Chloe Okuno – Cut To The Chase

Directed By: Hayley Kiyoko

Written By: Hayley Kiyoko and Stephanie Scott

Story by: Chloe Okuno and Hayley Kiyoko

Cinematography: Sonia Tsypin

Editor: Christine Armstrong and Sabine Hoffman

Cast: Maya Da Costa, Myra Molloy, Zach Braff, Levon Hawke, Alozie LaRose, Sierra Sidwell, Hunter Dillon, Sophia Carriere, Alexa Mareka

Coley, 17, from rural Oregon, navigates intimacy after her mother’s passing. Meeting Sonya sparks new feelings, but self-doubt hinders their connection. Sonya, unfamiliar with dating girls, is uncertain. They learn to embrace emotions.

The film is light and airy feeling like a perfect summer romance

A nostalgic throwback that feels modern but yet would fit in the early 2000’s in which it’s set

Wondering if it is autobiographical fantasy for the Writer- Director Hayley Kioko from her song and music video it seems a full length feature extension from.

It works as a typical romantic film that just happens to be queer or a queer awakening film that lends itself more to a paperback romantic novel origins. As the film feels like, The type that this is adapted from by the writer director who also wrote the original novel.

The films easy to watch you can’t help but route for the main characters and their back stories are handled with care that seem to be heavy and emotion, but very light material wise all the two girls bond and are left in their own world. There is no bullying there doesn’t seem to be prejudice from any friends or family so really the only challenge throughout the film seems to be being emotionally available and open to one another and trust there’s nothing or no one in the outside world really challenging this romance.

As throughout the film, it seems like the main character played By Maya Da Costa seems to be the one who is facing the most challenge of letting go and growing up and living her life and not staying mentally in her sorrow.

It also doesn’t hurt that everything in this film is very pretty. So there’s nothing that’s ugly or mean spirited and there’s nothing bad to look at as most of the cast is beautiful as are the locations and the town that they’re staying in. The cast is lovingly diverse. It’s one of those dream towns where everyone seems cool with everything. No prejudice, no class struggles, no bigotry. So the film won’t offend anyone and one can see why some might be attracted to it.

There is a slightly romantic rival, and once they are with them instead of the scenes, seeming as romantic beautifully shot and intense, there’s a coldness in a practicality that feels cold and a little bit of disgust.

It’s an assured debut by Director, Hayley Kioko, who keeps it light and sweet with a little bit of death and is quite assured behind the camera as an actress and musician. She seems to have learned and picked up the necessary skill and await what her next film will be here she shows she has the goods to continue along this path.

Happy this got a limited release theatrically though really the material feels more like a streaming or the type that these days would be more streaming original only because it’s a little more lightweight, which isn’t unexpected watching the trailer

The film is more likable than one might expect

Grade: C+

Written & Directed By: Chloe Okuno
Based on a Screenplay By: Zack Ford
Cinematography: Benjamin Kirk Nielsen
Editor: Michael Block

Cast: Maika Monroe, Karl Glusman, Burn Gorman, Madalina Anea, Daniel Nuta, Stefan Iancu

A young American woman moves with her husband to Bucharest and begins to suspect that a stranger who watches her from the apartment building across the street may be a local serial killer decapitating women.

The film offers no real thrills or chills. Though it looks great visually.

The film never lived up to the potential that it seems to set up. Though it finally comes alive in the final 15 minutes. Which is when we believe it is over. Then it seems determined to try and surprise us finally.

The ending feels a bit tacked on in the final Minutes. Downtrodden and stronger but killer wouldn’t be able to get away. As this has to make sense or have a payoff for sitting through all of this.

It’s a consistently sad film though nothing throughout makes you care or endears her to the audience other than she is the protagonist and a human being.

As the film plays heavily into the cliche belief that the lead is seeing things or losing her mind rather then what she sees’s being real and believed. So that it almost plays like a drama more than anything.

As the film immersed us in her situation and world which is foreign to her and us.

This feels like a Brian DePalma movie without the inventive cinematography

Though if you are a fan of actress Makia Monroe, we are with her through most of the film. Plenty of shots of her looking beautiful her wardrobe was immaculate

This is more of a film you gaze at that could be played in the background. You would study it for its Look and shots. Nothing much of note happens.

It does offer up that common fear of being a stranger in a strange land and being alone. Yet when you should feel safe not truly feel that way. As there is always a creepy element or even a person who personifies that feeling. No matter how lavish the surrounding.

In the end, it’s a little predictable and pretty traditional. While there is something special here in its sharp direction. It never rises to the greatness it could have been. Even with an ending that tries to make up for all the slower pace in the beginning.

Grade: C+

Tag: Chloe Okuno

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