Cutting Moments

Cutting Moments is a 1997 short film written, produced and directed by Douglas Buck,[1][2] in cooperation with The New School. The film was re-released in August 2004 as part of Buck's suburban holocaust collection Family Portraits: A Trilogy of America.[3]

Cutting Moments
Cutting Moments VHS cover
Directed byDouglas Buck
Produced byDouglas Buck
Written byDouglas Buck
Starring
  • Nica Ray
  • Gary Betsworth
  • Jared Barsky
Release date
  • November 8, 1997 (1997-11-08)
Running time
25 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

In the center of a monotonous-like subdivision, married couple Sarah and Patrick have been living with their emotions kept isolated between themselves and their son, Joey. Patrick seems to be cold and harsh by ignoring Sarah's existence, and the affection Patrick once had for her has all but disappeared. It comes to the point that his sexual urges are manifested in his actions toward Joey. In one scene, Joey is playing outside and places two Power Rangers toys in a suggestive position on the ground. Sarah is left in bewilderment when she hears the discussion of her husband and son at nighttime. At the dinner table, Sarah tells Patrick that she had a conversation with a lawyer over the phone, and it is likely that Joey will soon be taken away by CPS. The next morning, in an attempt to get Patrick to notice her, Sarah applies make-up and dons a seductive red dress. When Patrick shows disinterest and disdain towards his wife (by ignoring her and continuing to watch TV), Sarah goes to the bathroom and removes her lipstick. Thinking that something is still on her lips, she begins to scrub them with a brillo pad until they are scratched and bloody . She then cuts off her lips with a pair of scissors, which leads to Patrick showing renewed interest in their relationship. The two then have tearful, bloody sex, which culminates with Patrick using hedge-trimmers to sever his wife's breast and his own penis. The couple die together in their bed and shortly after, police arrive and find their bodies.

Cast
  • Nica Ray as Sarah
  • Gary Betsworth as Patrick
  • Jared Barsky as Joey

Recognition

Anita Gates of The New York Times wrote of the film "scenes are almost unwatchable but have a curious, grotesque power", and of Buck's work, "There is a sober intelligence behind his low-budget gore, but its shrill excess drowns out the ring of truth".[1] Brian Bertoldo of Film Threat wrote that the film "brings the viewer into a nightmare of insanity and mutilation as a married couple come apart at the seams", and noting that while real suburbia horror is almost too common to be a horror theme, "What does work is the gory execution, that's not something you'll see on the 11 o'clock news."[2]

Awards and nominations

References
  1. Gates, Anita (October 13, 2004). "A Sadistic Father's Legacy Cuts a Swath of Suffering". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-11-18.
  2. Bertoldo, Brian. "review: Cutting Moments". Film Threat. Retrieved 2009-11-18.
  3. Kipp, Jeremiah (July 9, 2004). "Suburban Holocaust". Filmmaker Magazine. Retrieved 2009-11-18.
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