Review: ‘A Whisper, A Scream, and A Cut to Black’ marries found footage with slasher tendencies

Found footage and slashers provide direct lines to my heart. Each subgenre possesses its own conventions, tropes, and expectations. Writer/director Samuel B. fuses the two in his new film, A Whisper, A Scream, and A Cut to Black. He balances both styles without compromising the chills and thrills they elicit on their own. What results is a gnarly, terrifying beast that’ll leave you gasping and in shock. The mark of a great craftsman, Samuel B.’s ability to deliver something so intensely impressive on a meager budget proves that indie filmmaking can be great, or even surpass big-budget theatrical releases.

When director Matthew (Hank Moen Fisher) and his creative team mount a reinvention of their YouTube channel, there are concerns about shifting from true crime to a true crime/paranormal combo. Audri (Kara Eilander), who serves as the host of a new series of videos, expresses her worries that this move will be a detriment to her burgeoning acting career. But Matthew assures her that the videos bring in bank for their competitors, and that seems to assuage any anxieties about the shoot. Their plan involves heading out to a derelict warehouse, where, allegedly, a series of murders took place in the ’90s. Audri, ever the skeptic, supplies a sardonic humor to the hosting duties. But as things turn sinister, her attitude quickly turns to fear.

Once in the building, Audri leads the crew through various rooms and pokes around to discover relics from the crimes, such as a bloody knife, and unwashed blood splatter. And as they move from space to space, a menacing presence reveals itself, and soon, they find themselves trapped inside with no chance of escape. A figure, known as Button Man (Lucas Lee Garza), seeks to quench his bloodlust. He circles the group, much like a vulture, and begins bumping them off one by one. What was supposed to be an easy day of filming devolves into absolute mayhem.

Samuel B. keeps the audience guessing about what’s happening and how it could possibly end. With a tight, simple script, the film only reveals its hand when it’s necessary. In true found footage fashion, he plops the viewer into the middle of the action, living vicariously through the characters and their emotional turmoil. The scares are often subtle, the ones that creep up the back of your neck when you least expect it. And sometimes, Samuel B. goes all out in terrifying you, especially when Button Man shows up to slice ‘n dice. The special effects, courtesy of Meri Gyetvay, are strong and operate to make you believe the kills are real. There’s a magic that happens in indie filmmaking when every component is working in overdrive to produce the best product possible.

A Whisper, A Scream, and A Cut to Black works on every conceivable level. It’s gripping and frightening in equal measure, with the core cast selling their wide-eyed terror. Each piece of the puzzle fits together to create a masterful picture you won’t soon forget. Samuel B. is absolutely one to watch in the horror space; his future is looking bright!

The film comes to Blu-Ray and digital this October.