Cut Off (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Cut Off is a 2018 crime thriller directed by Christian Alvart, starring Moritz Bleibtreu as Paul Herzfeld, Barbara Prakopenka and Jasna Fritzi Bauer. It runs 2 hours 12 minutes and earned $1.1 million worldwide. Its Echo Score is 76/100.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 12m (132 min)
- Director
- Christian Alvart
- Original language
-
German
- Studio
- Syrreal Entertainment
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Cut Off About?
The premise of Cut Off without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A gripping thriller unfolds within the specialized field of forensic pathology. Coroner Paul Herzfeld’s routine is shattered when he discovers a mysterious capsule inside the head of a severely disfigured corpse. The capsule contains a phone number and a chilling clue: his daughter’s name. He must unravel the connection and confront a dangerous truth.
Cut Off Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- rape
- heligoland germany
- stalker victim
- suicide in front of a camera
- kidnapped daughter
- kidnapped teenager
- finding a dead body
- cut off from the outside world
- forensic pathologist
- female comic book artist
- pathology
- coroner
+38 more Show fewer
- blizzard
- abduction
- based on novel
- 24 year old
- deliberately crashing a car
- father daughter relationship
- worried daughter
- severed finger
- severed tongue
- janitor
- berlin germany
- helicopter
- sailboat
- island
- stabbed in the shoulder
- aspiring comic book artist
- island life
- bar
- small town mayor
- courtroom
- female judge
- judge murdered
- flashback
- slashed tire
- man wears scrubs
- serial murder
- woman in a shower
- woman wears a bomber jacket
- woman wears scrubs
- car
- cell phone
- revenge
- teenage girl
- female nudity
- female topless nudity
- nudity
- strong female character
- tough woman
Cut Off Cast & Characters
Moritz Bleibtreu leads the cast as Paul Herzfeld, with Barbara Prakopenka as Hannah Herzfeld and Jasna Fritzi Bauer as Linda. Directed by Christian Alvart; 23 actors are credited in all.
- Director Christian Alvart
-
Moritz Bleibtreu as Paul Herzfeld - Barbara Prakopenka as Hannah Herzfeld
- Jasna Fritzi Bauer as Linda
- Fahri Yardım as Ender Müller
Also Starring in Cut Off
· 19 more- Enno Hesse Ingolf von Appen
- Lars Eidinger Jan Erik Sadler
- Klara Höfels Friederike Töven
- Christian Kuchenbuch Philipp Schwintowski
- Urs Jucker Jens Marinek
- Niels-Bruno Schmidt Udo Bandrupp
- Ben Münchow Tom
- Alexander Yassin Schöffe
- Jan Bülow Klaus
- Jana Klinge RA Korn
- Georg Veitl Dr. Schierz
- Joy Maria Bai Dr. Sabine Yao
- Stephanie Amarell
- Marc Bluhm
- Sebastian Fitzek
- John Vaughan Zeuge
Show all 23 cast members Show fewer cast members
More from Christian Alvart
More films directed by Christian Alvart, best-rated first: Antibodies, Pandorum, Case 39 and Free Country.
Cut Off Reviews & Ratings
Our Echo Score gives it 76/100, strongest in character & emotion (86) and weakest in story & flow (68).
Cut Off Echo Score Breakdown
Cut Off delivers a tense, graphic thriller that largely succeeds in maintaining suspense and delivering visceral moments. Reviewers commend the film’s atmospheric cinematography, solid performances—especially from Moritz Bleibtreu—and a brisk pacing that keeps the story moving, while noting occasional narrative convolutions, uneven twists, and a finale that some find unsatisfying. In sum, the movie offers an engaging, if imperfect, experience that rewards viewers who appreciate intense, mood‑driven thrillers.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 82
ART: The film’s direction and visual composition create a consistently foreboding atmosphere, with a cold, snowy palette and stark hospital lighting that heighten tension. Cinematography is praised for unsettling camera angles, while production design grounds the gruesome narrative in realistic settings. Minor criticisms point to occasional artificiality in certain scenes, but overall the craftsmanship supports the thriller’s tone.
- Character & Emotion 86
CHARACTER: Performances are highlighted as a strength, with Moritz Bleibtreu delivering a likable, intense lead and supporting actors such as Fritzi Bauer and Fahri Yardım providing depth and occasional comic relief. Reviewers note credible chemistry among the cast and nuanced portrayals that sustain emotional engagement. No substantial criticism of acting is present, reinforcing a solid character foundation.
- Story & Flow 68
STORY: The narrative maintains a rapid pace and delivers frequent twists that keep viewers engaged, though several reviewers cite convoluted plot elements and distracting red herrings. The storyline is described as thrilling and surprising in parts, yet the ending is perceived by some as a weak, cheesy resolution. Overall, the plot offers strong moments of suspense tempered by inconsistent coherence.
- Sensory Experience 72
SENSORY: Sound design and music contribute to an oppressive mood, with a grim hospital ambience and unsettling background score that amplify tension. Visual style, including stark lighting and effective gore effects, is praised for authenticity, though some find the background music unappealing and certain scenes artificially rendered. The sensory elements overall reinforce the film’s claustrophobic thriller atmosphere.
- Rewatch Factor 70
REWATCH: The film’s intense pacing and numerous twists invite repeat viewings to catch missed details, and many viewers report being compelled to revisit certain sections for clarity. While the graphic content may deter some audiences, the combination of atmospheric visuals and solid performances sustains its appeal on subsequent watches. Consequently, the rewatch factor is moderate to strong.
Cut Off Plot Summary
What happens in Cut Off from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
A powerful storm surrounds the island of Heligoland, isolating it from the mainland. Amid this chaos, Linda, a 24-year-old cartoonist, is on the island temporarily, escaping the threats posed by her ex-boyfriend Danny who persistently stalks her. In her desperate attempt to evade him, she stumbles upon a corpse on the beach after falling down an embankment.
Full summary
The whole story of Cut Off, scene by scene
Cut Off Box Office
Cut Off grossed $1.1 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$1.1M
- International
- $1.1M
Cut Off Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Cut Off.
How Well Do You Know Cut Off?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of the island where much of the story takes place?
Cut Off Also Known As
15 alternative titles, including “Izoliatsiia” and “抽屍剝繭”.
- Also known as
-
- Izoliatsiia
- 抽屍剝繭
- Звонок мертвецу
- Ізоляція
- Откъснати
- 컷 오프
- Odcięci
- Elszigetelve
- Isolados
- Aislados
- L'inciseur, მოწყვეტილი
- 孤立
+3 more Show fewer
- Odříznutí
- Odrezaní
- Rupți de lume
Seen Cut Off?
Movies Like Cut Off
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Clean, Shaven, Cut Throat and The Cutlass.
Cut Off FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, post-credit scenes and language of Cut Off, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Cut Off?
Cut Off runs 2 hours 12 minutes (132 minutes).
When was Cut Off released?
Cut Off was released on October 11, 2018.
Who directed Cut Off?
Cut Off was directed by Christian Alvart.
More films by Christian Alvart Who is in the cast of Cut Off?
Cut Off stars Moritz Bleibtreu as Paul Herzfeld, Barbara Prakopenka as Hannah Herzfeld and Jasna Fritzi Bauer as Linda, among 23 credited actors.
How much did Cut Off make at the box office?
Cut Off grossed $1.1 million worldwide.
Does Cut Off have a post-credit scene?
No. Cut Off has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is Cut Off in?
The original language of Cut Off is German.
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