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Frightfest 2016: ‘Director’s Cut’ Review

frightfest-2016

Director’s Cut review: Humorous, charming and guaranteed to put a massive smile on your face.

Director’s Cut review by Kat Hughes, Frightfest 2016.

Director's Cut Review

Director’s Cut Review

Director’s Cut might just be the oddest film you’ll see at this year’s Horror Channel Frightfest. It is an exclusive ‘directors cut’ of crime horror investigation movie ‘Knocked Off’. A film within the film. The ‘directors cut’ comes to us from Herbert Blount (Penn Jillette) an ‘executive producer’ of Knocked Off.

Herbert became exec producer by buying the exec producer package on the film’s crowdfunding page. Believing that the actual director has done a shoddy job, Herbert has commandeered the footage for himself and has brought forth his vision. His vision involves showcasing the amazing talent of actress Missi Pyle. Herbert you see, has a little bit of a crush on Pyle.

His version of the film includes his own material and unveils the special relationship that he and his leading lady share. He shares exclusive, never before seen, footage in which his guidance really enriches Knocked Off and gives Pyle her chance to reveal the complexity of her character.

Director's Cut Review

Director’s Cut Review

The narrative plays out underneath and around Herbert’s commentary. In addition to being a director’s cut, it’s also a director’s commentary and frankly it’s one of the best commentaries we’ve ever heard. Of course it’s all fictional and helps push the story along, but it still manages to be engaging, and luckily Penn has a soothing speaking voice. Herbert is a lovable fool, despite all his crazy and ever so unstable antics, you’ll find yourself rooting for him.

Those getting worried about whether this film spells the end for Penn and Teller worry not as Teller also makes an appearance. He pops up in an extended cameo within Knocked Up. He plays one of Pyle’s suspects. It’s a great little scene, and finally after all these years we get to hear the man speak.

Director's Cut Review

Director’s Cut Review

Director’s Cut is a crowdfunded film about a crowdfunded film. With fandoms suddenly having direct access to the film-making process and their heroes, it wouldn’t surprise us if at least some of the scenes in the movie were based on actual events. Anyone who had ever been to a convention will have definitely met at least one or two Herbert’s in their time. Director’s Cut is a film that plays for laughs by being both outlandish and zany as well as spot on with characterisation. Penn’s clearly having a whale of a time inhabiting Herbert, and Pyle too seems to relish her chance to be seriously silly.

Director’s Cut is a film you won’t soon forget. Amongst all the gore and films of a horrific nature that Frightfest has on offer, Directors Cut acts as a lovely palette cleanser. It’s humorous, charming and is guaranteed to put a massive smile on your face.

Kat Hughes is a UK born film critic and interviewer who has a passion for horror films. An editor for THN, Kat is also a Rotten Tomatoes Approved Critic. She has bylines with Ghouls Magazine, Arrow Video, Film Stories, Certified Forgotten and FILMHOUNDS and has had essays published in home entertainment releases by Vinegar Syndrome and Second Sight. When not writing about horror, Kat hosts micro podcast Movies with Mummy along with her five-year-old daughter.

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