Rough Cut review

A detailed visit behind the curtain

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An intriguing peek behind the scenes for film students, but a likely snoozefest for everybody else, this bizarre ‘meta-mentary’ feels more like a feature-length DVD extra than a film in its own right.

Tracking the production of made-up ’70s exploitationer Hiker Meat , it delves into the minutiae of moviemaking as a crew of amateur filmmakers combat gnats, botched pyrotechnics and a micro-budget while shooting in the Lake District.

An experiment in form from artist-turned-director Jamie Shovlin, Rough Cut has points of interest, but ultimately feels pointless.

Josh Winning has worn a lot of hats over the years. Contributing Editor at Total Film, writer for SFX, and senior film writer at the Radio Times. Josh has also penned a novel about mysteries and monsters, is the co-host of a movie podcast, and has a library of pretty phenomenal stories from visiting some of the biggest TV and film sets in the world. He would also like you to know that he "lives for cat videos..." Don't we all, Josh. Don't we all.  

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