A Long Island punk band discovers a mysterious director on social media who reaches out to offer his services to create their first music video at no cost. The group, eager for fame, heads deep into the woods of Pennsylvania for the video shoot. Sound too good to be true? That’s because it is. And thankfully, Mister Director follows through with his promise to make them all famous in Director’s Cut.
There’s No Such Thing as a Free Lunch
The rock band The Suicide Club hasn’t had any luck finding gigs lately, and they haven’t played a show in a while. So, John, Juan, and Menace sit down with their band leader, Jay (Tyler Ivy). They’re eager to get back to making music together after recently losing a close friend, and there’s definitely a sense that they all feel somewhat responsible for it.
Jay is super dramatic, just like most lead singers in movies. Their drummer, Juan, has some exciting news—he got a message on Instagram from a director who wants to shoot their first music video for free! Jay isn’t too keen on the idea but pitches it to the band as a great opportunity. It feels a bit sketchy, but they decide to give it a shot and call the director.
The situation feels predictable, and the characters are clearly making bad choices. However, a good slasher needs characters to ignore obvious warning signs. I’m on board as long as it leads to some awesome kills and Director’s Cut does deliver. They gather their gear and load up with their manager AJ, Val (John’s girlfriend), and Jen (Jay’s girlfriend). They take a final group picture before heading to an abandoned mansion in a shady part of the woods.
What Works
First, this is ideally camp, and the tropes are troping. This location is perfect for some hidden horrors. At first, meeting Mister Director (Louis Lombardi) doesn’t ease their concerns either. He wears dark shades and uses a wheelchair. This is of note because it makes some of them more comfortable in an ableist way. He introduces his assistant, Babs (Lucy Hart). Bonus: She’s sexy and has a commanding presence.
Obviously, Mister Director is a sick guy. But he’s creative, and his dark side is scary good. He has a vision and can quickly get it started without much fuss. Enter Babs, the person you call in with a little bag of delightful treats to torture and kill while appearing all business. This video isn’t for the music crowd; he is making a personal snuff film, and he’s excited to make these guys famous.
What Missed the Mark
I could have missed a few connections here, but I didn’t get all the answers I sought. Honestly, Mister Director could have just been a sick, perverted serial killer with only his psychopathy as his drive. Introducing anything else needs to be fleshed out.
I don’t know how to feel about Bab’s character. She was gorgeous, badass, and one hell of a menacing presence. She killed it during tense moments and had the best stalking, slow walk. However, she didn’t have many lines. I get the silent partner thing, but she could have used more background and substance.
Menace (Brandy Ochoa) and John (Louis Rocky Bacigalupo) also didn’t have much to work with, and they focused too much on Jay, his girlfriend Jen, and Val. It wasn’t enough for me. Additionally, introductions and the buildup were mostly uneventful and slow at times.
Final Take
Director’s Cut is written and directed by Don Capria and is excellent entertainment for horror fans. Foremost, this idea of a band wanting to make a music video with a stranger was a fresh take. We’re gifted multiple gnarly kills and some realistic effects. There was a lot of creativity here. I particularly liked the tense moments, devoid of music; they added a layer of suspense. Additionally, I was excited to see a few great cat and mouse chases because they’re old school and always entertaining.
Moreover, I rooted for Menace, John, and Juan while secretly hoping Jay would meet a slow and painful end. Yes, it’s mean, but it was great to see him exactly where he belonged. After all, he wanted to be the star. Director’s Cut opens exclusively in select cinemas on October 31st, with a VOD release to follow.
