It's hard to write about comedy movies. Humor is so subjective, and jokes from the film never translate well into the written word. So other than just saying "I found The Editor to be really, really funny," I won't go into the specifics re: the comedy. You pretty much just need to know that it's a send-up of 70's/80's Italian giallo films - it might *kind of* work if you're not familiar with those types of films, but if you're a fan... it's pretty much a must see. The Editor is a love-letter to/parody of all the things (warts and all) that you love about the genre.
The titular editor here is Ray Ciso (Adam Brooks). He was one of the most sought-after editors in the industry, having edited well-respected giallos like The Cat with the Velvet Blade. But after a horrible editing accident cost him the fingers on one hand, his confidence is shot and he's stuck editing cheap B-movies. He's having relationship troubles with his wife Josephine (Paz de la Huerta), and when people start getting killed on the set of his latest picture, he's the number one suspect. (The killer, you see, is mutilating his victim's hands to be just like Ciso's.) Wonderfully mustachioed Peter Porfiry (Matthew Kennedy) is working the case... but can he solve it before everyone involved with the film ends up dead?
I think a lot of the humor in the film just wouldn't be as funny if you at least don't have a passing familiarity with the giallo genre or at least Italian suspense/horror of the 70's/80's. While some of the jokes/character work would probably stand alone, the good stuff comes from riffing on the genre - the crazy style, the bad dubbing, awkward dialogue, gratuitous nudity, extreme violence, etc. But what's nice is that there's more to the film than just jokes/homages. A great deal of care was put into the film - The Editor looks really nice (with very vivid colors, naturally) and is very well shot, except when it's intentionally not. And if you took away the comedy, it would probably still work as a confusing/bad, yet-intriguing mystery film.
As a horror film? I suppose if you think gory = scary, or especially if you think people getting splattered with other people's blood = scary, I suppose The Editor could be a little bothersome. But honestly, the gore is so outlandish and over the top that it's more comical than anything. It's plentiful, at least. And creative too: see the scene where someone's innards are strewn throughout the reels of a film projector. The film never really seems to be trying to build suspense - any legitimate tension would probably be at odds with the comedic tone. Despite the numerous and graphic kills, it's a pretty stress-free film.
I wish I had more to say about The Editor - but the jokes just don't play well on paper. At least as I'd write them, anyways. But regardless, it's a solid, lovingly-crafted and well-made film from top to bottom, and a must see if you're a giallo fan who can handle a little goofiness. Or a lot of goofiness, as it were.
I would recommend this film.
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