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Review: Darisha Beresford’s The Cutlass

I don’t know if it’s a stereotype, misconception, myth or unfortunate truth, but all my life I’ve heard people say it’s dangerous to go to second or third world countries and visit any location that’s not a vacation resort. The crime rates are through the roof, they say, and the odds of being mugged or worse aren’t in your favor. Whatever the case, this theme is fully actualized in Darisha J. Beresford’s The Cutlass, a new psychological thriller which is hitting VOD this December from Wild Eye Releasing. A collaboration between Blue Basin Films, Create IT & Film IT, and Guerrilla Rep Media, The Cutlass follows a young female tourist who is abducted by a madman while in the jungles of Trinidad. As authorities and her family search for her, the woman is forced into a dangerous psychological game of cat and mouse while trying to survive the ordeal. It reminded me of Diehard, Touristas, and Congo without the guerrillas.

Lisa Bel Hirschmann, Arnold Goindhan, Kirk Baltz, Michael De Souza, Rebecca M. Foster, Ruby Parris, Gary Moore and Conrad Parris star in this film, written & produced by Teneille Newallo and directed & produced by Darisha J. Beresford. Juliette McCawley, Brent Webster and Drew Umland also served as produced with Ian Bloom as cinematographer and Umland as editor. As a production, The Cutlass is rock solid, an incredible piece of cinema with amazing shots of the jungle as a beautiful backdrop. All of the locations are exotic and inviting, a rather stark contrast to the terror our young abductee must be feeling. Everyone on board of this project really knew their stuff, down to the casting director who went so far as to make all of the related characters look kin. The Cutlass claims to be based on a true story, but the biggest piece of truth here is that it’s a worthwhile production that looks like it came straight from the jaws of Hollywood. The only way is up from here, cast and crew. Well done.

Being that this is a horror website, I have to address the actual horror content next. Well… there is none. While The Cutlass is a really good and entertaining movie, it doesn’t fall into the realm of horror at all. Would you consider Taken a horror movie? No. And that concept applies here. The traumatic events of being robbed, kidnapped, raped and physically assaulted are certainly terrifying and horrific, but that doesn’t necessarily equate to existing in the horror genre. The Cutlass is certainly more of a psychological thriller and action drama more than anything scary. All of the elements meant to move the audience come from a mental and emotional place, and not one meant to haunt your dreams at night. The forests are large and isolating, perfectly measuring the level of suspense in this movie, and the rape scene made me sad and uncomfortable. But, again, I don’t think this one was marketed to the right demographic. However, I still thoroughly enjoyed my viewing. Again, The Cutlass was a profession production that’s inspirational as Hell if made on an independent budget. It’s somewhat predictable. It’s dark and dirty. It’s got good acting, a good story, and a high level of suspense. But it’s not a horror film. Final Score: 7 out of 10.

Michael DeFellipo

(Senior Editor)

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