Edge of the Axe

Computer geek Gerald Martin (Barton Faulks) moves to a rural California town and quickly falls for Lillian Nebbs (Christina Marie Lane). So much so that he gives a computer on their second date. But the little town of Paddock is on edge because some guy in a white mask is running around killing women with an axe. Is it this new guy in town? Or does someone else...wait for it...have an axe to grind? Middle entry of three unrelated slasher films that Spanish director Jose Larraz (VAMPYRES) made in the late 80s. This might be the best of the lot (other two being REST IN PIECES and DEADLY MANOR aka SAVAGE LUST) as Larraz gives us some well shot and gory axe murders. Also noteworthy for its depiction of 80s computers. Did anyone very portray computers accurately during that decade? There are so many red herrings that you might actually be surprised to find out who the killer is. I know I was. Spanish horror vet Jack Taylor has a few scenes as a choral leader.

This is what might be described as a late Larraz, being made more than ten years after his much finer works such as Vampyres and Symptoms and the best things about it is probably the title and the fact that he manages to make his Spanish locations to look so American. The film moves well enough and, this being Larraz, always looks good. Style and just the slightest of artistic pretentious mixed in with the wanton brutality, is almost a Larraz trademark. Trouble is here seems to be that the Spaniard is so keen to keep us guessing as to just who is wielding that axe so furiously that he looses track of the fact we need someone to help us remain interested in these seeming random kills. It doesn't help that the cop in charge is so self obsessed and uninterested and although the central young couple do well enough they are not sufficiently charismatic to carry the whole film. So, great moments and visually arresting but ultimately uninvolving and dull.

I was pleasantly surprised when I rented Edge of the Axe the other night. I was expecting just a stupid funny slasher flick, but I actually got a pretty good slash flick. It's about a white masked killer stalking people in a small town hacking them to pieces with an axe, as if you couldn't tell. Good slashings, a cool slasher, a pretty cool story, little to no clichés, a killing before the opening credits roll, no stereotypical characters makes for a good slashing time. You'd expect by the box and the not so good reviews of the flick that it would be a crappy slash flick released too late (1989) to cash in on the slash fest of the early 80's. In fact the slasher flicks of the early 80's could have learned a lesson from this flick. Check it out. You may be surprised. 7/10

That was the question I was faced with. The answer? A little of both. I guess my comments will be a mixture of both of those that I followed. This film is a good mixture of horror and mystery. I liked the pretty scenery and the identity of the killer was certainly a mystery. The identity of the killer is not who you think! Jack Taylor (Pieces '81) was good as always. He always seems to play a mysterious weirdo, is that a hint towards his private life? Maybe! The problem with this film is it is strictly formula. It has been done a million times before and will be done a million times again! While this is an interesting twist on my favorite genre, it is also a cliche. Some slashers, though, could learn from this one. Not bad! ***out of****Good acting, directing;writing is formula.

I wish this was one of the slashers that fell into the public domain, if only so it could distributed on DVD. I mean really. There is only one bad thing about this movie, and that's the lame song they made for it (also, the fact it plays louder than all the other music). The acting is actually pretty good, not feeling too stiff, the story is intriguing and fun, and most of the music is pretty good. Just the beginning to this movie feels brilliant, building up unreal amounts of tension with so little effort (sadly, this tension seems to go to waste). I love the look of the killer with the distinct, skull-like mask that would have worked well in the Halloween sequels. The gore is nice and the axing is satisfying. Hopefully it will get a nice restored release one day.