by Joseph Perry and Mike Imboden
In our “The Good, the Bad, and the Verdict” film reviews, Joseph and Mike give their thoughts on a slice of cinema. For this installment, it’s Bloody Axe Wound by writer/director Matthew John Lawrence.
Synopsis
Abbie Bladecut (Sari Arambulo) is a teenager torn between the macabre traditions of her family’s bloody trade and the tender stirrings of her first crush. In the small town of Clover Falls, Abbie’s father, Roger Bladecut (Billy Burke), has built an infamous legacy by capturing real-life killings on tape and selling them to eager customers, but as Abbie delves deeper into the grisly family business, she begins to wonder if it’s time to take the family tradition in a new direction.
The Good
Joseph: Lawrence’s Bloody Axe Wound is an interesting blend of feel-good horror comedy, family drama, coming of age story, and rather gruesome slasher outing. The result feels like a hybrid of a John Hughes-influenced LGBTQ story and 1980s-slasher–influenced elements. It’s a constantly entertaining watch with a few surprises in tow, and the impressive practical gore effects kick in from the opening sequence. Arambulo does a super job in the lead role, displaying a nice dose of teen angst against Burke’s fine work as her tough-love masked slasher father, and also showing believable chemistry with Molly Brown’s solid supporting work as high school rebel, musician, and love interest Sam.
Mike: The last time we here at The Good, The Bad, and The Verdict saw Billy Burke he was dealing with some zombies - here he plays Roger Bladecut, a notorious serial killer of high schoolers. You know what kind of guy we’re talking about here. Mask, big blade, imposing figure. So imagine the absurdity that ensues when his “100 pounds soaking wet” daughter Abbie steps up to take over the family business of capturing and selling real-life murders on videotape.
Bloody Axe Wound effectively plays with the tropes of classic slashers, offering a meta commentary on the genre while injecting a fresh perspective. Abbie's internal conflict between family tradition and her own burgeoning desires creates a compelling protagonist as the film explores themes of gender roles, societal expectations, and the blurring lines between reality and the manufactured thrills of horror movies.
Visually, the film delivers a nostalgic color palette reminiscent of 80s horror classics and the practical gore effects are well-executed, adding to the film's visceral impact.
The Bad
Joseph: Tonally everything works out well overall with Bloody Axe Wound, but at times I felt myself thinking about what audience this film is ultimately aimed for. It’s probably too gory for younger viewers new to horror films but at the ripe age for coming of age dramedy, while the high-school romance aspects may be of lesser interest to older fright-fare fans, except for maybe nostalgia purposes. These thoughts don’t necessarily qualify for our “The Bad,” category, but I have little else with which to fault the film.
Mike: Bloody Axe Wound is not without its minor flaws. The film's pacing can feel uneven at times, with some scenes dragging while others feel rushed. The plot also relies heavily on familiar tropes, and some viewers may find the twists and turns predictable.
The Verdict
Joseph: Lawrence balances the multiple elements at play in Bloody Axe Wound quite well, delivering a fun, highly watchable take on the masked slasher subgenre. Fear-fare aficionados fond of horror comedies should find the film well worth seeking out, and slasher movie fans should also get a kick out of it.
Mike: Despite a couple of minor shortcomings, Bloody Axe Wound offers a refreshing take on the slasher genre. Its unique premise and strong central performance make it a worthwhile watch for fans of the subgenre and those seeking a modern twist on familiar horror tropes.
Bloody Axe Wound
Directed By: Matthew John Lawrence
Written By: Matthew John Lawrence
Starring: Sari Arambulo, Molly Brown, Eddie Leavy, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Billy Burke
Run Time: 1h 23m
Rating: NR
Release Date: December 27, 2024
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