Smash Cut (2009) Reviews

• Succeeds or fails, depending on your view of schlock

  Craig_McPherson2009-07-19

  For a porn actress seeking to cross over to the mainstream, taking a role in a B-(or less)-movie might seem like a heaven-sent opportunity, but if your name's Sasha Grey (real name Marina Ann Hantzis), you might want to think twice about appearing in a Lee Demarbre flick. For the uninitiated, Demarbre is a Canadian film maker whose credits include the cult film Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter, which was shot on a budget of $45,000. His latest offering, Smash Cut, which made its world debut at Montreal's 2009 edition of the Fantasia Film Festival, is an equally low budget nod to schlock impresario Herschell Gordon Lewis (Two Thousand Maniacs, The Wizard of Gore). While such a film would seem like a natural opportunity for someone from the adult film realm to use as a segue into the mainstream, a later production – Steven Soderbergh's "The Girlfriend Experience" also starring Grey - was released well before Smash Cut, making this look like her second mass market role, when, in fact, the reverse is true. All of which is too bad for Grey, who is the only member of the cast who displays anything remotely approaching acting talent. The story, such as it is, is thin, and one can suppose that Demarbre was merely looking for a vehicle for tongue-in-cheek humor and gore. A down on his luck director by the name of Able Whitman (played by veteran shock horror actor David Hess of original Last House on the Left fame), dismayed by the critical reception to his cheap films special effects, decides to use real human body parts to impart realism. His first victim turns out to be a relative of April Carson (Grey), a reporter for a local television station. With the backing of her station manager (H.G. Lewis) she sets out to infiltrate Whitman's production by responding to a casting call. None of this really matters, though, as the film's true mission is to emulate the low budget schlock of Lewis' films, which it does admirably and is about the only critical compliment I can give this film. Overall the story is poorly executed trash. In keeping with the Lewis factor, everyone involved with the exception of Grey seems to be trying to outdo each other on the bad acting scale. Lines appear to be not merely improved, but takes are used that show actors struggling on the fly to think them up. Grey, whose acting is wildly uneven, is the only cast member who shows any potential of being able to believably take on a role, whether or not this was by choice or accident, given the atrocious performances turned in by the rest of the cast, is a matter for further debate. What's unfortunate, however, is that this movie will be released after Grey's performance in Soderbergh's "The Girlfriend Experience", and look like a step down from a promising debut. What's not in question here is Grey's acting ability, but the projects she chooses to appear in from here on in. Some of this may not be within her control, given her ongoing career in the adult realm, but choosing to appearing a mainstream film that has all the look, feel, and production values of a porn film (minus the sex) can hardly be taken as a wise career move.

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• Fantastic B Movie!

  mayhembegins2010-02-12

  If you love low budget films, this is an absolute must-see. I loved every minute of it, every bad line of dialogue, every bad joke, every predictable plot device, even the ridiculous costumes. On the "B" movie scale I give it 8 out of 10. The cast and director are (mostly) very experienced, if you think for a minute that the camp and cheese is accidental, you should probably rent a Van Damme flick next time. Incidentally, it was filmed in my hometown, so I enjoyed seeing familiar landmarks. Most notably the famous Bytown Theater is featured in several scenes. I read the other reviews on here and really, if you don't like "B" movies, don't write reviews on them... If you know what to expect from this film, you will love it. OK, actual critical stuff... The opening and closing credits were both absolutely first rate. The score is brilliant, really ties the film together very nicely. The cast is full of familiar faces for horror buffs, which is a real treat. Sasha Grey performs excellently, and I love that the director never sexualizes her (except for a cute nurse outfit). Watch this movie in the right frame of mind and you will have a blast!

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• Silly

  kosmasp2009-10-20

  Watched this one at the Fright Fest in London. I enjoy David Hess and his performance. Unfortunately the movie itself is just way too silly. And even though it is quite likable, in it's low budget way, most jokes just don't work (for me). I appreciate the effort (look out for gazillion posters hanging around, with awesome movie titles, that haven't been used yet), but on the other hand, you really have to set your expectations low with this one. Another revelation, but unfortunately of the bad kind, is the actress Sasha Grey. Although famous for her adult roles, she came (no pun intended) to the attention of the mainstream public audience, with her landing the role in the new Soderbergh movie (Girlfriend Experiment). While I haven't watched that movie yet, her performance in "Smash Cut" is really bad! While it isn't a movie to really judge someones acting abilities, she has a major role here and does disappoint. But I'm still curious of the Soderbergh movie, so I'm looking out for that. This movie can only be enjoyed, if you are in a really good/silly mood

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• Smash Cut from beyondthegore

  beyondthegore2012-03-27

  Two things might attract you to this movie; if you're like C, it's the prospect of seeing adult film actress Sasha Grey doing something other than swallowing massive meat (although why you would want to see her doing anything but that is a mystery to me), or you're like myself, and want to see a movie that is a tribute to the life and works of the God Father of gore H.G. Lewis. ... The gore, or lack of it, is another disappointment. The effects aren't really the problem, I realised that they were obviously fake to mimic some of the questionable gore props used in the 60s and 70s however I distinctly remember most of Lewis' gore being quite revolting and of bad taste. In 'Smash Cut' they are all played for a laugh which was a bit of a shame. In addition to this, and contrary to much of Lewis' ethos, many of the gore scenes are remarkably weak, nothing much is shown. On occasion the gore is there with some guts and plenty of blood, but certainly nothing which sticks in your head like in Lewis' movies. 'Smash Cut' delivers an experience which is occasionally close to the great Lewis movies of old, too often though it forces the formula too far, with the 'bad acting' coming off a little to camp, and many of the jokes coming too close to seeming like a bit of a micky take. There are many aspects of the movie which fall short, but overall, the main problem remains that for a movie attempting to pay homage to the God Father of gore, it's not anyway near gory enough. Read the full review at: beyondthegore

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• I thought all the prints were destroyed, and yet here it is!

  paul_haakonsen2010-02-16

  Well, at least they made an attempt. This movie has a stupid storyline, and doesn't provide any thrills or scares. Throughout the movie you will be laughing at the effects and the characters. The movie is a mix of mediocre and bad acting, and none really shines through in a great way. But despite this, the goofiness (whether intended or not) makes the movie watchable, because you will be laughing at them. The costumes were hilarious, and makes you wonder "what were they thinking?". Some of the sets were alright though, not everything was bad here. There was a 70's feeling to the movie somehow. At least an attempt was made at this movie, but it is not a very good movie in overall. But at least some of the ways people were killed were inventive and funny, that counts for something. This is not a movie that I would recommend you pick up, unless you have too much time on your hands and want to kill off an hour and a half with a low budget movie that really isn't worth the effort. There are lots of other low budget movies out there far better than this one!

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