Horror Movie Review: Bloody Axe Wound (2024)

Bloody Axe Wound is a modern example of where a good idea gets bogged down by an unnecessary confusing and unfocused story. Where a much simpler concept and a focus on characters (specifically two) would have made it so much more enjoyable. Alas, instead what we have is a film that seems insistent on annoying the viewer.

Written and directed by Matthew John Lawrence, Bloody Axe Wound stars Sari Arambulo, Molly Brown, Billy Burke, Eddie Leavy, Sage Spielman, Margot Anderson-Song, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Although the latter is more of a cameo than a starring role.

Sari Arambulo plays the teenager Abbie Bladecut, who is stoked to following in her father’s shoes. Big shoes too, as Roger Bladecut is a famous serial killer and its finally time for Abbie to take over the family business. A business that is slowing down and a business that makes very little sense.

I’m going to try and explain this as simply as possible as the film does a horrible job of it, especially with its ‘cold open’ that seems to link to nothing, at first. The Bladecuts run a video store where they sell/rent horror films to blood-thirsty patrons. Horror films that detail ‘real life massacres’ which have taken place in the town of Clover Falls. Real life massacres perpetrated by the likes of Butch Slater (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and Billy Burke’s Roger Bladecut, who is famous. Yes, somehow, they commit murders and then turn them into films that are then sold in the underground video scene.

It doesn’t make a lot of sense, does it? It’s also wholly unnecessary. If the entire video store aspect was removed, it really wouldn’t make a difference, aside from improving the film. You see, the bulk of the story surrounds Roger getting old, and not bouncing back like he used to, and while he’d prefer to not the torch on yet, he has little choice. Abbie is so enthusiastic about taking over from him, but her first attempt ends badly as her victim fights back.

 

This is Molly Brown’s Sam Crane, and she is no ordinary victim, and to get at her, Abbie decides to take a whole new approach. Enrolling at school and becoming friends with the young woman, as well as her misfit friends. Can you guess what is going to happen? Yes, Abbie starts to fall in love with Sam, much to her father’s chagrin. They are Bladecuts, they kill, they do not fall in love.

This. This is all Bloody Axe Wound needed to be. This story, a coming-of-age tale told from this unique angle, without all the stupid video store nonsense. It’s far more interesting, and the chemistry Sari Arambulo and Molly Brown have is off the charts. Hell, there’s an argument that even the drama around their budding relationship is more enjoyable to watch than any of the horror moments.

Though, that’s not to say there aren’t play of delightful bloody and gory moments to enjoy, because there are. Likewise, the same goes for the humour. While the gags are hit and miss, the horror parody stuff really lands and there were many times where the film made me laugh out loud.

It’s all about Abbie and Sam’s romance though, and I stand by the fact that it’s the best thing about this film. Which is crazy when you consider it is a horror comedy. Yet, even with that, it’s a hard film to recommend because of the maddening overarching idea concerning serial killing put on video, somehow. Even now, having seen the film, I still don’t think I really get it.