This review is for the short film Cutting Moments which is included in a compilation DVD of the same name; there are five independent pieces in all and each will be reviewed separately. If the other four shorts are as hard to watch as this one a little rest between watching each of them may be required.
Cutting Moments is an atmospheric short that succeeds in showing the final stages of a suburban family’s destruction from within. Dad, Patrick, is a creepy guy, especially when around his son, Joey, and it’s clear that Sarah, the mum, has seen saner moments. None of this prepares you for the story’s conclusion.
What is most interesting about this short film is that the subject matter could have been lifted from any family drama right up to the gruesome ending. Incidentally, if you pause this short during the last ten minutes, to answer your door or to pick up the phone for instance, you may not want to continue. It’s quite gruesome.
The credits state that the special effects supervisor for Cutting Moments was Tom Savini, but it’s not surprising considering some of the scenes. For those of you who don’t know who Tom Savini is, he’s the man responsible for the effects on the original 1978 Dawn of the Dead (as well as playing the role of one of the head bikers), he directed the 1990 remake to Night of the Living Dead and played the character Sex Machine in From Dusk Till Dawn. His career is massive but what you’ve got to know is, Tom Savini is a legend. Top marks to the director for getting him on board.
For showing something you don’t see every day: 4 out of 5.