GUT. Hmm. Well, there certainly is a lot of that in this indie flick, but maybe not how you’re thinking.
I geared myself up for what I was sure would be a gore fest, with all manner of innards and intestines, only to be surprised by the tameness of the content. As far as the intestines go, anyway. “Midriff” might be more apt, but certainly isn’t as gripping as GUT!
Meet Tom. Tom is seemingly entering into an early onset bout of midlife crisis. He’s bored with his job, barely interested in his home life, and just in general, a pretty sad sack.
Meet Dan. Dan is the carefree, not-particularly-interested-in-growing-up, best friend. Despite knowing each other since adolescence, and working almost literally side by side, the two friends have been growing apart. But Dan has just the plan to break up the monotony.
The plan, however, is not a good one. Much in the vein of 8mm, a discovered film Dan says he ordered from the internet depicts the murder of a young woman via an incredibly large incision into her midsection (hence “GUT”).
But it doesn’t stop there, oh no. The knife wielding individual then proceeds to stick a hand into the newly opened orifice to do some exploring. So, hmm…a snuff film. Is it fake? Is it real? Either way, it has a profoundly negative effect on Tom, and as more tapes begin to appear, the two friends begin to quickly unravel.
GUT begins with a quest for a renewal of friendship/a shared fascination of horror films before quickly taking a U-turn into depravity and madness. Well-crafted cinematography and illuminating performances by the two main actors drive this film, creating a thriller atmosphere wrapped in a warped murder mystery tied together with a bloody red bow. The suspense and storytelling more than make up for the lack of gore for this concerned horror fan.
I give GUT three and a half out of five sliced abdomens.
Chris Moore is a freelance masochist and an aspiring wordsmith. His travels have made him a self proclaimed expert on all things frightening, odd, and entertaining. On breaks from jet setting and bourbon guzzling, he graces SML with pithy and satirical commentary on what – or what not – to watch. All hail the Maniacal Master of Movie Reviews! The second most interesting man in the world. Read more from Chris here.
