You can run from your past. But you can’t hide from it.
Directed by Brian Skiba, Clear Cut tells the story of Jack (Clive Standen), a man looking for a fresh start in the logging industry of the Pacific Northwest. This is a dangerous job but Jack is determined to hide himself away in the woods to escape his past. But, as he travels deeper into the woods, he comes across a band of ruthless criminals from his past who are determined to kill him before he can escape.
In a lot of ways, Clear Cut feels like a throwback film to the 80s and 90s. By setting the film in the heart of the woods, the film ensures that we’re left in a world governed by natural law. This is meant to be a world of brutality where men are as heartless as the terrain. (“Things out here happen fast and, when they do, people die,” we’re warned.) As such, Skiba keeps his filmmaking simple. Through the use of practical effects and tight cinematography, the visuals feel real. There’s a grit to it that gives the proper edge. After all, this isn’t a glitzy or stylish world.
We’re meant to sit in the mud with these characters.
Placed on the back of Standen, Clear Cut has the necessary muscle to keep the viewer engaged. As Jack, Stanton carries himself with a charming growl. In other words, we care about his character because of his loving backstory but, at the same time, we know that he is not to be taken lightly.
Though, the most fun is to be had with the smaller roles. With Tom Welling, Jesse Metcalfe, Stephen Dorff and Alec Baldwin playing side characters, each one seems to be having more fun that one might expect. Although each of them has less screentime than usual, they all seem to be enjoying their time in the wilderness. (This is especially true for Metcalfe and Welling who seem to embrace their dark side with an almost over-the-top snarl.)
With fire in its eyes, Clear Cut wants to be a story about what it takes to make things right. Because of the pain of his past, Jack has become a broken man. He blames himself for his suffering and wears it like a weight around his neck. For this reason, his trip into the wood is initially meant as a means to hide from the world.
But, no one can really escape their past.
As Jack faces off against his own history, he finds himself looking for ways to make amends. But, make no mistake. Clear Cut doesn’t go too far down the emotional rabbit hole. In this film, making things right comes when someone else suffers. In this way, the film becomes an old school revenge thriller, leaning into the desire to ‘get your hands dirty’ in order to clean them up. Even though he’s a loving husband and father, Jack knows who he wants to be but he’s also willing to be who he has to be.
Admittedly, the film isn’t perfect. Sometimes, the story can feel lost in the woods and and editing can be jarring. Even so, while Clear Cut isn’t going to be the biggest (or best) thing on the big screen this weekend, it does offer enough action to entertain. This tightly-executed little thriller knows what it wants to be from the outset and charges ahead with enthusiasm.
Clear Cut is available in theatres on Friday, July 19th, 2024
