The Cut

by Mike McGranaghan

The Cut is a boxing drama that’s not about boxing. The main character is a boxer, and he’s attempting to participate in a championship boxing match, but after a short prologue, none of the story takes place inside a ring. Don’t let a disinterest in the “sweet science” deter you from seeing the film, which is a probing psychological drama about obsessive drive. Anybody who has taken an extreme measure while trying to meet a personal goal will relate to the story’s themes, if not its specific milieu.

The unnamed Boxer (Orlando Bloom) is officially retired from the sport. He spends his days training younger pugilists, with the assistance of his wife Caitlin (Belfast's Caitríona Balfe), the daughter of a noted trainer. An opportunity to compete for one final title presents itself when old friend Donny (Gary Beadle) shows up expressing a need to find a replacement fighter ASAP. Boxer is roughly 23 pounds over the weight limit for the class he needs to compete in, and he’s got a week to lose it. Out of desperation, he turns to an infamously hardcore trainer named Boz (John Turturro), who puts him through a series of grueling and dangerous rapid weight loss techniques.

Who wins the title bout is not even remotely the concern here. Suspense in The Cut comes from wondering if Boxer can make his weight and, more importantly, if he’ll survive Boz’s brutal regimen. This isn’t a horror movie, although watching it has the same effect. It’s impossible not to squirm in revulsion at what the character endures. Physical discomfort is bad enough; psychological discomfort kicks everything to a whole other level. You basically witness this guy’s suffering for 90 minutes. By the time he’s staggering through the halls of a hotel, hallucinating from dehydration and pumped full of diuretics, I had a queasy feeling in my stomach.

So why would anybody want to see this film? For starters, it is undeniably effective. Director Sean Ellis (The Cursed) wrings nonstop tension from the premise. As harrowing as it gets, you can’t look away. There are films with car chases, shootouts, and explosions that offer fewer palpable thrills than The Cut.

The other reason is the quality of the performances. Orlando Bloom pushes himself to the brink, transforming his body and reaching new emotional heights. He’s a beast in this picture, going far beyond anything he’s ever done before. Caitríona Balfe is also strong, powerfully conveying Caitlin’s desire to help her husband achieve his dream, despite being terrified of what might happen. As for John Turturro, you’ll hate the guy he’s playing. Boz’s sole concern is getting the results he’s been hired to get. The actor turns his single-minded, cold-hearted personality into a fascinating trait.

The story missteps slightly at the end, as Boxer does something that's highly improbable. It’s obvious the story is going to an extreme in order to make its point, but what happens isn’t credible. The Cut is still worth seeking out, though, for its overall intensity and exceptional acting.

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