One Cut of the Dead
Shudder | Release Date: September 13, 2019 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
86
METASCORE
Universal acclaim based on 14 Critic Reviews
Positive:
14
Mixed:
0
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
100
Los Angeles TimesCarlos AguilarSep 12, 2019
A master class in endless narrative inventiveness and an ode to the resourceful and collaborative spirit of hands-on filmmaking, One Cut of the Dead amounts to an explosively hilarious rarity. Read full review
100
The TelegraphRobbie CollinJan 27, 2019
In its own ingenious way, One Cut of the Dead cleaves true to the most important zombie rule of all: survival has always been a team effort. Read full review
100
CineVueChristopher MachellJan 27, 2019
As much a repudiation of auteur theory as a tribute to the imperfect process of creation, One Cut of the Dead is a thrilling reminder that of the beautiful, vital lie that is cinema. Read full review
91
IndieWireDavid EhrlichJan 27, 2019
One Cut of the Dead is so heartfelt and hilarious that it’s easy to forgive the contrivances that hold it together, and to overlook how transparently Ueda reverse-engineers most of his best gags. Read full review
91
The A.V. ClubKatie RifeJan 27, 2019
It reinvents the zombie movie. Read full review
90
The New York TimesElisabeth VincentelliDec 26, 2019
Ueda’s wonderfully tight script is divided into three acts, with the second and third parts casting the opener in an entirely new light — so much so that I rewatched it as soon as the movie ended. Read full review
90
VarietyRichard KuipersJan 27, 2019
“One Cut” captures all the craziness and exhilaration of movie-making on a minuscule budget. High-energy performances from a cast of little-knowns are perfectly tuned to the material. The outstanding technical package is a great example of how to create a Poverty Row look for what’s actually a very sophisticated filmmaking exercise. Read full review
88
Paste MagazineAndrew CrumpSep 19, 2019
It’s chaos, but it’s controlled chaos (even if only just), and in the chaos there’s absolute joy. Read full review
80
The Hollywood ReporterElizabeth KerrJan 27, 2019
One Cut wears its cheapness as a badge of honor, a tricky endeavor given its actual production polish; make-up effects by Kazuhide Simohata and Jyunko Hirabayashi go a long way to supplying the film-within-the-film its guerilla feel. But the pic's best effect is its ability to ensure the same jokes land just as well in their second contexts. Read full review
80
EmpireIan FreerJan 27, 2019
One Cut Of The Dead is a true original, a fresh take on the zombie apocalypse drama and much more besides. Read full review
80
The GuardianPeter BradshawJan 27, 2019
It’s a movie that rescues the tired zombie trope – without insisting on metaphor or satire. Read full review
80
The Observer (UK)Simran HansJan 27, 2019
For a movie about the undead, Japanese director Shin’ichirô Ueda’s horror comedy is certainly lively. Read full review
78
Austin ChronicleRichard WhittakerSep 25, 2019
One Cut of the Dead isn't just charming. It's an earnest and funny love letter to all the microbudget dreamers who use all their heart and ingenuity to make their movie. Read full review
63
RogerEbert.comSimon AbramsSep 13, 2019
For me, One Cut of the Dead is good enough. It sometimes surprised me while I waited for a payoff that Ueda basically delivered, even if he and his collaborators never made me involuntarily leave my seat. Read full review
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