Jonathan Schaech – Cut To The Chase

Directed By: Hector Hernandez Vicens

Written By: Lars Jacobson and Mark Tonderai

Based on The Motion Picture “DAY OF THE DEAD” By: George A. Romero

Cinematography: Anton Ogbyanov

Editor: Damien Drago and Ivan Todorov

Cast: Jonathan Schaech, Sophie Skelton, Jeff Gum, Marcus Vanco, Lillian Blankenship, Shari Watson, Ulyana Chan

A small group of military personnel and survivalists dwell in an underground bunker as they seek to find a cure in a world overrun by zombies.

Why? It must be for the money and trying to continue in the franchise but this is a disgrace. It’s not exactly another remake but has a similar type of story. As far as having one zombie subject kind of different from the rest and using him for his blood which might be an anecdote to zombieism (yes the film Is that ridiculous) it also keeps the theme of having most of the action happen in a kind of compound with military types all around.

This film is bad across the board. The acting is subpar and no notable performances or recognizable faces. The directing is horrible as is the storyline. The sets look exactly like sets even when they are supposed to be streets and classrooms. No one acts or makes rational decisions. Even the naysayers.

The only thing o can say was decent is the zombie make-up applies to Jonathan Schaech as the main zombie of the tale. It is nothing too special but for this production impressive. His is the only ok performance but then again he is playing a zombie. As his character makes no sense before he turns he was a test subject giving blood to a medical school. Yet obsessed with one of the students for no reason. To the point of hurting himself over her and then he tries to rape her. She is saved by the zombie invasion and then once he is discovered and captured he still seems to have the same agenda.

The film tries to throw in a romance. This only explains why the main Character gets away with so much. When others would have refused her requests.

The other characters come off as weak cliches with no characterization besides their looks, attitudes, and relationships with one another. Like the flirtatious guy with muscles who the filmmakers find a reason for him to be only in a t-shirt.

The film doesn’t add anything new to the genre. In fact, it embarrasses the genre by not adding anything to it and failing in all ways. Even if bad usually there is some kind of excess to make up for it. This film doesn’t offer that either

Grade: F

Directed By: Joe Lynch

Written By: Dennis Paoli

Based On The Short Story “The Thing On The Doorstep” By H.P. Lovecraft

Cinematography: David Matthews

Editor: Jack N. Gracie

Cast: Heather Graham, Jonathan Schaech, Barbara Crampton, Bruce Davison, Judah Lewis

A psychiatrist becomes obsessed with one of her young patients, who she later discovers is linked to an ancient curse.

This film has that 1990s straight-to-video feel. That felt like Russian roulette between what the poster and back art promised and what you actually got. You tried to look on the back of the video for pictures from the film to hedge your bets and guide your decision before you took it home crossed your fingers and hoped for the best.

It feels like setting that error too just going by the cell phones used throughout the film.

What you get is an erotic thriller that has all the elements and the score of one that works as a horror, or thriller with a sense of humor about itself. That has loads of sex though isn’t particularly sexy even though lead Heather Graham usually is. You can also tell she is having fun in the role and fully letting loose.

As here she is sexy in offers glimpses of nudity, but never quite full, but it is in full control of her own sexuality throughout.

The film is filled with practical effects, and Gore that are impressive, even if the red when it comes to the blood is not quite right. so it feels like a Hammer or Giallo film where the blood never quite feels real, which also helps to make the film feel exactly like it is more of a fantasy rather than any kind of reality

Watching it with its fast paste, nutty and horny humor. It kept reminding me of the television show Chucky maybe as they both seem to be over the top and dark-humored and seem to pack themselves on the back for humor, which some might see as wrong. Who would be the totally wrong audience for this film? This one seems to revel in trouble.

Hate to reference another thing, but this also feels like a tale from the Crypt episode and long luckily, one of the good ones. Not as over-the-top as I was expecting. It still is quite the wild ride.

Throughout the film, there’s obviously a threat that literally will not die but as you watch the film, you’re not necessarily worried you’re kind of rooting for both sides in their own way as you just want this story to keep going into see where it’s gonna go.

Watching the film you do they have saved themselves of trouble by just cutting off the tongue of the villain which would’ve made things a lot more easier I believe but then again, there’d be no fail either and that would be a shame.

This is a film for those who, like to take risks with what they watch never quite knowing what they’re going to get but now it’s going to be something different in a bit down and dirty.

As though the film surroundings always try to look glitzy and high-end at heart is the trashy little film.

Grade: B-

Tag: Jonathan Schaech

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