One Cut of the Dead

The cast and crew of a low-budget zombie film are hard at work in an abandoned water filtration plant. Tensions rise as director Takayuki Higurashi is frustrated by the actors' performances and the mounting debts he faces.

Desperate to bring real horror to his film, Higurashi decides to paint a blood pentagram, hoping to summon real zombies from the site's haunted past. This ritual marks a turning point, unleashing a series of terrifying events.

The situation escalates when the cameraman becomes the first victim, turning into a zombie and biting assistant director Hiroshi Ichihara. This marks the beginning of a terrifying outbreak among the cast and crew.

Actress Chinatsu, actor Ko, and makeup artist Harumi manage to lock the newly risen zombies outside. Despite this temporary safety, director Higurashi insists the filming must continue, disregarding the imminent danger.

In an act that spirals the set further into chaos, Higurashi brings the zombified sound engineer back inside to film. This reckless decision leads to Nao bravely decapitating the sound engineer to protect her friends.

As the chaos continues, the crew faces an attack from the zombified Kasahara. Chinatsu stands her ground against the horde, only to be saved at the last moment by Ko, who comes to her rescue.

Following their harrowing escape, Nao suspects that Chinatsu may be infected and decides she must eliminate the threat. This chase leads to a shocking confrontation on a rooftop, resulting in Nao's death at Ko's hands.

Feeling the symptoms of infection, Chinatsu finds refuge in a nearby building marked with a pentagram. In a dramatic turn, she narrowly escapes an encounter with an unidentified zombie outside.

Chinatsu steps outside to discover Ko has been overtaken by the infection. Struggling with her feelings, she faces a tragic confrontation, ultimately forced to act against her infected friend.

As Higurashi criticizes Chinatsu for not sticking to the script, rage takes over. In a moment of survival, she kills Higurashi, standing amid the chaos on a bloodied pentagram, consumed by the horror around her.

The film transitions into a flashback narrative revealing the fictional cast and crew of a film titled *One Cut of the Dead*. This new perspective enriches the story and showcases Higurashi's early career.

Takayuki Higurashi is approached by network executives with an offer to direct a one-take zombie film. Seizing the chance to reconnect with his horror-loving daughter Mao, he reluctantly agrees to take on the project.

As filming begins for *One Cut of the Dead*, the set is filled with comedic mishaps and over-the-top performances. With key cast members missing, Higurashi and his wife Harumi step into roles, leading to hilarious improvisation.

When a camera crane breaks, the crew devises a creative solution by forming a human pyramid to capture the final shot. Mao holds the camera from atop Takayuki’s shoulders, showcasing their resourcefulness.

As the film wraps, the credits roll over real footage of the crew from *One Cut of the Dead*, celebrating their journey. The hectic shoot concludes with the climactic faux-crane shot, leaving audiences with a sense of triumph.