Cutting in its comedy and brutally honest in its reflections on the circus you enter when choosing a life in front of or behind the camera, Cutaways is a bold, at times brash, and always brave indie flick.
It would be easy and far too simple to label Mark Schwab’s latest film, Cutaways, as a stinging exploration of the low-budget porn industry, even though for many that may be what it initially appears to be. Following his previous films, including Shadows in Mind and Exteriors, Cutaways is, in essence, a chamber play centred on a warehouse studio in Hollywood, where a once darling and now cancelled director of the indie filmmaking scene, Evan Quick (Silas Kade), makes cheap porn while guzzling as much vodka as he can get his hands on.
Quick lost everything when his career came to a grinding halt, including his home and his reputation. Porn has kept Quick’s head above water, largely thanks to his two performers, the blue-haired ex-Disney kid Andy (Fernando Jose), who turned to porn and narcotics when his Disney career fizzled and the chisled but slightly clueless Ryan (Diogo Hausen), who dreams of moving from porn to a starring role in a Marvel movie.
Together, this creative but damaged trio is bankrolled by producer Sammy (James Duval), who has his hand in many pies and likes to show off his ambitious twink boyfriend Trace (Jason Caceres) at every opportunity. As Quick attempts to navigate his inner turmoil, Andy snorts an unknown substance, and Ryan’s poor acting takes its toll on everyone; what was a standard day in the studio is about to go horribly wrong.
Cutaways is a sharply written and performed exploration not of porn, but of fame, celebrity and the darker corners of showbiz. From its opening scenes, Schwab’s Cutaways has no intention of playing it safe in its exploration of showbiz, ambition, cancel culture, and creative pipe dreams. As we enter the studio, or is that the arena of failed dreams, misguided hopes and ruthless ambition, Schwab’s brutally sharp screenplay teases, entertains, and engages, with each character allowed their time in the spotlight as events spiral out of control and truths are laid bare.
References to filmmakers like Gregg Araki are particularly relevant to the story, not just because of Duval’s presence, but also because they evoke a time when indie filmmaking dared to push boundaries. Schwab, through his screenplay, ponders whether cancel culture creates fear that deters creative risk-taking, while also exploring the damage sudden cancellation can cause to an individual, whether or not there is evidence of their alleged misconduct in the bear pit of public opinion.
Equally interesting is Schwab’s exploration of an industry norm that has clearly affected Andy and his ability to function without drugs. Mentions of River Phoenix and the Viper Room reflect a deep-seated industry truth: the only side of you that has a place on the stage is the crafted public image; everything else must be hidden from view, often leading to damaging divides and conflicts between an individual’s public and private personas.
Discussions on sexuality in showbiz also find a clear voice as Schwab explores the entertainment business through a gay male lens. While some gay men carry power in Hollywood, many remain vulnerable, especially early in their careers. Young gay men often face greater risks in both forging a career and keeping it, especially if they want to be publicly open about their sexual orientation. Each character embodies these realities to a lesser or greater degree.
It’s important to state that no single character is a victim in Cutaways; a few are striving to earn their place on the Hollywood Walk of Fame by any means available to them, and another sees the industry as a financial opportunity. Meanwhile, one hopes their star will one day rise again, as the other seethes with anger at his cancellation.
Cutting in its comedy and brutally honest in its reflections on the circus you enter when choosing a life in front of or behind the camera, Cutaways is a bold, at times brash, and always brave indie flick. Schwab’s layered chamber play won’t appeal to everyone. Still, there is a lot to love in its comedically sharp, observant exploration of ambition, failure, and dreams in the ruthless amphitheatre that is the entertainment industry.
Cutaways is now streaming on Tubi.
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