Movie Review ~ Time Cut

Remember when time travel meant something? When Michael J. Fox had to make sure his parents fell in love in Back to the Future, or Bill and Ted needed to ace their history report during their Excellent Adventure?  These days, our temporal adventures seem fixated on preventing murders – perhaps a sign of our increased appetite for dark entertainment.  Last year, Amazon gave us Totally Killer, where a teen traveled back to the ‘80s and her mom’s high school days to catch a killer.  Time Cut, Netflix’s latest Halloween thriller, sends Lucy Field, a high school senior, back in time (to 2003, somehow now classified as vintage) to save her sister from an untimely death.

Although Time Cut is made for a PG-13 audience, it recalls the more innocent days of teen supernatural thrillers, unlike its R-rated predecessor. Delivered with a more playful than petrifying tone, it’s perfect for viewers who crave a thrill but not a full-blown scare. Directed by Hannah McPherson and co-written with Michael Kennedy (behind the cheeky Freaky and last year’s equally wry It’s a Wonderful Knife), it leans into a murder mystery that’s both approachable and suspenseful. 

In 2003, a sneaky killer claimed four lives in the sleepy town of Sweetly, MN, and forever changed the once serene town.  The Sweetly Slasher was never caught, but their presence cast a shadow over those who survived, mourning the lost and bracing themselves each year for an anniversary week when everyone stops and remembers the fallen.  At least that’s how it seems people act around Lucy Field (Madison Bailey).  Her older sister Summer (Antonia Gentry, Prom Dates) was the final victim, and though she wasn’t born then, she feels the blank space left by her sibling every time her overly cautious and protective parents look at her. 

Lucy is your classic overachieving high school senior who dabbles in invention between AP classes and applying for an internship with NASA (which she lands but apparently can’t take because her parents won’t let her travel outside their reach). She knows her parents had her to fill the void created by grief, so when she stumbles upon a method of time displacement (as one does) at the site of her sister’s memorial, she seizes the opportunity to right a devastating wrong and prevent the Sweetly Slasher from striking.  However, anyone who knows a thing or three about time travel understands that making any changes in the past can impact the present, and if Lucy saves Summer, would Lucy cease to exist in the present?

The story doesn’t aim to be profound or particularly original in its narrative mechanics; it’s primarily interested in pulling the viewer along as Lucy unravels the details of her sister’s tragic end and gets to know her as more than a framed picture people refer to instead of remembering.  Although the framework may initially appear predictable, it possesses a notable charm thanks to its relatively straightforward time-travel twist, which effectively sidesteps significant loopholes. This element of simplicity can be particularly appealing to those seeking an escape from moderate Halloween fare that strays into silly.  Instead of over-complication, the Time Cut team layers light suspense over easy-to-follow beats that invite viewers to sit back and enjoy the ride.

McPherson’s direction is steady, managing to balance light horror with just enough tension to satisfy the intended audience without overwhelming them or scaring their little sister peeking through the door jam. While the PG-13 rating keeps the bloodless scares primarily to the impending doom of the “look behind you!” variety, the suspense is handled with finesse, never pushing past the comfort zone of a sleepover-friendly thriller. The brisk pacing of the 90-minute film keeps the story moving forward with an energy that never dwells too long on the heavy moments, ensuring a comfortable yet moderately thrilling experience for the viewers while giving Lucy’s mission understandable merit.

Bailey and Gentry give solid performances as Lucy and Summer, bringing a surprising depth to their sibling relationship. Even though Summer’s fate is (supposedly) sealed from the start, Gentry doesn’t hold back a lively charm, while Bailey’s Lucy is all teenage angst that feels authentic. Their chemistry helps keep the stakes grounded, and when the film veers into classic sci-fi/horror territory, the shift feels natural. Griffin Gluck’s role as a friend caught up in Lucy’s mission adds just enough variety to keep things interesting, though the supporting cast tends to fade a bit once the thriller elements fully kick in.

A wave of nostalgia-laced entertainment has been coming at us lately, so the recreation of 2003 feels a tad gimmicky, even if it does hit many delightfully earnest notes.  Flip phones, chunky highlights, Ugg boots, butterfly clips, low-rise jeans, layered tank tops, and bare midriffs are all there, unavoidable reminders of how high school hallways used to look.  The soundtrack, too, is pitch-perfect, packed with songs that transport viewers to a time when Avril Lavigne and Michelle Branch were everyone’s soundtrack, and emo was on the rise.  Though these elements sometimes veer into parody territory, they are not presented with heavy-handed irony either.

Shot in Winnipeg but set in Minnesota, the film tries to capture the regional vibe of a Midwestern Spring, though I had to chuckle at characters braving light layers in what’s depicted as an April day.  Ultimately, Time Cut succeeds by knowing exactly what it wants to be: a gateway thriller for younger viewers looking to test their limits with horror. It strikes a perfect balance between suspense and entertainment in a genre that often leans too heavily into gore or convoluted twists.  It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s entertaining, nostalgic, and carries just the right amount of charm to make it a memorable and engaging experience for the audience.