One Cut of the Dead has some of the most creative storytelling I’ve seen in ages.
Synopsis
One Cut of the Dead follows director Higurashi, who is filming a low-budget zombie film in an abandoned factory, when things take a wild turn.
My Thoughts
Where do I even start with this movie?
One Cut of the Dead is a film that is best watched not knowing anything, but since this is a review….
The synopsis for this film might not sound much, but there’s is more to it, and the first half an hour or so of the film features just uninterrupted shots with no cuts, with just the camera following the action, weaving through zombie chases, screaming actors, and Higurashi actively sabotaging people’s attempts to survive.
Some people complain about this first act, but I personally loved it, but stick with it if you find yourself saying WTF?
The film is a very low budget film as well, with it being made for around the $25,000 mark, but instead of being a problem, it somehow makes the whole thing even funnier, and just when you think you know what this movie is, it flips the whole damn thing on its head.
The rest of the film pulls back the curtain, showing you what led up to that insane first act and what was happening behind the scenes, and this is where the film goes from entertaining to pretty damn good.
You start seeing all these ridiculous moments in a new light, and what seemed like bad acting or weird dialogue before now makes perfect sense, and it’s one of those rare movies where you realize halfway through, “Oh, these guys are way smarter than I gave them credit for.”
It’s also pretty funny, and had me entertained way more than I expected it to, as it starts off looking and feeling like a typical low budget horror film made by people who have no idea what they’re doing, and then, bit by bit, it reveals itself to be a celebration of filmmaking, passion, and sheer determination.
Even little throwaway moments that seemed meaningless at first get these brilliant explanations later, and if you haven’t seen One Cut of the Dead, do yourself a favor and fix that.
The cast are made up of mostly unknown and relatively inexperienced actors, who spent a few months at drama workshops before filming, and every single one of them absolutely nails it.
It’s seriously one of the best horror comedies I have watched, with a genius premise, and some of the most creative storytelling I’ve seen in ages.
If you think zombie and horror movies have been done to death and cannot offer anything new, One Cut of the Dead comes along and flips the whole thing on its head, and it’s basically three movies in one, taking you on a wild, hilarious ride full of unexpected twists, ridiculous charm, and a level of detail you don’t see coming.
While this film is a horror comedy, like a lot of horror comedies, it leans much more heavily on the comedy element, and while the film is borderline found footage, lets just call it found footage adjacent, shall we?
And if you enjoyed this film, you might be interested to know they have also released a TV movie titled One Cut of the Dead Spin-Off: In Hollywood.
Oh, and also check out One Cut of the Dead Mission: Remote on YouTube, for free, which was made entirely remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it’s about the making a true-crime TV episode from home, featuring the same director and cast.
*One Cut Of The Dead was released in Japan in 2017, but elsewhere it was released in 2019.
One Cut Of The Dead Trailer
One Cut Of The Dead on IMDB
Good Points
Brilliantly Unique Concept – The film isn’t just another zombie movie, it completely reinvents how a horror-comedy can be structured, and what seems like a cheap amateurish film at first turns into something much more clever.
Great Payoff – The film’s second half completely changes how you view the first, with every little mishap or weird moment getting a brilliant explanation, turning what seemed like flaws into intentional details.
Made on a Shoestring Budget but Feels Huge – With only eight days of filming and a cast of unknown actors, One Cut of the Dead managed to gross over a thousand times its budget, and the film makes the most of its limited resources, turning its low budget feel into part of its charm.
Bad Points
Humor May Not Be for Everyone – As always, humor is subjective, and the comedy in the film is very meta, relying on self awareness and absurdity, and if you’re not a fan of that style, some of it may fall flat.
Requires Patience – This is not a film that delivers instant gratification, and the real brilliance of One Cut of the Dead only becomes clear in the second half.
So if you don’t have the patience to sit through the deliberately clunky first act, this film will not be for you, which isn’t a bad point really, but for those with no patience, it will be.
Is It Worth Watching?
Oh yes, One Cut of the Dead is 100% worth watching!
If you love movies that break the mold, surprise you, and keep you entertained with a mix of humor, heart, and clever storytelling, this is a must-watch.
It’s a hilarious and brilliantly crafted love letter to filmmaking that keeps getting better as it unfolds.
Where To Watch
Director and Cast
Director – Shinichirou Ueda
Main Cast – Takayuki Hamatsu, Yuzuki Akiyama, Kazuaki Nagaya, Harumi Shuhama, Manabu Hosoi, Hiroshi Ichihara, Shuntaro Yamazaki, Shinichiro Osawa, MAO, Yoshiko Takehara. Shinichiro Osawa.
Found Footage Horror Movies 
Let Me Know Your Thoughts!