100
CineVue by Christopher Machell
As much a repudiation of auteur theory as a tribute to the imperfect process of creation, One Cut of the Dead is a thrilling reminder that of the beautiful, vital lie that is cinema.
What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
91
One Cut of the Dead is so heartfelt and hilarious that it’s easy to forgive the contrivances that hold it together, and to overlook how transparently Ueda reverse-engineers most of his best gags.
80
The Hollywood Reporter by Elizabeth Kerr
One Cut wears its cheapness as a badge of honor, a tricky endeavor given its actual production polish; make-up effects by Kazuhide Simohata and Jyunko Hirabayashi go a long way to supplying the film-within-the-film its guerilla feel. But the pic's best effect is its ability to ensure the same jokes land just as well in their second contexts.
80
One Cut Of The Dead is a true original, a fresh take on the zombie apocalypse drama and much more besides.
91
It reinvents the zombie movie.
80
The Guardian by Peter Bradshaw
It’s a movie that rescues the tired zombie trope – without insisting on metaphor or satire.
90
“One Cut” captures all the craziness and exhilaration of movie-making on a minuscule budget. High-energy performances from a cast of little-knowns are perfectly tuned to the material. The outstanding technical package is a great example of how to create a Poverty Row look for what’s actually a very sophisticated filmmaking exercise.
100
The Telegraph by Robbie Collin
In its own ingenious way, One Cut of the Dead cleaves true to the most important zombie rule of all: survival has always been a team effort.
80
The Observer (UK) by Simran Hans
For a movie about the undead, Japanese director Shin’ichirô Ueda’s horror comedy is certainly lively.