Prime Cut
Prime Cut

Prime Cut

1972
Movie
88 min
English

A group of ruthless Chicago mob enforcers are sent to Kansas City to settle things with the owner of a slaughterhouse who has taken money that is not his to keep.

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Insights

IMDb6.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes67%
Google Users70%
Director: Michael RitchieGenres: Crime, Thriller, Western

Plot Summary

A mob enforcer, Nick Devlin, is sent to Chicago to settle a score with a rival gangster named Jack. However, he soon discovers that Jack has been replaced by a murderous flower-shop owner named Mary Ann, who runs a criminal empire with her bizarre and terrifying henchmen. Devlin is forced to contend with escalating violence and a strange, alluring woman as he navigates the treacherous underworld.

Critical Reception

Prime Cut was a controversial film upon its release, noted for its graphic violence and dark, nihilistic tone. It garnered a cult following for its unique blend of crime thriller and revisionist Western elements, with performances from Lee Marvin and Gene Hackman often highlighted. While not a mainstream critical darling, its distinctive style and uncompromising brutality have secured its place as a cult classic.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its gritty, violent atmosphere and darkly humorous undertones.
  • Lee Marvin and Gene Hackman deliver intense, memorable performances.
  • The film's stylistic choices and unflinching brutality set it apart but also polarized audiences.

Google audience: Audience reviews often highlight the film's unique, uncompromisingly violent style and the compelling performances of its lead actors. Some viewers appreciate its dark sense of humor and cult status, while others find the extreme violence and bleak narrative off-putting.

Fun Fact

The film's infamous meat-cutting scene, where Gene Hackman's character carves up a side of beef, was so realistic that some viewers reportedly became nauseous and vomited in theaters.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
John Chard

John Chard

Beefy Burgers and Meat Market Malarkey. Prime Cut is directed by Michael Ritchie and written by Robert Dillon. It stars Lee Marvin, Gene Hackman, Sissy Spacek, Angel Tompkins, Gregory Walcott and Janit Baldwin. Music is by Lalo Schifrin ...
MoHA

MoHA

Want to talk about a movie that broke the mould when it was made? Let’s talk about Prime Cut. Starring Lee Marvin, Gene Hackman and Sissy Spacek, this 1972 film is eighty-eight minutes of pulp weirdness – part exploitation flick, part bru...