The Cliffhanger (2003) User Reviews

Pretty interesting...glad they made it

[Limeginger · 6/10 · 21 October 2005]

11 Chicago film makers and 18 actors came together, each director creating one scene that connects to the scene immediately preceding it, carrying the plot forward and passing the "baton" to the next director.

Not really a spoiler, but to be on the safe side, the premise is that a number of people (their relationships to each other become increasingly clear as the scenes unfold) have gotten involved with the making of porn/snuff films--perhaps unwittingly or against their will--and some want "out." A mysterious evil bastard named Charlie is pulling the strings behind the scenes, and may mean to do harm to some of the characters to keep them quiet about a particular incident.

It's a cool idea, and a truly solid effort. Since it's low budget, and each director had only 1 week(!) to produce their piece, there's an amateur/student feel to some of the acting, production quality, writing, dialog, and plot--but that varies from scene to scene, director to director. Some of the direction and cinematography is quite impressive, and some show a lot of promise. The quality of acting varies too, and a few actors stand out. Overall, it's a cool, earnest piece, and worth renting.

I got it from the public library in Portland, Maine--am happy that they purchased it and thereby supported this creative effort. Can't believe that not even the film makers or actors have rated this film--and I'm the only one. Good job everyone--hope to see more of your work.

Sex, Lies, and a Snuff Videotape

[NoDakTatum · 3/10 · 21 November 2023]

Eleven Chicago area film makers, about eighteen actors, and one storyline converge to make a singular mess. Using the "Exquisite Corpse" idea, the basic plot involves a group of lowlifes trying to get their hands on harsh snuff videos, and killing off their enemies. I would provide more information, but I gave up trying to discern a linear plot fifteen minutes into the film.

The idea plays better than the execution. One film maker would have one week to shoot a chapter, then another film maker would have one week and the same actors to shoot the next installment, and so on through almost a dozen film making teams. The differing artistic visions are supposed to provide the audience with a visual thrill, as the all-too-complicated plot unfolds. I believe the improvisational aspect and the number of film makers involved should have been more closely supervised. Apart from "Chapter VII," none of the eleven segments looked much different from the each other. Some of the characters would pull complete one eighties in their behavior, and the number of coincidences and convenient plot twists is mind numbing. The film degenerates into a bunch of actors smoking cigarettes and speaking tersely into cell phones, while the viewer goes into the kitchen to get another soda and count the minutes until the next "chapter." The first couple of segments never hooked me, so the rest of the film did not get a chance to reel me in. I didn't know who was who, why anyone was acting the way they were, and I did not feel like constructing flow charts in order to keep all the character connections straight (Dad slept with daughter on tape, daughter kills Dad on tape, but really another man killed him but daughter is taking revenge anyway and so on and so on?). "The Cliffhanger" has a great idea going for it. The double disc DVD package is impressive, containing a trailer, two documentaries, a music video, and commentary by all the film makers involved. Unfortunately, I am reviewing just the film, and that film does not work. For the record, the eleven credited teams involved were: Kilts Afire, Third Eye Films, Purgatory, Inc., Two Necks Productions, PaddyMeAss, Billy Goats Gruff, Shame About the Couch, the Mystery Men, Focal Point Productions, Panther City Films, and Shack Productions. It may not be a "new and revolutionary" way to make a film, but it should have been more entertaining to watch.

11 different producing styles in one movie

[salisburyactors · 10/10 · 8 November 2005]

Note: I'd rate it as "R".

I don't know if this is considered a spoiler--don't intend it to be, but to be on the safe side, I've marked it as such. Also, I am a cast member and didn't think we should comment on our own movie, but since the last review chided (lol) us for not commenting, here is my input. Also, my vote should probably not be counted and readers of this post should take that into account when you look at the votes!

I just want to give viewers a little idea of what went on behind the scenes. This film was shot over 11 weeks with a different production team each week. Rather than any of the weekly production teams, actors for the project were chosen ahead of time by SplitPillow, the non- profit organization that dreamed up the idea for the overall production. On the Monday of the first week, the first production team was given a small stack of headshots from which to choose their actors. They were then given that week to write, produce and edit roughly the first 1/11th of the film. On the following Monday night they had to turn in their final cut, and the second (and subsequent) week's crew was allowed to view it. The second team (and every team thereafter) had to write copy to follow the first week's and use the same actors if they used the same character or introduce new characters from the stack of headshots. As an actor in the 4th and 6th weeks' chapters of the production, one time we were emailed scripts the night before and our scenes were shot the next day and another time we just did improv.

In discussions with other production teams and actors later, I learned how some directors/ writers tried to change the direction of the film. One tried to balance the previous one's violence, another wanted to make it lighter, another to empower women more, etc. I was glad to provide comic relief. When we saw the premiere, you could feel the entire audience change direction from one point to another, from tensely holding their breath, to laughter, to fear and so on. The comments we heard after the show was about how amazed people were to be able to identify the different styles that each production team took on.

It was a very exciting process for us all, partly because we all wanted to know how the film was going to end! When one team handed their part off to another team, they never knew what was going to be done with it. It was a real cliffhanger! As an actor, I didn't know if my character would be killed or be "queen for a day" and never saw any of it until it was finished.

In all, we had a great time making it and hope you enjoy it.