Rene Verzier – Cut To The Chase

Directed By: Alvin Rakoff
Written By: John Robins
Story By: Jack Hill and David P. Lewis
Cinematography: Rene Verzier
Editor: Mike Campbell

Cast: George Kennedy, Richard Ctrenna, Nick Mancuso, Saul Rubinek, Victoria Burgoyne, Jennifer McKinney, Danny Higham, Sally Ann Howles, Kate Reid,

Survivors of a tragic shipping collision are rescued by a mysterious black ship that appears out of the fog. Little do they realize that the ship is a Nazi torture ship that has sailed the seas for years, luring unsuspecting sailors aboard and killing them off one by one.

Considering the cast this should have been much better.

This film would be much more entertaining and fun. If it was strongly directed. As here while being a horror. The direction comes across as broad. It plays like a haunted house film only on a ship. As it is almost like an obstacle course for survival.

It makes you wonder though there are plenty of them. Are ghosts trapped and lonely? As they seem to want to kill so many. Is it a property thing? Do they want company? Are they jealous? Since usually at least in movies they are seen as evil (talks about stereotypes) are they in hell and want a companion?

Jealous and wanting to take others who they feel are not worth it or appreciate what they have done are just reaching out in the ways they know how or can and people are just afraid and overreact. Are they stuck? Are they stuck on earth because of unfinished business?

The filmmakers used a lot of zooms and transitions. Not to mention senseless death scenes.

The material is there for a better film. It would be a good candidate to remake better.

The thinking in the story seems to be when in doubt, put in some Nazis or blame them for the horrors. Which feels like a Scooby Doo-type ending or reaching for a villain and explanation.

The ship should be scary on its own or atmospheric. Instead, it looks strangely dressed. It’s also rarely actually dangerous or that intriguing

While the film Is presented as an all-star extravaganza. In modern times it comes off as a Tv-Movie event movie. They would get stars of movies who were willing to do television for a quick Buck or find a way to get stars of all network shows to appear in the same film usually airing in the summer. While most shows were on hiatus.

Grade: C

Directed By: Peter Carter
Written By: Ian Sutherland
Cinematography: Rene Verzier
Editor: George Appleby

Cast: Hal Holbrook, Lawrence Dane, Robin Gammell, Ken James, Gary Reineke, Michael Zevon, Jack Crelay, Murray Westgate

Five doctors go on vacation deep in the Canadian wilderness. After all but one pair of the party’s shoes disappear, the remaining shoe camper decides to hike out and go look for help. Soon after he leaves, however, his four companions realize that something is very wrong when someone leaves a decapitated deer head just outside their camp. Even though they still don’t have their shoes, they decide to follow their friend’s trail out of the woods, but their path is blocked by someone who doesn’t want to see them leave the forest alive.

The film works as we spend most of the time with the characters and their reactions to various circumstances that at first seem random. As they start out as minor then grow as their desperation does also.

Already weary of each other though they are lifelong friends and siblings. Stuck in the Terrain in the middle of nowhere. The tensions are already high between them. So that when problems arise. They slowly turn on one another.

The film raises the intensity between them and their reactions in the first half of the movie before getting more to the horror/thriller elements of the second half

The characters fit into certain types including a gay character whose sexuality is revealed not blatantly, but nonchalantly.

As the film goes along the characters’ true selves are revealed under duress. Exposing How some will truly act or react under pressure.

This is one of the first few leading man roles I have seen Hal Holbrook in and he goes above and beyond in the role. Showing a true star in the midst. In a role that feels lived in.

The film adds in the horror elements when it remembers. Only to help add to all the commotion Going on. Though there is a countdown of sorts, eventually there is going to be an attack at a certain point.

The film wisely never Amps up the action. It stays reserved. Never revealing its hand or giving hints too early. As most is revealed along with the characters. So that the audience never quite knows exactly what to expect in advance.

The film offers beautiful landscapes of nature that for all Their beauty have its own fair share of mystery.

At heart, this is a survival movie. Where a group of doctors going on a fishing trip seems to become the hunted. Out of the many places, it could have gone happy it stays somewhat simple and riveting.

It’s filmed unglamorous so that it feels as stark and ugly as the land sometimes becomes. Mostly shot in close up so you see all the blood, sweat, and tears not to mention dirt, grime, imperfections, and injuries.

This film came out of nowhere. As it goes along breaking down the genre while setting it up also. Until its own shocking final reveal.

Grade: B

Tag: Rene Verzier

DEATH SHIP (1980)

RITUALS (1977)