Stephen Murphy – Cut To The Chase

Directed By: Johannes Roberts

Written By: Johannes Roberts and Ernest Riera

Cinematography: Stephen Murphy

Editor: Peter Gvozdas

Cast: Tony Kotsur, Johnny Sequoyah, Jessica Alexander, Victoria Wyant, Gia Hunter, Benjamin Cheng, Charlie Mann, Tienne Simon

Looking forward to a relaxing vacation with friends, Lucy returns to her cliffside home in Hawaii after her first year of college. After all, with her father away on business, they have the house all to themselves. However, their reunion takes a dark turn when Ben, the family’s beloved chimpanzee, begins to show strange aggression. As Ben becomes an unpredictable threat to humans, Lucy must find a way to escape the raging primate and survive the night. But what good is fighting back when pinned down by a brutal force of nature?

Out of all the monkey movies that I have seen, this might be a favor only because it is truly a guilty pleasure.

The film tries to put everything together like it makes sense but when you try to describe the plot to someone and what happens in the story, it just sounds so ridiculous even if it is rather simple.

This film is basically if they made a sequel to Stephen King’s CUJO only with a monkey, because it’s pretty much kind of the same story only more victims and ways in which to bring more victims, a kind of standoff of trying to survive, and then a final confrontation where winner takes all.

This is good if you really just wanna watch a horror movie that’s just brutal. As that is one of the most impressive aspects of the film are the special effects. Especially the Gore effects and it’s graphic violence. This is also a film that has plenty of jump scares, which actually helps this is one of those more classic horror film formulas. Which is meant to scare an unnerve, and it works for the most part.

It’s just not that smart, but luckily it gets to the point rather fast. This isn’t a film where we spend the first half getting to know the character is getting to know the monkey and then realize something must be wrong and then the second half is more of a thriller. Which realizes what it is and tries to get to the point. It’s pretty much a B-movie in glossy clothing. In other words, a low browse satisfactory popcorn movie thank you. Will most likely forget soon after.

The film doesn’t have any real stars, but it does put Academy Award-winning Tony Kotsur in a pivotal role for the film as he is probably the biggest name in the cast. Next to a rather odd uncredited actor here for a cameo mysteriously.

This is The first johannes Roberts film I have enjoyed since THE STRANGERS: PREY AT NIGHT and he has made a bunch of film since then.

Though with most of the victims at first seeming to be female, but then they try to even it up by adding males, which they set up early in the script. It does end up becoming equal as at first it would seem rather sexist that all the females would be in peril and be getting killed off and increasingly brutal ways.

The film even has its first scene which is a death scene that takes place actually later in time in the film, but yet is the opening scene meant to grab your attention. Why not just have him murder another random person for that opening scene and then keep the other attendants peril for when it naturally happens in the story it’s just a weird edit

If you are a horror fan, I would say check this film out, but definitely don’t pay for it. Watch it for free streaming. Where you can and you can pretty much put it on for the background. Though it wouldn’t hurt to pay attention. Even if you know where it is going. As it doesn’t break any new ground you’re just surprised at how violent it actually gets as it seemed more shocked, like a PG-13 extravaganza and ends up a hard one, but for violence mostly.

It stays entertaining throughout and is never boring

Grade: C

Directed By: Josh Ruben

Written By: Philip Murphy, Christopher Landon and Michael Kennedy

Cinematography: Stephen Murphy

Editor: Brett W. Bachman

Cast: Mason Gooding, Olivia Holt, Jordana Brewster, Devon Sawa, Gigi Zumbado, Michela Watkins, Yoson An, Ben Black, Chris Parker,

For the past several years, the “Heart Eyes Killer” has wreaked havoc on Valentine’s Day by stalking and murdering romantic couples. This Valentine’s Day, no couple is safe.

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This is a film that plays more like a romantic comedy that builds itself around a horror, film plot. It’s cute. It’s violin. It sometimes has a laugh or two and both sides with each other and against against each other.

Whereas I wish you could be more like happy death day, which did have a comedy side and a horror side, but it also seemed to have its serious moments too. That made you care a little bit more.

This film lacks that so that again the characters always feel exactly like that like characters rather than human beings, and why you worry about them in their peril the film, cynical, nature, almost every other character works against it as it seeks to be a dark comedy that reels a little bit more in violence

If that is what you are seeking, you have found the perfect film for yourself and I will admit it stays entertaining through 90 minutes though after a while, it does becoming a bit predictable, though I will give it points for originality with ending to a certain extent

No, again like a romantic comedy unfortunately the two leads who we follow are somewhat interesting, but not enough to hold your attention throughout the whole film where you really start to bond with them

In fact, as a film where again some of the more supporting characters are way more interesting, and you had more screen time, but then it would probably require them to be either pulled into the plot story more killed. The audience would definitely want revenge on the slasher.

I’m thinking, especially the best friend played by Gigi Zumbado, who the film could’ve benefited with her character being featured more or hell even being the lead character if they make a sequel to this film hopefully she will get that lead role

The film is enjoyable in a disposable way where your entertained while you watch it, but can’t see many watches and some of the scenes. Remind you so much of other horror films that either is paying two or based around.

In fact, the only scene to me that was the most far would be that all these people are watching one of my favorite movies his girl Friday at a drive-in, even if it is Valentine’s Day.

It’s nice to see Jordana Brewster in any role that is not associated with the FAST & FURIOUS franchise

Almost like rather than a comedy à la Simpsons episode where there’s a serial killer killing couples out and of course the city decides to still keep it Valentine’s Day celebrations going culminating and a driving and amusement park for lovers the slasher, a perfect opportunity of victims.

Not surprised that this film was also written, but some of the writers of the film’s FREAKY and IT’S A WONDERFUL KNIFE as well as TIME CUT. As this film has a similar feel. Where the concept is pushed more than anything else. Just as being directed by Josh Ruben who made WEREWOLVES WITHIN a mystery that seemed more to push the comedic elements more than the horror or mystery ones.

Again, I don’t wanna make this film seem worse than it is as it does seem to be having a lot of fun and is made more for an audience. It’s just not a sharp as it seems to aim to be like fast food good in the moment, but overall not the best for you Nor noteworthy

Grade: C+

Tag: Stephen Murphy

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