The eccentric horror/comedy, One Cut of the Dead, starring Takayuki Hamatsu and Yuzuki Akiyama, has arrived on Shudder’s premiere streaming service. While spoofing the movie industry, writer/director/editor Shinichiro Ueda delivers a hilariously wild splatter-fest of a zombie movie through the inventive use of guerrilla filmmaking.
While shooting a low-budget zombie film in an abandoned warehouse, the crew find themselves caught between actual zombies and a mad director who won’t stop rolling. If you think you know what happens next, think again. Filmmaker Shinichiro Ueda turns the film on its head more than once for one of the wildest, funniest, and most surprising zombie movies of all time.
Here are 5 reasons why you should see One Cut of the Dead on Shudder:
5) Yuzuki Akiyama!
As the naive and sweet Chinatsu, Yuzuki Akiyama bounces back and forth between drama and comedy. In her character arc, watch as Akiyama develops Chinatsu from a delicate actress into a fierce zombie slayer. Right after the plot twist, Chinatsu is a completely different person, which further cements Akiyama’s dynamic range.
4) Takayuki Hamatsu!
In the beginning, Takayuki Hamatsu plays the obsessed Director Higurashi. An artistic genius determined to get the perfect shot in his movie, Higurash (Hamatsu) pushes his cast and crew to the extremes. Struggling with his low budget, Higurash won’t stop the cameras from rolling because he has to get everything in one take.
3) The One Takes!
The long takes by the hand-held cinematography by Takeshi Sone highlight the guerrilla style of low budget filmmaking. Done wisely, the extended takes accentuate the over-the-top comedic points. The camera follows Chinatsu (Akiyama) and Ko (Kazuaki Nagaya) while they run around an abandoned factory, tossing a decapitated hand to each other; like a game of catch.
2) The Direction!
If you’re a fan of zombie flicks, you will enjoy how filmmaker Shinichiro Ueda pokes fun at the numerous cliches of the genre. And if you’re really into the art of filmmaking, you will get insight into the behind-the-scenes drama of the movie industry.
1) A Fun Horror/Comedy!
An enjoyable zombie flick to watch, One Cut of the Dead is a delightful ode to Do-It-Yourself filmmaking. It’s going to be on Shudder, along with your favorite horror licks, such as Chopping Mall and The Ranger.
One Cut of the Dead will be available on Shudder September 24th, 2019.