Babak Tafti – Cut To The Chase

Written & Directed By: Carlo Mirabella-Davis

Cinematography: Katelin Arizmendi

Editor: Joe Murphy

Cast: Haley Bennett, Austin Stowell, Elizabeth Marvel, David Rasche, Zabryna Guevara, Laith Nakil, Denis O’Hare, Luna Velez, Babak Tafti, Nicole Kang

Hunter, a newly pregnant housewife, finds herself increasingly compelled to consume dangerous objects. As her husband and his family tighten their control over her life, she must confront the dark secret behind her new obsession.

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Will admit, it took me a while to finally watch this film as frankly, one was scared or nervous about the material from reading the reviews of this show, though can happily say it’s not as gory or fitting into the body hard genre of grotesque as much as one fear.

This is more of a character study that at first seems like it’s gonna be more of a body horror film. As it’s focus seems to be more clinical clean, cut and direct. Everything seems sharp and clear in focus.

Tell as the film goes along, we see that the main character has her doubts and problems and seems to repress them, which might be why she has this eating disorder as she keeps everything in so this is a way for her to act out by swallowing small and animate objects as she’s taking them and holding them. The only thing is that eventually they come out as well as leaving damage to her body.

Which can be an analogy for the character herself she’s holding all of this emotions, anger, and despair in and eventually they’re going to have to come out as they are doing damage to her body more to the inner workings and brain

That was throughout the film as she breaks down, so do the characters around her her clean, cut, rich, family, surely shows they’re worth an ugly side as they want her to be the perfect wife, even though they belittle her or never take her truly into consideration other than a show piece, which shows And her look which is more 1950s and 60s even though this is a modern day set

Her loving husband who seems to care and be sensitive to her needs in the beginning as the film goes long his mentality seems to deteriorate, and if he truly loves his wife, he never shows it as he feels like money can take care of every problem and he can’t be bothered to put in too much effort as it makes him look bad.

As he slowly reveals himself to be the villain in this film, though it seems more in his nature, as he is even ready to throw a fit over a tie being ironed. Austin Stowell is subtle in this role, he is mostly quiet,but you can feel his menace

Haley Bennett, truly show her skills as an actress and her star power throughout as she inhabit a character who can be confusing, but you can’t help but care about no matter what and who you truly want to save or hope in someway that she can save herself.

Definitely a movie that could be characterized by class and some might see as partly political also

The film is hard to watch as we see her constantly be betrayed by those around her, which stays a common theme as her problem gets worse. The only people who seem to be decent to her are more random characters.

This is a very chilling film, luckily not as hard to watch as one thought it would be. It’s still a hard film to sit through only because of the more emotional violence and a little bit of self-destructive nature physically.

No, this is definitely a psychological drama thriller. It’s sharp in its own ways, though not as cutting edge as the audience might hope.

GRADE: B

Written, Edited & Directed By: Joanna Arnow

Cinematography: Barton Cortright

Cast: Joanna Arnow, Scott Cohen, Babak Tafti, Michael Cyril Creighton, Alysia Reiner, Peter Vack, Parish Bradley, Rushi Birudala

A mosaic-style comedy following the life of a woman as time passes in her long-term casual BDSM relationship, low-level corporate job, and quarrelsome Jewish family.

This film feels like a collection of mundane experiences suffered by the main character well, also letting the film is autobiographical as it is written and directed by its lead, and her parents play her parents, and friends fill out the cast.

The film would seem to most like a sad, sad comedy that would feel like it follows in the footsteps of such filmmakers as Woody Allen and Todd Solondz where there might be a kind of sadness about the characters who either seem to be taken advantage of or bring on the bad things that happened to them somewhat punished by society.

Only what’s different is The main character isn’t so much a victim as she seems to welcome it and seems content with her life, relationships, and situations. The film is just trying to show her reactions to the situation, she finds herself in and she comes across as one of the more normal characters as all the other characters come off as rather quirky or disturbed.

The film also tries to present BDSM relationships in a droll way. As a tries to show modern dating with a dry sense of humor. That at times comes across as brutally honest, but with humor.

There’s a film that’s not gonna be for everybody. it might take a while for you to get on its wavelength but once you do, it’s smooth sailing as long as you are digging what you have seen so far.

Watching the film, it almost comes across as a visual journal of our lead character. Where she doesn’t try to sugarcoat or make anyone including herself look good it’s presented matter-of-factly, even allowing herself to be for half of the film.

For some the film or the situations as depressing and almost like a form of degradation. Which, for most, it might be, but here it actually shows the characters enjoying themselves for the most part.

Think Lena Dunham and her early films and even girls only with no real group of friends so that the main focus is on her and some odd supporting characters. As the tone goes from absurd to reality.

The film might throw some people off at first you just have to get into it sensibilities as it does showcase as sensitive charm many times and it’s style and tone.

It definitely shows a singular vision where the first half of the film is more random and the second half seems to get more into a plot, whereas the first half of the film is more showing her day-to-day life and seeing various people other than a recurring boyfriend like character, the second half focuses More on her, trying to maintain a relationship with a new guy who’s not used to her form where it feels like the film has shown enough of her background at that point so that we see the character and trust her alone and not reacting off of a series of familiar characters so the second half is kind of like seeing a normal character interact with her and how they react

This film really shocked me at how enjoyable it was and how much one could get into the film with just the nitty-gritty and didn’t need so much dressing or packaging around it is definitely to try and watch. In the end won’t say it’s necessarily rewarding but as a film fan her artistry while semi-autobiographical it’s also admirable.

One can’t wait to see more films and art by her.

Grade: A

Tag: Babak Tafti

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