There are comedies that are purely horrible. And there are horror films that are simply funny. And exactly the latter applies to Final Cut Of The Dead (French: Coupez!).
WHAT’S THE STORY OF FINAL CUT OF THE DEAD?
At this point, we usually present a brief summary of the story. But not this time. Because we couldn’t do it without spoiling. We would reveal too much of what awaits you. Just let Final Cut Of The Dead surprise you. And you will be surprised! More and more, minute by minute. Guaranteed! Besides, there are many other interesting things to tell about the film.
Admittedly, the film is not new. It is a remake of the Japanese surprise hit “One Cut Of The Dead” from 2017. With this, Shin’ichirô Ueda and his cast, a crew full of spirited acting students from a Tokyo film academy, proved that a movie doesn’t have to be expensive to write film history. The production budget of One Cut Of The Dead is estimated at only around $27,000. However, this horror comedy has grossed $31.2 million worldwide. So, an increase of more than 1,150 times.
If we compare that to Avatar: The Way of Water, which cost 460 million to produce and has so far grossed 5 times that amount, we see that One Cut Of The Dead is the more successful film. Actually.
Howsoever, a good film shouldn’t be about money either, it should be about a good story. And this is the case in the French remake down to the last detail. The name of the original and remake are as similar as the plots. But with a small and at the same time huge difference.
Because Final Cut Of The Dead now brings France’s incomparable charm and savoir-vivre into play. In addition, the experienced cast shows such enthusiasm that it is a real feast to watch Final Cut Of The Dead.
THE CHARACTERS & CAST OF FINAL CUT OF THE DEAD
ROMAIN DURIS AS RÉMI
Rémi is a small-time director who lives from mediocre, scripted reports for TV. Until suddenly he gets the offer to shoot a zombie film in a deserted place, live, in just one planned sequence. At first, he considers it ridiculous. However, then he allows himself to be persuaded to take on this risky assignment.
Plan-Séquence <pl plans-séquences> [plɑ̃sekɑ̃s] N m; English long take, continuous take or shot is an artistically challenging filming technique. Recording takes place over a much longer period of time than usual. The challenge here is not just keeping an eye on the actors’ interactions, which is particularly difficult when they must improvise. Rather, care must be taken to ensure that the film team, other cameras, objects and much more do not suddenly appear in the picture. One director who really loves working with long takes is Damien Chazelle. In Babylon, he pushes this film technique to its climax.
The charismatic French actor Romain Duris plays the rather overwhelmed director Rémi simply brilliantly. He literally blends into the role. With his authenticity and charm, he casts a spell over us and leads us deep into the story of Final Cut Of The Dead.
Romain Duris has acted in about 50 films and TV productions. Last we could see him in the drama Waiting for Bojangles. However, he is best known for his role in Cédric Klapisch’s Spanish Apartment trilogy: L’Auberge Espagnole, Russian Dolls (2005), and Chinese Puzzle (2013).
He also starred alongside former Bond girl Olga Kurylenko in Just A Breath Away (2018), in which a toxic mist engulfs the city of Paris. Survivors escape to the rooftops. But two people must face the fog to save their daughter, who is trapped in a medical tank. We also saw Romain in Arsène Lupine (2004), Eiffel (2021), and Populaire (2012), to name just a few.
BÉRÉNICE BEJO AS NADIA
In the latter film, i.e. Populaire, we also admired Bérénice Bejo. In Final Cut Of The Dead, she plays Réni’s wife Nadia. Nadia is very pretty and a good actress. However, she retired from the film business to devote herself to the family. Moreover, she gets a tiny little problem as soon as she acts in front of the camera.
In The Artist, 2011, Bérénice Bejo proved that she is an amazing actress. The film was nominated for 10 Oscars. Bérénice was nominated for best actress. Ultimately, The Artist won 5 awards. Bérénice’s film partner, Jean Dujardin, took the golden boy home as Best Actor.
As does director Michel Hazanavicius. This kept the award in the family home. Because Bérénice is not only Michel Hazanavicius’ muse, who stood in front of the camera in his OSS 117 films and The Search. Besides, both are married and have two children.
GRÉGORY GADEBOIS AS PHILIPPE
Also, Grégory Gadebois was already in front of the camera with Bérénice Bejo in the film Nothing to Hide in 2018. And together with Romain Duris, he acted in Waiting for Bojangles and Ceasefire.
In Final Cut Of The Dead, Grégory plays an actor who isn’t above anything. He keeps appearing in Rémi’s fake reports on TV until he gets the big chance to take part in the director’s horror film. Great, if it weren’t for his little problem that’s going to make a big mess.
