One Cut of the Dead

Shudder | Release Date: September 13, 2019

7.6	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 58 Ratings

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Meth-dudeJul 14, 2020

With very likeable characters, an interesting and original script that manages to be constantly unpredictable, a great soundtrack, more than decent acting performances and a satisfying finale, "One Cut of the Dead" is a great movie thatWith very likeable characters, an interesting and original script that manages to be constantly unpredictable, a great soundtrack, more than decent acting performances and a satisfying finale, "One Cut of the Dead" is a great movie that deserves to be seen.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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spiteandmaliceOct 22, 2019

It's one of those films where the less you know about it in advance the better.

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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amheretojudgeSep 17, 2019

And I thought no one captured the team spirit in a way that Disney does, it's an honor to be proved wrong.

One Cut Of The Dead The screenwriter and the director Shinichiro Ueda has made a wrong film. It is not odd, but wrong. A film likeAnd I thought no one captured the team spirit in a way that Disney does, it's an honor to be proved wrong.

One Cut Of The Dead

The screenwriter and the director Shinichiro Ueda has made a wrong film. It is not odd, but wrong. A film like this should never succeed. It shouldn't even work. And yet against all odds. All methods. Procedures. Years of experience. History, to learn from. Inspire form. It is a beautiful film. Guillermo del Toro says that within the first ten minutes of the film, you can tell how the film is. And it is rare for a film then to change your mind. And this happens in here. But that was planned. The film is structured in a way to throw you off the hook.

So when the time comes to grab you with both of its hands, the film never leaves you and your sight. And the makers does this by keeping an audience member, even us, at certain moments, in that shot. We are the uncredited character. And the most valuable one. If the first act, the One Cut Of The Dead, that first shot keeps us behind the camera, in front of the screen, where we are now, the fourth wall then breaks down as we start exploring the "making" of that act.

And by then, a character is tagged for enacting like the audience, and his or her reaction is captured perpetually and shown to us. It may even drive your feelings as how you might take that scene. And it is satisfying for these characters to hold the film together- both the one in the film and the one itself- convincing us to participate and enjoy. And this is an important fabric of the storyline. For the last shot of the film is them taking a sigh of relief from working hard. That relaxation isn't something you can achieve, if you don't care for them or if you have not invested in the process.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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JLauSep 25, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Director makes a live broadcast zombie film about a director making a zombie film.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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The-Arty-DansSep 15, 2019

This movie is the product of a filmmaker and crew who love what they do and put all their heart and soul into making it the best they can. A shoestring budget doesn't distract you from the fantastic story, likeable cast of characters and theThis movie is the product of a filmmaker and crew who love what they do and put all their heart and soul into making it the best they can. A shoestring budget doesn't distract you from the fantastic story, likeable cast of characters and the best first 30 minutes of Japanese horror cinema. You're crazy if you don't watch it.

To know more, watch my YouTube review, copy this text into YT search: "REVIEW: One Cut of the Dead | Japan | 2017 arty dans"… Expand

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

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TheQuietGamerNov 13, 2021

Makes creative use of its meta film-within-a-film premise. It starts off on an amusing enough note as the crew of a low-budget production are attacked by the very same monsters found in their script and are thrust into danger by theirMakes creative use of its meta film-within-a-film premise. It starts off on an amusing enough note as the crew of a low-budget production are attacked by the very same monsters found in their script and are thrust into danger by their unhinged director. It's not bad, but the zombie action is kind of weak and there are a lot of odd moments that don't make sense until much later on in the running-time. So it's not until the second portion when the curtain is pulled back on a huge unexpected twist and it completely changes its entire game (while still remaining true to the mise en abyme concept), essentially giving us two movies in one, that I began to understand why this has received so much praise. As weird as it feels to say, things are better off without the undead.

After One Cut goes in a wholly different direction we get a much funnier tale that can be surprisingly heartwarming. What we just saw beforehand is not simply abandoned however. Rather, it's built on, enriched, and made deeper. A lot of its more questionable aspects you will have noticed are explained, adding a lot of value to a rewatch of that first segment. In the end there aren't two disparate halves here, but rather a pair of distinctive, yet similar pieces that need each other to work.

Enjoyable as it all may be though, most of the hype is coming from its novelty more so than the actual content which is merely solid. There are some good jokes, but it's never a laugh riot and while I do think it's sweet with a good heart I wasn't invested in the characters. At the same time, I haven't seen anything that's executed its ideas quite like this has and in an era where originality is harder than it should be to come by that makes the experience quite refreshing, so I understand why there are so many overstatements about its quality. Particularly given its charming attitude. This is probably the cutest thing on Shudder after all.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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DawdlingPoetNov 24, 2021

This is quite a clever film. I won't provide many spoilers, I'll just say that its not what it first seems, in more ways than one. It doesn't seem especially amusing at first but there are certainly comedic moments present. If your not a fanThis is quite a clever film. I won't provide many spoilers, I'll just say that its not what it first seems, in more ways than one. It doesn't seem especially amusing at first but there are certainly comedic moments present. If your not a fan of shaky camerawork, then this film probably won't be for you but if you like films with multiple plot elements/lines, or you like comedy/horror then this is for you. Its quirky and entertaining. Yes, I'd recommend it.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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DarkwingSchmuckJul 27, 2023

One Cut of the Dead is one of those movies that you owe yourself to see without seeking out any information on it beforehand. This fun, funny, original low budget film is made for anyone who loves the craft of filmmaking, or for anyone whoOne Cut of the Dead is one of those movies that you owe yourself to see without seeking out any information on it beforehand. This fun, funny, original low budget film is made for anyone who loves the craft of filmmaking, or for anyone who has ever attempted to make a movie in their life. Regardless of scale or budget.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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