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Cutting Room
Directed By Krist Rufty
Released: 2004
Starring: Lyla Sullivan, Noelle D’Amato, Shaun O’Rourke, and Chace
Ambrose
Running Time: 75 minutes
A cast party goes horribly wrong when the film’s deranged director begins
killing off the cast and crew of a horror film, called “Summer of Blood”,
in as many gruesome ways as possible. It seems that Angel (Lyla Sullivan)
is not too happy with her fellow filmmakers who seem to be only in the
movie business for money and fame. As Angel slices and dices her way
through the cast party to protect her art, the survivors fight back as
best they can.
Krist Rufty directs this fast paced and hilarious shot-on-video gem.
Cutting Room is a cheap slasher satire that rises above the glut of
indie horror with a great cast and competent direction and editing to keep
things moving. The fact that the film doesn’t take itself seriously helps
the viewer see past the low budget gore effects (extremely fake blood) and
lackluster sound production (may just be a product of my screener copy).
However, the film’s score is excellent as it incorporates cheesy
melodramatic horror movie music with driving punk rock and metal.
The cast of Cutting Room is excellent and everyone gives their all
to help make the film such an enjoyable watch. An early cameo from the
inimitable Lloyd Kaufman as a sleazy Hollywood producer kicks things to a
great start. Trent Haaga (Terror Firmer)
is in the film (all too briefly once again) and turns in another energetic
performance. There is also a wild masturbation scene featuring Jyllyan
Dixon (Sin By Murder) wherein her character, Liz, fantasizes about
winning an Oscar with orgasmic results.
Noelle D’Amato who plays Terry, plays the film’s heroine, is actually a
sympathetic and likeable character surrounded by jackasses. The insane
director of “Summer of Blood” is played excellently by Lyla Sullivan as
she puts a vast amount of heart into a whacked out character with dialogue
you have to hear to believe. The rest of the cast is hilarious and do a
good job of playing up the stereotypes of prima donna movie industry
people.
Cutting Room may look cheaply made but it is a hell of a lot of
fun. There are many references and nods to horror and exploitation films.
And although the first quarter of the film feels very much like a Troma
production, director Rufty brings an originality of his own to the
proceedings. Troma fans and open-minded viewers should seek out Cutting
Room. If you’re put off by low budgets then stay far away from this
one. True enough, there are a million and one micro-budget horror flicks
out there but I have to say that this film delivers on the gore, the
nudity, and the crude humor while becoming accidentally sublime.
For more information about Cutting Room, visit
Lazarus Entertainment.
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