Bloody Axe Wound

(I can't figure out how to edit this, but Chet Siegel is listed for Molly Brown's role). It wasn't a bad movie--characters are likable, the chemistry between the leads (again, that is MOLLY BROWN, not Chet Siegel, and Sari Arambulo) is great, the premise is cool...but like too many horror-comedies, the creators just couldn't really commit to going hard. I get it--you want people to like your characters. But if your characters are a family of slashers, you're entitled to some dark, dark, wicked humor. Had the humor been less broad, it would've made a huge difference in the quality of the film.

Other than that and a criminal underuse of Jeffrey Dean Morgan, it isn't a bad movie. The worst thing about it is that it could've been great...but pulled its punches, instead.

I watch tons of horrible movies. I'm always open to independent and low-budget movies (although the huge influx from streaming services has made me hesitant). Bloody Axe Wound could have been just another one of those bad low-budget movies that I would rate low and immediately forget about.

The problem is, it has such a cool concept for the premise and an interesting spin on the subgenre. The premise of them actually doing murders so they could make movies about it is pretty awesome. And the idea of a female slasher villain sounds highly intriguing.

That's why I'm so disappointed in this. It could have been great. And I wish they saved this idea until they could get better funding, writers, directors, etc. If done right, this had the potential to be a movie I loved. Instead, I couldn't make it past the 26-minute mark.

(1 viewing, 1/14/2025)

Painfully awful movie with a totally misleading star rating. I am puzzled by this rating in fact. The '90s video rental store(necessary for the storyline it appears) precede the age of 99 percent of the actors within the film. I hear there is some nostalgia for this decade lately but it is certainly overshadowed by the hodgepodge of a storyline and/or screenplay. We have not walked out of a theater in many years but this one has surely earned the distinction.

The dad's makeup and the quality werewolf mask alone do not make a movie. The high school cast must also have been responsible for the ratings it received. Gen Z does it again it appears.

This movie is most easily described as your average teen slasher with a bit of Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon mixed in. We follow Abbie Bladecut, the daughter of a local serial killer and slasher legend. After her father realizes he is getting older, he wants her to continue his legacy of killing innocent teenagers. However, the problem arises when she joins her local high school and is met with kindness and love from the other students. She even finds a potential love interest, which makes her mission to kill rather difficult.

The pitch sounds great, and the movie had immense potential to create something as unique as Behind the Mask. Unfortunately, that potential is not fulfilled, and the movie ends up feeling pretty generic given its premise. The characters are dull and not particularly interesting, and aside from the developing love interest, there isn't much for the audience to latch onto. Even the romance feels generic and disrupts the pacing by creating tonal inconsistencies within the narrative.

Instead of action and kills, we get boring conversations and a fairly predictable romantic subplot. The comedy rarely lands and is definitely not the film's strongest suit. However, the kills are decent and the gore is solid, which is arguably the most important aspect a straightforward slasher needs to deliver.

The movie ends up being enjoyable overall, but it's far from great or particularly engaging. Genre fans might still have a decent time, but with a premise like this, it could have been much more unique and entertaining. Sadly, it just ends up as another average horror release.

[5.3/10]

I've never seen a film that so nonchalantly asks you to simply accept the ridiculousness of its premise. It doesn't even try to explain the absurdity and implausibility of it all. There isn't even anyone filming these murders? I thought I was losing my mind. After about 20 minutes though I realised the only way to get any enjoyment out of the film was to simply sit back, accept it, and go along for the ride. Even then, it's touch and go whether you'll enjoy it.

The one thing the movie does well, and really its saving grace, is that it creates some likable characters. It's hard to make a young woman who murders innocents for profit into a pleasant character, but the movie finds a way. Also some of the side characters are quite well created. And so while the horror and story may not always be working for you, at least you can fall back on that.

Some of the gore was quite effective and it's a nice and short film. It knows not to outstay its welcome. It's not all bad, but it certainly does require some effort on the audience's part. A generous 5/10.