Review: Cut and Run

Lisa Blount is a shonky TV reporter who is somewhere in South America with her cameraman (Leonard Mann) looking for Willie Aames, son of her boss Richard Bright. Aames was photographed with Colonel Horne (Richard Lynch, as a kind of Col. Kurtz character), a former associate of cult leader Jim Jones who was believed to have died at the Jonestown massacre. Blount decides to kill two birds with one stone by trying to find Col. Horne for an interview, whilst also hopefully locating Aames in the process. Meanwhile, we come across Aames, who along with the pretty Valentina Forte, is currently in the employ of drug dealer John Steiner, but is about to attempt an escape. Michael Berryman appears as the leader of a band of savages who attack John Steiner and his men. Eriq La Salle plays a pimp (!), and Karen Black is a TV news producer.

This 1985 exploitation flick is my first taste of  Ruggero Deodato (director of the infamous “Cannibal Holocaust”), and although I’m pretty sure the version I saw was heavily cut, this film is too crazy and compelling not to recommend. I’m not sure what to make of it in terms of plot and overall quality, but it sure is something and it definitely kept me entertained throughout. It has enough plot for at least three films. There’s a once-in-a-lifetime B-cast too, including Willie ‘Bibleman’ Aames (who I assume now blames cocaine and booze for his appearance in this), “Hills Have Eyes” co-star Michael Berryman doing his inimitable thing (I just bet he’s a swell guy in real-life), and “Godfather” character actor Richard Bright in a good guy role for a change (and doing a fine job). It’s certainly strange seeing the future Christian TV star Aames taking on a role that requires him to break one of the ten commandments on more than one occasion. Bibleman sure is trigger-happy. Or does Aames have a bible that reads ‘Thou Shalt Not Kill...Except’? Thank you to the three of you who get that semi-obscure horror reference.

 

However, the most memorable appearances are by Lisa Blount (sporting the same mullet I had in my teens, shockingly), Richard Lynch, and Eriq La Salle. Blount is genuinely good as the lead in this film, never for a second looking embarrassed to be here. Her character should be embarrassed, however, for coming up with the dumbarse idea of doing a piece to camera near a waterfall! Who does that? Regular B-movie villain Richard Lynch (who sadly died fairly recently) is interestingly cast as an associate of real-life cult leader Jim Jones, considering he essentially played a faux Jim Jones in the awful “Bad Dreams”. I’m not sure what accent he was attempting here, but he’s perfectly evil as always and well-cast. And then there’s Eriq La Salle. Oh boy. If you thought Eriq had a reason to be embarrassed about his juicy Jeri-curl in “Coming to America”, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet. As a purple hat wearing, pimpin’ pimp named Fargas (get it?) he’s instantly hilarious. He’s terrible as always, but some might get a kick out of seeing him look so baby-faced (and ridiculous). In all seriousness, if ever a film needed a lavender and periwinkle-attired pimp named Fargas, it’s not this one and his scenes drag the film down, whilst still being strangely amusing. Meanwhile, the always incompetent and cross-eyed Karen Black thankfully has limited involvement here in what amounts to a guest star role, essentially.

One of the film’s highlights is the cool, if incongruous synth score by Claudio Simonetti (of Goblin and Dario Argento fame). It’s way too loud, though. The screenplay is by Dardano Sacchetti and Cesare Frugoni, as well as an uncredited Luciano Vincenzoni and will certainly appeal to fans of crazy Italian exploitation films.

I’m not sure if this film even makes complete sense, but it’s not dull and I’m sure there’s an audience for it. It certainly kept me engaged...for some bizarre reason. Maybe several bizarre reasons.

Rating: B-