Means to cut film after opening (7)
I believe the answer is:
hatchet
'means' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'cut film after opening' is the wordplay.
'cut film' becomes 'et' (E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. I am not sure about the 'cut' bit.).
'after' says to put letters next to each other.
'opening' becomes 'hatch' (I've seen this before).
'et' after 'hatch' is 'HATCHET'.
'to' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for hatchet that I've seen before include "Make the peace - bury the . . . . . . ." , "Bury this to end quarrel" , "Tomahawk" , "Bury this to make friends again" , "chopper" .)