FINNEGAN OLDFIELD AS RAPHAËL
Finnegan Oldfield and Grégory Gadebois also knew each other from a previous production. Namely the film Marvin ou la belle éducation from 2017. Here, Finnegan plays alongside the great Isabelle Huppert. The Franco-British actor has appeared in over 30 films since 2003.
In Final Cut Of The Dead, he plays the French Adam Driver. At least that’s what his fans call Raphaël. He also reflects the rebellious and system-critical young generation. So, he too overdoes things a bit here and there. That doesn’t exactly make working with him easy for Rémi and the others.
SIMONE HAZANAVICIUS AS ROMY
One of Raphaël’s biggest fans is young Romy, Nadja’s and Rémi’s daughter. Like her father, Romy is also trying her hand at directing, and has moderate success due to her sometimes radical approach. However, it’s she who inspires Rémi to shoot the zombie film.
It’s funny that Simone Hazanavicius and her film mother have a similar relationship in real life. Because Simone is Michael Hazanavicius’ daughter from his first marriage. This is how a horror film production becomes a family business. Because, of course, Michael was behind the camera this time too.
MATILDA ANNA INGRID LUTZ AS AVA
One character has yet to be singled out, Ava. Because just as each of them reflects a certain group of our society at its core, Ava represents the social media community. Good acting is not as important to her as good follower numbers. As an influencer, she has many objections, especially when it comes to being puked all over her. Well, that’s understandable, actually.
Howsoever, during the shoot, both Ava and Matilda surpass themselves.
Matilda Lutz is an Italian actress and model. She had her first major roles in 2017, in the action thriller Revenge and the horror film Rings. Furthermore, she starred in Summertime (2016) and Megan (2018). Alongside Scott Eastwood, she also played in Ecstasia. But the release date is not known yet.
In Final Cut Of The Dead, she teaches Jamie Lee Curtis, who until now has been the epitome of the perfect scream in horror films, to fear. Her screams are unique. Would you like to follow the beautiful actress on Instagram?
FINAL CUT OF THE DEAD CONCLUSION
Final Cut Of The Dead was also hit by the pandemic. Premieres at film festivals had to be postponed and then came the war in Ukraine, which plunged Europe into chaos. Then, the letter Z became the symbol of the Russian army’s war of terror and aggression. Therefore, Hazanavicius had to change the original name “Z (comme Z)” (Engl.: Z (like Z)) to Coupez!.
So the chaos of the real world almost tops the chaos that can arise in a film production like Final Cut Of The Dead. The difference is that the film chaos is worth seeing.
Granted, not everyone will like Final Cut Of The Dead. However, many will love the film. Modern smartphones and social media have led to more and more people getting involved in filmmaking and editing. For many, this has become a real passion and even obsession. Anyone with even a little knowledge of this subject knows how much can go wrong with even the simplest of shots.
THE HUMOR
Even if you don’t, the story of Final Cut Of The Dead will make you laugh. Personally, I see new movies almost every day. Nevertheless, I have retained my passion and love for film to this day. But rarely has a film stimulated both, love and passion, as intensively as Final Cut Of The Dead.
I watched it during the second press screening in a small but nice, cozy cinema with only a few colleagues. And I had to hold myself back from grunting loudly, that’s how extreme the laughing muscles are addressed. I couldn’t stop laughing for 60 minutes. No blockbuster can do that, where everything is perfectly styled to the point of excess.
But this charming low-budget film does. Because it was produced with a big heart and a lot of passion and with a team that lives these values. It’s fun to watch each of the actors playing, including those not mentioned here.
Every joke sits. However, only if you watch the film as the original version with subtitles. What? Silly? No, far from it. Because that’s the best and only way to really understand the pun. You don’t have to know the language because the actors lead and control you. Her game is so strong that you understand every scene and can’t stop grinning.
THE MUST: WATCH FINAL CUT OF THE DEAD AS THE ORIGINAL WITH SUBTITLES
I myself also thought at first: omg! Because my French is just enough for a few orders in the restaurant, if at all. But it was the best thing that could have happened to us.
The dialogues are on the one hand so delicate and on the other hand so sharp that their wit and suspense must be lost when they are dubbed. You can’t translate these subtleties, you have to experience them, with the protagonists and preferably with a few friends.
Then Final Cut Of The Dead becomes a feast for the senses. The film is by far one of the best comedies of recent years and we, therefore, give it the rating: Absolutely worth seeing.
Thus, go to the cinema or use a stream, because in some countries Final Cut Of The Dead was shown in theaters some time ago and is already available digitally there. We wish a lot of fun.
Text: Marco Kokkot | VALEUR MEDIA
Pictures: Weltkino, Getaway Films
