The Cutting Room

The Cutting Room: Dark Reflections of the Silver Screen - Ellen Datlow

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Cutting Room is a collection of short stories all tying in with the movie industry or films in some way. Not all the stories hit the mark and there were several that were a chore to get through. The latter half of the book was a bit more consistent for me and overall there were quite a few stories that I really enjoyed.
Here's a rundown of what is included and the stories that left a more lasting impression.

"The Cutter" by Edward Bryant - 2.5*

"The Hanged Man of Oz" by Steve Nagy - 3.5* Creepy little tale of a man who is shown a disturbing scene in The Wizard of Oz.

"Deadspace" by Dennis Etchison - 1.5*

"Cuts" by F. Paul Wilson - 4* Great voodoo story about a director who feels the wrath of a writers fury after butchering his work for the big screen. The lengths he goes to for revenge are eye watering.

"Final Girl Theory" by A. C. Wise - 2.5*

"Lapland, or Film Noir" by Peter Straub - 3* An interesting 'story' about noir thrillers that infuriatingly, on purpose, leaves part of the details out. I got the feeling there was a bigger story in there but it eluded me.

"The Thousand Cuts" by Ian Watson - 3* The world starts experiencing skips in time with the unknown time being used to resolve some big issues. In response, a tv crew, put together a comedy show about the time skips to boost peoples morale. The force doing the editing is not amongst the amused.

"Occam’s Ducks" by Howard Waldrop -1*

"Dead Image" by David Morrell -4* The story of an unknown actor who strongly resembles a deceased famous actor, James Deacon (James Dean??). As he becomes more famous it seems as though he is on the same destructive path. Great story with an ending that is heartbreaking.

"The Constantinople Archives" by Robert Shearman -1*

"each thing I show you is a piece of my death" by Gemma Files & Stephen J. Barringer -3* Two experimental film makers are sent a clip of a man committing suicide, the man then starts showing up in other movies and is named 'Background Man'. This was quite creepy in parts although it didn't really come together as well as it could have.

"Cinder Images" by Gary McMahon -4* A man watches a screening of a war movie and finds himself in the movie. One of my favourites of the collection, a great concept and strong ending.

"The Pied Piper of Hammersmith" by Nicholas Royle -2.5*

"Filming the Making of the Film of the Making of Fitzcarraldo" by Garry Kilworth -3.5* Film-makers set out to capture footage of Herzog shooting Fitzcarraldo. They decide their footage is too boring and set into motion an altercation that will have fatal consequences. Interesting story that remained strong until the end where it got muddled.

"Onlookers" by Gary A. Braunbeck 3.5* A man becomes aware of someone taking pics of him, he felt this same sensation when he met a famous actor as a child. Great writing and a nice creepy little ending.

"Recreation" by Lucy Snyder -3*

"Bright Lights, Big Zombie" by Douglas E. Winter -4* The aftermath of a zombie outbreak as seen through the eyes of a man who works at a movie magazine. Interesting take on the zombie genre that got a bit confusing towards the end.

"She Drives the Men to Crimes of Passion!" by Genevieve Valentine -4* Opportunistic director discovers a new talent and sets out to exploit a secret to further his own career. A story that left me feeling angry at the lengths people will go to to get what they want, even if it means the potential harm of another.

"Even the Pawn" by Joel Lane -4* A cop investigates the lonely but violent demise of a young girl. A great story but a sad one.

"Tenderizer" by Stephen Graham Jones 3*

"Ardor" by Laird Barron -4* A man is being paid to track down an actor (and possible murderer), who shot a pornographic depiction of Dracula also starring the clients daughter who is now missing. A bit more straightforward than some of the other stories I've read from the author and very enjoyable.

"Final Girl II: the Frame" by Daphne Gottlieb 3.5*

"Illimitable Dominion" by Kim Newman - 3.5* A talent agent does his best to get his star performer, a monkey, back into the limelight by trying to get a Poe project greenlit. His pitch starts a new fascination with Poe. Quite enjoyable and had me laughing out loud a couple of times at the sheer desperation of the man trying to get a film made that included his ape.

A bit disappointing overall as the consistency wasn't there but it did introduce me to some new authors.