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Cast: Jason Vail, Nicholas Wilder, Sarah Schoofs, Angie Bullaro, Kirstianna Mueller, Kaitlyn Mueller. With Maria Victoria, Miles Joris-Peyrafitte, Karl Pfeiffer
Something is missing in Tom's life. Every day he goes through the motions, becoming increasingly detached from those around him. His best friend Dan thinks he has the answer, a mysterious video he's got to see to believe. What Dan shows him leaves Tom unsettled, flooding his mind with disturbing images and desires, and binding the two friends together with its ugly secret. As he tries desperately to forget what he saw, Tom's mounting feelings of guilt and disillusionment quickly give way to paranoia and fear. One video soon follows another and another, blurring the line between reality and voyeuristic fascination, and threatening to dismantle everything around them.
"Gut" tells the story of two friends, Tom and Dan. Tom is getting ready to move with his wife and daughter to a new home which means he will also be getting a new job but something about Tom just doesn't seem right. It seems like something is bothering him or he is not happy with the way his life is going at the moment. His best friend Dan is also affected by it all, he is not happy about the two not hanging out as much anymore and Tom moving away makes him feel as if he is losing his buddy for good. Dan is a movie buff and he keeps bugging Tom to come over to watch a movie with him. Dan has been online looking for something different to watch and he ordered a movie but when Tom and him sit down to watch it they witness a woman who is naked and tied to a table while someone cuts her stomach open and sticks their hand in the wound. Both men are shocked by it but aren't sure if its real or not. Tom tells Dan to stop getting them and he doesn't want to see anymore of them but for some reason he cannot stop thinking about what he witnessed and he becomes fascinated as does Dan who continues to get them in the mail anyway. Slow but sure the films slowly take over their lives in ways that are unimaginable.
"Gut" is a slow moving, character driven horror/thriller that slowly gets inside your head. Writer/Director, Elias creates an instant bond among the audience and the two friends, both are very easy to identify with, at least at first. It is that bond that draws you into the story because without it you could not find any connection with the characters. As the film moves along and both men slowly lose any sense of reality the more the story gets in your head and under your skin.
Production wise the settings and everything else is pretty simple but there is no need for anything elaborate here because the main focus is on the story and the two main characters. The film's score is brilliant, it adds a lot to the over-all atmosphere of the film.
And acting wise everyone in the film did a fantastic job but I was really impressed with the film's two lead actors, Jason Vail and Nicholas Wilder. Both give realistic and powerful performances.
"Gut" is a well-written, directed and acted Indie that is about as original a film as you are going to find. Some might get a little bored by the film's slow pace but stick with it and you will be rewarded in the end. I really enjoy the twist towards the end, in fact I cannot think of anything I did not like about the film. It sucks you in right from the start and leaves you thinking about it long after it is over. If you like a good thriller then I highly recommend checking this out.
The film is available on VOD now and it will be on DVD May 28th. You can watch the VOD HERE and you can order the DVD HERE.
"Gut" is a gem of a film that gets your attention right from the start and it has lasting affects.
Released by Vanguard Cinema
**** Out Of *****