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Crime thriller

Cut Off (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Cut Off (2018) movie poster

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.

worldwide gross
$1.1M
Echo Score
76
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Cut Off (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 12m (132 min)
Director
Christian Alvart
Genres
Crime , Thriller , Horror , Mystery
Original language
German
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

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
  • 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
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Cast & crew

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.

Also Starring in Cut Off

· 19 more
Show all 23 cast members
From the director

More from Christian Alvart

More films directed by Christian Alvart, best-rated first: Antibodies, Pandorum, Case 39 and Free Country.

Full filmography
Ratings

Cut Off Reviews & Ratings

Our Echo Score gives it 76/100, strongest in character & emotion (86) and weakest in story & flow (68).

76 /100

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.

Plot

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

Read the full summary
Box office

Cut Off Box Office

Cut Off grossed $1.1 million worldwide.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$1.1M

International
$1.1M
Videos

Cut Off Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Cut Off.

Official Trailer
Quiz

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

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is the name of the island where much of the story takes place?

Details

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
  • Odříznutí
  • Odrezaní
  • Rupți de lume

Seen Cut Off?

FAQ

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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