GUT REVIEW

Family man Tom has seen something he can’t forget, a mysterious video with an ugly secret that soon spreads into his daily life and threatens to dismantle everything around him.

Starring: Jason Vail, Nicholas Wilder, and Sarah Schoofs

Directed and written by: Elias

  “Gut” starts with a bang, and then quickly settles down into a slow burning psychological horror movie. The story centers around two friends that are in different places in their lives, and have been growing apart. Tom (Jason Vail) has a wife and kids to take care of, while Dan (Nicholas Wilder) is more of a loner.

  Perhaps they have been going in different directions because they each feel there is something missing in their lives. That is the kind of vibe that each gives off, and adds to that slow burning feeling. Dan tries to fill part of that void with a strange video that he orders. Stunned by what he sees, Dan has to share it with his best friend. After trying to keep his distance from Dan, Tom finally gives in, and agrees to see the video.

  From here on out, each of them become obsessed with the video in their own way. Dan orders more videos, while Tom seems to have recurring dreams of what he saw. So what’s on the video? Well, that takes the audience to the title of the film, “Gut.” The video shows someone gutting a person tied to a table. It’s the bloodiest, and most gruesome part of the movie. Just like the movie, it’s a nice and slow gutting of the person.

  Besides being a slow burner, the best part is that the movie never gives the audience a clear idea of who is behind these videos. Because of the awkwardness of Tom and Dan, there are times when you think one of them could be behind it. At other times, you get the feeling that it’s just some other crazy person. That is what the characters leave you to believe. Even when the movie comes to shocking conclusion, there still is no evidence of who’s behind the videos. However, it puts the final nail in their friendship.

  Sometimes slow burners become too slow, and bore me to the point where I have had enough. “Gut” isn’t one of those movies. Not knowing who’s behind the gruesome videos kept my attention throughout. The odd behavior of Tom and Dan had me flipping back and forth between who I thought did it. They do a great job of showing how the two friends’ relationship changes, while mixing in the mystery of where these videos come from. Because this movie had me on my toes the entire time, I give it 3 pools of blood.

  HorrO