashion. The story is pretty straightforward and easy to follow. And while the runtime is lengthy, the pacing is set just right that it doesn’t feel as though you’re about to sit through a hefty film. The kills are equally balanced to the story, with nothing too gory, but there are a few moments that are a bit squeamish. Finally, everyone deserves accolades for their performances. But I’m gonna give a couple of nods to Alex Hurt as director “Alabama” and show stealer Jay Devore as “iBall” for being the adorable idiot this film deserves. In the end, if you’re looking for a horror that’s a bit different, but still just as exciting, then you’ll definitely want to check out “Cut Shoot Kill”.
The Bad:
N/A
The Ugly:
N/A
Cut Shoot Kill is available now on iTunes, Google Play Store, and Amazon Instant. And it’s worth checking out if you’re looking for something new in the horror field. I really wasn’t expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. But in the end, I’m making Cut Shoot Kill one of my new horror favs. And out of TOV 5 stars, I’m giving the film a 4.5.
