In a cinematic universe saturated with reboots and unimaginative sequences, Time Cut (2024) is intricately woven from science-fiction, slasher horror, and neon coming-of-age drama. It certainly sets itself apart due to the emotional depth MacPherson tries to project via its narrative. The feature film is an emotional rollercoaster ride through time that is nostalgic and graphically violent at the same time, thanks to the cohesive writing by Kennedy and MacPherson. Shot under ACE Entertainment and streaming on Netflix, Time Cut is set to release in 2024.
Synopsis
Set in the autumn of 2003, Sweetly is a fictitious town in the state of Minnesota. The annually held highschool Spring Fling dance is the talk of the town, but this time it is paired with a grisly murder: a senior named Summer Field is killed during the night by a masked figure. The horrifying event shatters the peace of the small town, turning it into a cold case mystery for decades.
As the new year arrives, 2024, we are introduced to Lucy Field, Summer’s younger sister. She is a teenage whiz kid who, with unresolved sorrow over the death of her sibling, becomes obsessed with the mystery surrounding her sister’s murder. Lucy is a misfit at school, choosing to stay buried in science experiments instead of socializing with her peers. While scavenging through a barn on her family’s estate, Lucy discovers a peculiar device which happens to be a prototype time machine. When accidently switching it on, she is propelled back in the calender to 2003. This is only a few days before the ill fated demise of her sister.
Lucy now believes she can change the future and therefore decides to alter her sister’s fate. While masquerading as a new student, Lucy makes friends with Summer. These moments are laden with so much emotion; and for good reason, because Lucy has to internalize her rage while forming a bond with the sister she never had the chance to cherish due to her tragic demise.
Lucy also meets new friend Quinn, an intelligent and gentle classmate who has a profound interest in physics. Together, they strive to comprehend the time machine and how Lucy could use it to return to her time. But as the clock ticks toward the fateful night, the stakes get higher. The Sweetly Slasher resurfaces and begins another round of student eliminations. It is at this point that Lucy starts believing her existence in the past is the reason for the timeline shifts that have taken place in unforeseen and deadly manners.
As Lucy and Quinn investigate the origins of the killer, a shocking turn of events occurs. The masked psycho is not an original throwback from the past, but rather a sadistic alter version of Quinn himself, pushed over the edge due to self-inflicted torment and trauma of living in a world where Lucy’s original time jump exists. This narrative reveals a disturbing paradox: the implication of meddling with time is that no matter how it is reversed, the outcome will always be terrifying in nature.
During the highly anticipated dance showdown at the Spring Fling, Lucy ultimately confronts the killer in a heart-pounding and emotionally charged duel. Together with Summer, she subdues the future Quinn, saving her sister and shattering the violent cycle. But that’s not the end. Unlike the original story, Lucy decides not to return to the future, choosing instead to stay in 2003 indefinitely. With the knowledge she possesses, Lucy plans on living the life she was denied while protecting her loved ones.
Cast & Characters
Bailey plays the role of Lucy Field, the primary character in the film. Her performance captures the emotional turmoil of a teen carrying the trauma of loss and the responsibility of changing fate. Bailey’s fine blend of intensity and vulnerability balances the scientific brilliance with heart and raw emotion.
Antonia Gentry portrays Summer Field, the older sister whose murder propels the storyline. Gentry delivers a characteristically charming yet heartfelt performance further enhanced by the emotional depth of her scenes in conjunction with Bailey.
Griffin Gluck depicts Quinn, the staggeringly inappropriate science enthusiast whose tragic good intentions spiral out of control. Gluck shines in a dual role as both the supportive teenage Quinn and his distorted, future counterpart.
Mr. Fleming is a science teacher and mentor to Lucy. Shanks plays the character in the film and provides exposition alongside guidance during the more technical moments of the story.
As Emmy, Megan Best plays one of Summer’s best friends. Like many of the other characters in the film, Emmy provides comic relief and anchors emotionally in the film’s lighter moments.
Crew & Production
Director: Hannah MacPherson infuses the film with her unique visual flair while portraying a juxtaposition of the nostalgic and bright setting of the early two thousands high school life and the sassy undertones of a slasher film.
Writers: Michael Kennedy and Hannah MacPherson teamed up to create a spine-tingling yet heartfelt narrative. Kennedy’s past work in horror-comedy and MacPherson’s emotionally driven storytelling blended together perfectly.
Producers: Matt Kaplan and Christopher Landon, pioneers of genre-bending works such as Freaky and Happy Death Day, back the film’s creative vision.
Cinematographer: For the scenes set in 2003, Tony Mirza used warm and saturated colors while the present-day sequences had cooler and more muted aesthetics, reflecting the two timelines with distinct visual tones.
Music: Drubich had to forgo a more elegant approach, replacing it with a more haunting one to fit the film’s pacing. Her score, for the more personal quieter moments, had to provide emotional resonance to underscores of tension.
Time Travel: Ken Blackwell and Joe Landauer’s editing work on the film ensures that the viewer’s attention is held during time travel transitions, as well as during action sequences.
Reception and Ratings:
Upon release, Time Cut garnered a mixed response, currently sitting at a 5.4/10 on IMDb. While some critics appreciated the heartfelt emotional drive, creative aspects of the film, others criticized the ambitious scope for lacking character development and coherence.
Positive reviews came in droves highlighting Madison Bailey and Antonia Gentry’s performances, as well as the blending of different genres. The nostalgic reenactment of the early 2000s was also noted as a strength, providing the film with distinct aesthetic appeal. Others believed, however, that the science fiction elements were underdeveloped, and that the film could have explored time travel’s consequences more thoroughly.
Regardless of the divided opinions, Time Cut is an intriguing piece in genre fusion. It blends elements from teenage drama, slasher horror, and science fiction time travel, and creatively offers something different in every act.
Conclusion
Time Cut is a film of great ambition that dares to combine slasher horror with time travel and emotional depth. At its core lies a tale of loss, love, and the impossibility of wanting to alter one’s past. Even if the film is not perfect in its execution, the creativity of the premise, the strong emotional stakes, and the cast make it appealing for watchers who seek something different from the typical horror film.
Through a blend of sci-fi nostalgia and horror, Time Cut Rushes into the tapestry of contemporary genre cinema and carves itself a space within it while reinforcing niche inventiveness in contemporary cinema.
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