Review of Smash Cut (2009) by Jason D — 10 Apr 2010

At first glance, this may seem like regular direct-to-DVD crap, but in all actuality, Smash Cut winds up being an incredible surprise. Completely immersed in a presentation that pays homage to the golden era of exploitation and grindhouse films, Smash Cut is the story of famed director Able Whitman, played with absolute gusto by exploitation icon David Hess (The Last House on the Left, Hitch Hike, etc) whose latest film has bombed horribly.

Feeling re-invigorated by his muse stripper girlfriend, Whitman sees hope, which comes crashing down when he gets in a car wreck and accidentally kills the girlfriend, whose body he continues to use as a muse, as well as a prop on his latest film.

The only problem is that, now, Whitman has the killing bug and begins viciously murdering everyone at the studio who stands in the way of creating his ultimate art horror film. Iconic pornstar Sasha Grey (who, gasp, is actually a good actress) comes in as the dead girlfriend's sister/reporter who infiltrates Whitman's new film as the lead actress in order to uncover the truths.

Some other iconic faces show up in the form of the great Michael Berryman (The Hills Have Eyes) as the CEO of the studio, and Herschel Gordon Lewis (the Godfather of gore films, whose life loosely inspired this film) as Grey's boss.

Director Lee Demarbre and writer Ian Discoll, who frequently collaborate on films, have delivered one of their best yet (and this is coming from the same guy who LOVES their Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter film).

The great mix of gore, comedy, and homages to exploitation films works pretty smoothly throughout this unexpected surprise of a film. A real pleaser for ANY true horror fan whose had a consistent bad taste in their mouth from the onslaught of bad horror films (both mainstream and independent) coming out lately.

Terrific.