Smash Cut (2009)

Director:

Lee Demarbre

Writer:

Ian Driscoll (written by)

Genre:

Comedy | Horror

Plot:

After his latest film is met with horrible reviews, Able Whitman sets out to prove the critics wrong by finding inspiration in his cast and crew. Sometimes great art requires great sacrifice- and the director always gets final cut!

Plot Keywords:

Body Part | Stripper | Strip Club | Dead Body In Car Trunk | Black Comedy

Cast

David Hess	...	Able Whitman
Jesse Buck	...	Isaac Beaumonde
Michael Berryman	...	Philip Farmsworth Jr.
Ray Sager	...	Reverend Ezekial Boone
Sasha Grey	...	April Carson
Jennilee Murray	...	Georgina Carson aka Gigi Spot
Michael Dubue	...	Alan Dackman
Barry Blake	...	Armand Parys
Parisa Kasaei	...	Intern
Peter Michael Dillon	...	Oswald 'Ozzie' Kohlberg
Meghanne Kessels	...	Mitzi Jackel
Jeff Lawson	...	R.L. Smith
Mercedes Papalia	...	Doctor / Stripper
Herschell Gordon Lewis	...	Fred Sandy
Cinthia Burke	...	Starla

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:MA (2009)

Filming Locations:

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Zed Filmworks

Goofs:

Continuity: The red Alfa that Able was driving was visibly damaged from hitting a tree the night before, yet when he drove it to work the next morning, there was no damage to the front of the car at all

A fresh faced and amusing in jokey schlock entertainment

I was surprised with just how much fun I had with this one. Now the plotting and writing isn't the best and there seemed to be at least one blatant plot hole, plus the film did have the odd more general issue with it but once it really got geared up it was a blast for me. It opens with some very stylish credits and a cast to really get the mouth watering, then swiftly gets down to business. It tells of horror hack director Able Whitman (David Hess) who is most upset by the bad reviews and general disdain for his work. After an unfortunate accident he sees the light though and decides to start using genuine body parts for the gore in his movies, something which of course requires killing. The film is something of an in joke for old school trash fans, as well as The Hess there are also appearances for Herschell Gordon Lewis, Michael Berryman and Ray (Montag The Magnificent) Sager. And also chic porno hottie Sasha Grey as a young journalist who gets an acting role on Whitman's latest film in order to investigate the disappearance of her sister. The chief sticking point is that there is a good deal less gore than one might expect, its there and there's some amusing bloodshed as well, but things take a while to hot up and there are really only three scenes of proper old school fake yet queasy gore of the HG Lewis variety. Fortunately the film is largely driven by The Hess, who lets go in an immensely entertaining performance, moving between passion, pathos, humour and derangement in always entertaining fashion. Sasha Grey isn't much of an actress but is watchable enough and the cameos are ace, especially Berryman. Barry Blake is also pretty fine as a classy and decent cinematographer, really the only role that I didn't like was Jesse Buck as a flamboyant private investigator, though I guess he was written irritating. Director Lee Demarbre conjures a suitably trashy feel whilst injecting random moments of neato style and while the film is certainly indulgent keeps it fast and fun. Also there's a really ripping score from Michael Dubue, perfectly suited to the film. The film isn't some great classic of cinema, or even a serious gore film and some will likely find it weak, irritating or both but after negotiating a shaky first half or so I thought it was a pretty sweet time. Worth a look for fans of the cast and trash aficionados.