Zombies and comedy are two genres that rarely miss when done right, just take a look at everything from Zombielandto Shaun of the Dead. Then there’s Final Cut, which takes a step beyond doing it right by flipping the actual concept of zombie movies on its head. Directed by Michel Hazanavicius, the same brilliant mind that brought us The Artist, this French remake of the Japanese cult hit One Cut of the Dead is somewhat of a cheeky love letter to low-budget filmmaking. At first glance, the movie seems like a typical zombie flick, fully armed with shambling undead and B-movie chaos. Then the mask comes off and reveals a wildly unexpected story full of slapstick humor, heartfelt moments, and tons of clever nods to the hardships indie film crews face.
While the film thrives on being a clever and meta take on the zombie genre, it truly takes the cup for poking fun at itself while celebrating the messy, interconnected magic of filmmaking. Furthermore, Final Cut’s comedic timing is as cutting-edge as it comes, and its ability to balance chaos and charm isn’t something we see every day. Final Cut brings something incredibly fresh to the table, whether it’s the gore, the gags, or its ability to throw anything at the audience.
‘Final Cut’ Is As Much About the Art of Filmmaking as It Is About Zombies
Image via Pan Distribution
Every now and then, a movie comes along that takes a bite out of its own genre — Final Cut does that and then some. Even better, it pokes fun at the entire genre in the process of using the undead as a backdrop to highlight the turbulence of low-budget filmmaking. Clearly, this is no regular zombie film, it’s actually a movie about the sweat, blood, and brains that go into making one. It comes complete with all the stress, drama, and laugh-out-loud comedy that happens when things go wrong behind the scenes. Take the opening scene where viewers presumably watch a straightforward zombie attack, however, it quickly spirals into chaos. It turns out that all the shaky camera work and awkward dialogue is all art of a "film within a film". The actual plot zooms out to immerse viewers in the lives of a frazzled director, a frustrated crew, and actors who would rather survive the shoot than the zombies.
Overall, the film succeeds in hilariously capturing everything from clashing egos to technical disasters. Take the sound guy who can’t keep the boom mic out of the frame or the last-minute rewrites that throw everyone off. By the time the wheels really get moving, Final Cut becomes a meta-comedy about how even the messiest productions can defy all odds and come together in ways no one expects. At the end of this all, it isn’t just a spoof, it proves to be a witty portrayal of the challenges of making art when the odds, and even zombies, are stacked against you.
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How ‘Final Cut’ Reimagines ‘One Cut of the Dead’ Without Losing Its Charm
Remaking a cult classic likeOne Cut of the Deadis nothing short of risky business. Yet Hazanavicius managed to proceed forward with surprising finesse in Final Cut. Instead of keeping things simple and rehashing the original’s charm, he put his own spin on the material and simultaneously pays respect to its predecessor while establishing its own identity. Perhaps the most obvious change lies in how Final Cut tweaks the cultural context. The original Japanese film was rooted in its indie filmmaking world, where passion often had to stretch a shoestring budget. But, in this case, Hazanavicius relocates the chaos to France and in the process delivers a distinctly European vibe, and it does all this while maintaining the "film within a film" concept. It’s the little details, like the subtle jabs at pretentious directors or the hilariously incompetent production crew, that the movie uses to introduce some freshness while still tapping into the original’s humor.
Let’s take the way Final Cut digs into the director’s (played by Romain Duris) backstory. He comes off as part passionate and a larger part wildly unhinged. The depth added to his character — which is evident in his incessant need to please his producer as well as his bumbling attempts to keep the cast in line — injects a uniquely French flavor of comedy. Hazanavicius gives the viewers something familiar yet delightfully out of the blues by tweaking key moments and simultaneously honoring the original. Yes, it’s a gutsy homage, but it’s one that can proudly stand on its own.
Final Cut is currently available to stream on Hoopla in the U.S.
Image via Pan Distribution
Image via Pan Distribution
English (US) ·