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Comedy horror film

One Cut of the Dead (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

One Cut of the Dead (2019) movie poster

One Cut of the Dead is a 2019 comedy horror film directed by Shin'ichirô Ueda, starring Takayuki Hamatsu as Director Higurashi, Hiroshi Ichihara and Yuzuki Akiyama. It runs 1 hour 36 minutes and earned $1.1 million worldwide on a $3 million budget. Critics gave it 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and 86 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.6/10.

IMDb rating
7.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes
100%
worldwide gross
$1.1M
Echo Score
86
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One Cut of the Dead (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 36m (96 min)
Genres
Horror , Comedy
Original language
Japanese
Studio
Shudder
Budget
$3M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is One Cut of the Dead About?

The premise of One Cut of the Dead without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A struggling film crew attempts to shoot a zombie movie on a shoestring budget in an abandoned WWII Japanese military base. While filming, they unexpectedly encounter actual undead creatures, leading to a chaotic and hilarious battle for survival. The film blends horror and comedy, offering a unique and unexpected cinematic experience.

One Cut of the Dead Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • single take
  • zombie
  • film crew
  • rooftop
  • actor
  • found footage
  • leg
  • legs
  • short shorts
  • meta
  • television broadcast
  • low budget film
+38 more
  • mise en abyme
  • father daughter relationship
  • zombie apocalypse
  • zombie attack
  • zombie bite
  • zombie epidemic
  • zombie infection
  • zombie outbreak
  • zombie pandemic
  • zombie plague
  • zombie survival
  • zombie violence
  • zombie virus
  • zombies movie
  • zombification
  • bitten by a zombie
  • chased by a zombie
  • human versus zombie
  • killing a zombie
  • turned into a zombie
  • human versus undead
  • undead
  • living dead
  • walking dead
  • exclamation point in title
  • four word title
  • long take
  • five word title
  • written by director
  • japanese
  • japan
  • film set
  • abandoned building
  • film director
  • director
  • blood
  • fake blood
  • axe
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Cast & crew

One Cut of the Dead Cast & Characters

Takayuki Hamatsu leads the cast as Director Higurashi, with Hiroshi Ichihara as Kasahara and Yuzuki Akiyama as Chinatsu. Directed by Shin'ichirô Ueda; 10 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in One Cut of the Dead

· 6 more
Ratings

One Cut of the Dead Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave One Cut of the Dead 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and 86 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.6/10. Our Echo Score gives it 86/100, strongest in rewatch factor (90) and weakest in sensory experience (75).

86 /100

One Cut of the Dead Echo Score Breakdown

One Cut of the Dead delivers an inventive and tightly structured narrative that highlights inventive filmmaking under resource constraints. The three-act design and meta approach earned praise for transforming an initial low-budget setup into a clever payoff, while controlled chaos generates sustained audience enjoyment. A few viewers noted rough pacing in the opening segment, but the film's humor and creative momentum quickly reengage attention. Overall, this film offers a satisfying blend of ingenuity and comedic energy that rewards attentive viewers.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 80

    In terms of art and craft, the film demonstrates resourceful production design and dynamic editing that maximize its minimal budget. The guerrilla-style camerawork and practical make-up effects contribute to an authentic visual atmosphere, though a few viewers cited inconsistent color grading and rough camera movements. These creative choices support the film’s energetic tone. Overall, the art direction achieves a balance between raw aesthetic and functional clarity.

  • Character & Emotion 85

    When it comes to character and emotion, performances convey earnest enthusiasm and strong comedic timing that anchor the story. Actors display believable rapport and sustain emotional resonance even amid broad humor, lending authenticity to the filmmaking premise. A few critiques mention lightly sketched roles in the early scenes, but the ensemble’s collaborative spirit becomes increasingly evident. In sum, the acting and character dynamics effectively engage the audience through honest and spirited portrayals.

  • Story & Flow 88

    In terms of story and flow, the three-act structure cleverly reframes the initial narrative, creating a sense of discovery that enhances engagement. The pacing shifts from deliberately measured in the opening to rapid and exhilarating in later segments, supporting the film’s inventive comedic-horror blend. Some viewers found the opening segment uneven, yet the originality of the meta approach and payoff sequences maintains strong interest. Overall, the story unfolds with surprising cohesion and creative momentum.

