Review: 'Cut!' a Campily Comic Queer Giallo

Marc Ferrer's "Cut!" is a campy giallo with a Spanish twist, more early Almodovar than peak Argento.

When a black-gloved serial killer begins picking off people associated with a no-budget queer film, writer-director Marcos Ferrer (Ferrer) falls under suspicion of the police officers investigating the crimes, Superintendant Gregorio (Gregorio Sanz) and his seemingly pansexual subordinate, Luisa. The killer is only one of the problems Marcos has to deal with; he's in debt, the new movie isn't poised to make any money, and wanna-be actors from Barcelona to Madrid are out to get him for not including them in his projects.

One of those actors is Alejandro, who always seems to be nearby just before a fresh corpse fetches up. But is Alejandro a suspect, a potential victim, or next in line for a hot hookup with the director?

Like a version of "Scream" as directed by John Waters, "Cut!" explains the conventions of the giallo genre even as it pokes fun at those conventions. The killer can strike anywhere, and at any time, making even the most public places into crime scenes; meantime, the victims hurl obviously fake blood from their mouths, clutch at gore-smeared windows, and get taken out in the midst of post-coital satisfaction. Deliberately down-market, the film makes good use of a short run time (only about 75 minutes) and gleefully revels in its cheapness, broad comedy, and vibrant color palette.

Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.

This story is part of our special report: "Wicked Queer: Boston LGBTQ Film Festival". Want to read more? Here's the full list.