Final Cut
Charles Burns
Pantheon Books, 2024

Black Hole, Charles Burns’ most well-known graphic novel, is full of striking surreal imagery (courtesy of the mutations caused by a mysterious sexually transmitted disease). By comparison, this story is almost a traditional romance, but of course, there are twists and a bit of surreal imagery as well.

Brian and his childhood friend Jimmy grew up making short sci-fi films in the neighborhood, convincing their friends to star as monsters and victims. Now a talented artist and aspiring filmmaker, Brian, along with Dana, James, Jimmy, Jimmy’s friend Tina, and Laurie—his reluctant muse—head to a remote cabin in the woods with an old 8-millimeter camera to make a true sci-fi horror movie. It will be an homage to Brian’s favorite movie,  Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

Laurie (who is to be the leading lady) asks Brian what the film will be about, and he explains that it will be about the weird stuff going on in his head. There is definitely a lot going on, as the line between dreams, imagination and real life is a thin one indeed. He imagines himself flying, finds various characters awaking in pods (like the body snatchers in the classic horror movie), and sees strange tentacled aliens floating in the sky.

Brian becomes increasingly obsessed with Laurie. But she fails to reciprocate, instead becoming romantically involved with Tina. Brian hears them having sex in a tent, and that is the end of the filming. A few months later the group gathers to watch the raw footage. It is worse than Brian imagined: but he imagines a final cut that concludes with him and Laurie in a passionate embrace. Final Cut is a tribute to artistic obsession and creativity. In the end the perfection of art triumphs over the messiness of real life.

Burns has created a group of realistic (and normal!) characters, and as always his artwork is stunning. He skillfully invokes classic black and white movies, creates some beautiful nature vistas, and is convincing while presenting both everyday life and the surreal.