  • Sensory Experience 75

    When examining the sensory experience, the film offers an effective sound design and a playful musical score that underscore its comedic and suspenseful moments. The lo-fi visuals contribute to a cohesive guerrilla aesthetic, although inconsistent color saturation and occasional audio roughness were noted by some viewers. Despite these imperfections, the controlled chaos and rhythmic editing deliver a satisfying multisensory impact. Ultimately, the sensory elements complement the film’s inventive spirit.

  • Rewatch Factor 90

    Regarding rewatch factor, One Cut of the Dead’s layered narrative and cleverly placed callbacks invite multiple viewings to appreciate nuanced humor and structural ingenuity. The controlled chaos in the film-within-a-film setup reveals fresh details upon repeat viewings, reinforcing audience enjoyment. A minority of viewers may find the novelty less impactful after the initial twist, but the overall craftsmanship sustains replay value. In conclusion, the film rewards attentive audiences with enduring appeal.

Plot

One Cut of the Dead Plot Summary

What happens in One Cut of the Dead from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In the first section of True Fear, the cast and crew are engaged in the chaotic production of a low-budget zombie film set in an abandoned water filtration plant. Their director, Takayuki Higurashi, driven by mounting debts and frustration over the actors’ performances, attempts to conjure real horror by having a blood pentagram painted, hoping to summon actual zombies from the site’s haunted history. The situation spirals out of control when the cameraman turns into a zombie and bites the assistant director, Hiroshi Ichihara, thereby transforming him as well. Three characters—actress Yuzuki Akiyama as Chinatsu, actor Kazuaki Nagaya as Ko, and makeup artist Harumi Shuhama—manage to lock the zombies outside, but Higurashi insists on continuing the shoot with the newly risen undead.

Full summary

The whole story of One Cut of the Dead, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

One Cut of the Dead Box Office & Budget

One Cut of the Dead grossed $1.1 million worldwide on a $3 million budget, 38% of what it cost.

2019 box office

Worldwide gross

$1.1M

38% of its budget back

International
$1.1M
Budget
$3M
Videos

One Cut of the Dead Trailers & Videos

The trailer of One Cut of the Dead.

"One Cut of the Dead" English subtitled Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know One Cut of the Dead?

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
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  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who is the director of the low-budget horror film 'True Fear'?

Details

One Cut of the Dead Also Known As

9 alternative titles, including “Kamera o tomeru na! supin-ofu: Hariuddo daisakusen!” and “카메라를 멈추면 안 돼! 스핀오프 : 할리우드 대작전!”.

Also known as
  • Kamera o tomeru na! supin-ofu: Hariuddo daisakusen!
  • 카메라를 멈추면 안 돼! 스핀오프 : 할리우드 대작전!
  • One Cut of the Dead in Hollywood
  • One Cut of the Dead: Hollywood Edition
  • 摄影机不要停!续集 好莱坞大作战!
  • 카메라를 멈추면 안 돼! 스핀오프 할리우드 대작전!
  • 屍殺片場番外篇:荷里活大作戰!
  • 一屍到底番外篇:好萊塢大作戰!
  • One Cut Of The Dead Spin-Off : In Hollywood

Seen One Cut of the Dead?

FAQ

One Cut of the Dead FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of One Cut of the Dead, each answered in a sentence.

How long is One Cut of the Dead?

One Cut of the Dead runs 1 hour 36 minutes (96 minutes).

When was One Cut of the Dead released?

One Cut of the Dead was released on September 13, 2019.

Who directed One Cut of the Dead?

One Cut of the Dead was directed by Shin'ichirô Ueda.

Who is in the cast of One Cut of the Dead?

One Cut of the Dead stars Takayuki Hamatsu as Director Higurashi, Hiroshi Ichihara as Kasahara and Yuzuki Akiyama as Chinatsu, among 10 credited actors.

How much did One Cut of the Dead make at the box office?

One Cut of the Dead grossed $1.1 million worldwide on a budget of $3 million.

How is One Cut of the Dead rated?

One Cut of the Dead has 7.6/10 on IMDb, 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, 86 on Metacritic and 76% on TMDB.

Does One Cut of the Dead have a post-credit scene?

No. One Cut of the Dead has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is One Cut of the Dead in?

The original language of One Cut of the Dead is Japanese.

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