PopHorror Let's Get Scared
How far would you go to see you band succeed? Would you take an offer for free music video shoot from an unknown director? Because that’s what the band does in Director’s Cut, and this being a horror film, it doesn’t end so well for them.
Synopsis
A Long Island punk band meets a mysterious director through social media who generously offers to shoot their first music video for free. Desperate for fame, they drive deep into the Pennsylvania woods in hopes of making a killer music video. But after a long night of drinking with the gregarious director, the band wakes up to find a very different version of him on set. Egos and opinions clash, with the director unveiling a terrible anger and uncompromising need for total control.
As his professionalism breaks down, so does his sanity – with the unhinged director and his assistant turning the band members into the unwitting stars of his very own snuff film.
Written and directed by Don Capria, the film stars Louis Lombardi, Lucy Hart, Danielle Kotch, Tyler Ivey, Haley Cassidy, Louis Rocky Bacigalupo, Brandy Ochoa, Greg Poppa, and Darin Hickok.
DIrector’s Cut follows “Suicide Disease,” a punk band that recently endured some issues and is going through a transition period. They are trying to make it big and they decide to take an offer from a director who reaches out to them on Instagram and offers to further their career by filming a music video for their latest single. Free of charge! Though when they meet the self proclaimed “Mr Director”, he’s very abrasive and wants full control of the video, which doesn’t sit well with the band. Things just go downhill from there.
The band in this is mostly likable, though lead singer Jay carries a massive chip on his shoulder and comes off more than a little unlikable. My favorite of the band was Menace, their female bassist. She has a kind of take no shit attitude and I really enjoyed her character. Brandy Ochoa plays her well. Outside of the band, I mostly rooted for and sympathized with their girlfriends, Val and Jen, played by Danielle Kotch and Haley Cassidy. They were just along to support their boyfriends and they really didn’t deserve the way their characters were treated in the film. Especially Jen.
I really kinda hated the character of Mr Director. He was a real asshole, though his reasons are explained. Sopranos veteran Louis Lombardi plays him well, though.
I really like the way the story played out. Half the movie was spent getting to know the characters before shit really hits the fan. Mr. Director and his assistant Babs are fairly methodical and sadistic in their methods: get the band members alone and pick them off one by one. The deaths are delightfully gory, striking a balance between a slasher film and a torture film. The big reveal of why the band was chosen was pretty cool and effective.
Final Thoughts
Director’s Cut is a down and dirty indie horror film with a hell of a mean streak. Highly recommended.
DIRECTOR’S CUT opens exclusively in select cinemas on October 31st, with a VOD release to follow.
