A film engages the viewer’s brain to confront with a multitude of sensory stimuli. Therefore, it needs the mechanism of attention; that is necessary for perception. This research is a study of the key topics in film editing and its cognitive effects on the brain. Film editing shapes the reaction of the viewers. Most research shows that the viewer's perceptual continuity requires cinematic continuity. At the same time, the discontinuity of the film can create complex meanings, which, of course, imposes a greater cognitive load on the brain. This study first examined the definitions of film editing and related key words, and then categorized the results of cognitive research related to film editing. Finally, the cognitive effects of different types of editing, along with the related neural networks are considered. The results indicate that the ability to control the mind of the viewer is directly related to the way the film is directed. The level of identification with the film and brain activity of the viewer depends on how the director uses cinematic components to activate the viewer’s imagination.