'Time Cut' Reviews: "The film is unable to sustain any tension and is seemingly afraid of its own potential for violence, despite gesturing toward the creative weapon choice that is practically a bar for entry into the slasher genre"

         On October 30, 2024, Netflix released 'Time Cut', which has earned predominantly negative reviews and a score of 17% on Rotten Tomatoes. In the film, "A teen in 2024 accidentally time-travels to 2003, days before a masked killer murders her sister. Can she change the past without destroying the future?" The ensemble cast includes Madison Bailey, Michael Shanks, Summer H. Howell, and Antonia Gentry. But what did the critics say?

        Isabella Soares of Collider says, "Although Time Cut is a slasher, it winds up being much more sentimental than audiences would initially presume. That is in part because of the chemistry between Bailey and Gentry as the main duo. From their first interaction, the idea that they are siblings just getting to know each other is conceivable because their onscreen portrayal comes off as genuine. One can't help but feel drawn to their growing friendship, even though they've only hung out together for just a few days. Lucy's makeover scene in Summer's bedroom, putting on heart-shaped sunglasses and low-rise jeans, is a stand-out moment between them because it not only shows how organic their relationship is, but also tips the hat for a type of sequence that was integral to an early-2000s movie." Adding, "It might be nerve-wracking to think that a time-traveling movie would consider 2003 enough of a throwback, but maybe that is because I grew up watching coming-of-age projects that came out during or close enough to that year. What A Girl Wants, Freaky Friday, The Lizzie McGuire Movie, I could go on and on about how formative these films were to me. So when Lucy lands in 2003 and roams the hallways filled with students wearing Juicy Culture tracksuits, tennis shoes with squeaky wheels, and colorful hair clips, the sights are a blast to the past. Having Hilary Duff's "So Yesterday" playing in the background when Lucy spots her sister walking by was the icing on top of the cake. The wardrobe and needle drops in Time Cut make the early 2000s just as iconic as the '80s or '90s, even though it feels like yesterday that flip phones were on trend."

Photo by Alice Voigt on Unsplash

       Alexander Harrison of Screen Rant notes, "The horror sequences are even less successful. The film is unable to sustain any tension and is seemingly afraid of its own potential for violence, despite gesturing toward the creative weapon choice that is practically a bar for entry into the slasher genre. The killer lacks any presence or personality, and, in part because of the rigidness of the time-travel premise, has no real power to surprise. The character's design has an unfortunate resemblance to that of last year's Totally Killer, but with a less inspiring execution, which leaves it fairly toothless." Continuing, "I should linger on that comparison a moment. Time Cut and Totally Killer have remarkably similar premises, often separated by technicalities like sister vs. mother, 2000s vs. 1980s. Time Cut was announced and filmed first, but not only did Totally Killer beat it to market, it's also (while more good than great) clearly superior in every area I've dissected so far. I don't know quite what to make of this coincidence, except that Netflix's movie undoubtedly suffers from its competitor's existence."