ONE CUT OF THE DEAD
I SAW INDIE
horror One Cut of the Dead at a small arthouse cinema in Shinjuku, back when it was in very limited release. I had been asked by director Shinichiro Ueda to watch his film, but I didn’t know anything about it beforehand. After the film ended, my first thought was, ‘he did it.’ He found the perfect balance between what he wanted to achieve and what he was able to deliver – a true rarity these days. And all the more impressive given that the zombie genre is often at risk of being dismissed as trivial entertainment.
By having the main characters make their own horror movie, Ueda’s film succeeds in giving audiences a peek at the struggles of the filmmaking process. It’s an extreme representation, but that’s what makes it entertaining. Different people look for different things in films: the drama, the techniques or the visual spectacle. I personally hope to be entertained or delighted and One Cut of the Dead achieved both.
I might have injected more dramatics if I had made the film, but that isn’t really necessary; its simplicity is why the film is interesting. It’s obvious Ueda loves cinema and understands what makes films entertaining. The technique of long, continuous takes, like the 37- minute shot that opens the film, has been around for a long time, but using it in a zombie movie was inspired originality. That originality is the most captivating thing about the film.
I had a feeling One Cut of the Dead could succeed after that screening, but certainly not to this extent. Earning back 1,000 times its budget at the box office could be a game changer for both Japanese commercial and independent films. The film’s success will change Ueda’s life.
I don’t envy the high expectations for his next film, but I’m excited to see how he will deliver on them.