BUTTER KNIFE Serves Up Surreal Surgical Chaos in This Dark Comedy Short Film
I first caught the short film Butter Knife at the FilmQuest Film Festival, and this twisted little film is pretty damn entertaining.
Written and directed by Théophile Mur, this surrealist comedy drops us into the operating room with a world-famous surgeon returning from a lavish vacation, only to find his hospital has changed… and not in a good way.
The administration has shifted, the atmosphere feels off, and just when he’s ready to operate, his assistant places a butterknife in his hand instead of a scalpel.
What follows is a spiral into pure chaos that somehow keeps one foot planted in reality while the other kicks down the door of absurdity.
As ridiculous as that setup sounds, the tension is real. A patient’s life hangs in the balance, and one wrong move could lead to catastrophe. That’s where Butter Knife really cuts deep.
Beneath the outrageous premise is a sharp exploration of pride, ego, and the fragility of authority. Fans of dark comedy in the vein of the Coen Brothers or Monty Python will find plenty to love here.
It’s awkward, intense, and wildly uncomfortable in all the right ways. Mur crafts a short film that feels unpredictable and dangerous, reminding us that even the most surreal situations can carry very real consequences.
If you’re into offbeat indie shorts that swing big and aren’t afraid to get weird, Butter Knife is absolutely worth watching.