Cutterhead – Review

A simple setup and story lead to major tension and unbearable discomfort in Cutterhead. As an underground boring company drills through the earth with large machinery, Rie (Sønderris) walks on the street above outfitted in construction gear and a hard hat. She jumps on an elevator, and rides it down, descending into the worksite below, documenting her trip below. She is there to take portraits of the work and the men involved, and report on the overall jobsite.

The environment is dangerous, as there could be fires, or polluting gasses, along with potential falling debris or accidents. She learns about breathing apparatus’ just in case of emergency, and begins her surveilling of the workers. She has also brought Danish pastry for the men as treats, and to explain her documenting of the planned hyperbolic intervention.

As Rie snaps photos of the working men, she learns what she can about the men. Most are from other countries, and only a few speak English as it is an international crowd. Some of her interviews only net her so much usable info. As Rie meets Ivo (Mikic) and Bharan (Semere). Ivo tells her about the work, and how he misses his family in Croatia. But the money is nice. At least he gets one week at home every three months. Bharan is from Eritrea, and also misses nephews and family.

As she follows Ivo and Bharan into some tunnel stations for an inspection of the cutter head, things go awry. A CO alarm goes off. Chaos ensues. Rie must survive, however she can. Will she make it, or will hysteria overtake her abilities to function under such circumstances?

Cutterhead is an experiment in stress, strain and pressure, while anxiety runs high and suspense hits maximum levels. It is shot at close proximity to its actors, giving the viewer a feeling of being right in the mix of chaos. The acting is good and represents the heightened sense of fear and panic.

The sound effects add to the discomfort, and combined with claustrophobic shots the results are effective and nail-biting scenes. While the cast is minimal, it fits the intimate story presented. This is not a film all viewers will enjoy, as it is designed to emulate fear, hopelessness and despair. The director keeps the themes in the forefront and brings the script to life with ease. The runtime is short enough that pacing is not a major concern.