Bloody Axe Wound movie review: “Bloody Axe Wound” (2024), directed and written by Matthew John Lawrence, is a slasher-comedy hybrid that ambitiously mixes gory horror with a coming-of-age narrative. Known for his punk-horror aesthetics in previous works like Uncle Peckerhead (2020) and Larry Gone Demon (2015), Lawrence attempts to blend his edgy storytelling with traditional genre tropes. The result is a film that shows flashes of brilliance but struggles to fully develop its potential.
Bloody Axe Wound movie review
Set in the eerie and blood-soaked town of Clover Falls, “Bloody Axe Wound” introduces viewers to a world where gruesome deaths are as common as high school heartbreaks. The film centers on Abbie (Sari Arambulo), an awkward teenager grappling with her emotions and the heavy legacy of her father, Roger Bladecut (Billy Burke). Roger, a disfigured serial killer with a penchant for capturing his murders on tape and selling them to eager customers, reluctantly passes his murderous mantle to Abbie. This transition serves as the backbone of the story, juxtaposing Abbie’s teenage vulnerabilities with the brutal reality of her family’s business.
BLOODY AXE WOUND Official Trailer (2024)
Abbie’s Dual Struggles: Love and Legacy
At its core, “Bloody Axe Wound” is as much about Abbie’s emotional journey as it is about the slasher killings. Abbie’s world is turned upside down when she develops feelings for her high school classmate Sam Crane (Molly Brown). Their budding romance, while sweet, is underexplored and hampered by lackluster dialogue and cliched interactions. Despite the chemistry between Arambulo and Brown, the film misses the opportunity to delve deeper into their relationship, leaving viewers wanting more.
Abbie’s struggles are compounded by her father’s insistence on maintaining the “family business.” Roger’s character is an amalgamation of classic horror villains—from his Freddy Krueger-like scars to his Jason Voorhees-style mask and a Norman Bates-esque obsession with his deceased mother. Roger’s rulebook for killing, which Abbie is expected to follow, adds a layer of dark humor but also highlights the film’s inconsistent storytelling. The rules seem arbitrary, and the lack of clarity around Roger’s selection of victims adds to the film’s narrative shortcomings.
The Gore Factor: Blood, Guts, and Dark Humor
Fans of slasher flicks will appreciate the film’s commitment to gore. “Bloody Axe Wound” delivers gruesome kills, including a particularly memorable scene where a victim’s head is impaled on a trophy. The practical effects and attention to detail in these moments are commendable, providing the visceral thrills that genre enthusiasts crave. However, the film’s comedic elements often fall flat, relying on uninspired jokes and weak dialogue that fail to capitalize on the absurdity of the premise.
One of the film’s standout moments is a cameo by Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Butch Slater, a former slasher icon. While his appearance is brief, it adds a layer of meta-humor and nostalgia that genre fans will enjoy. Billy Burke’s portrayal of Roger Bladecut is another highlight, bringing a mix of menace and dry humor to the role. Unfortunately, these moments of brilliance are sporadic, overshadowed by the film’s uneven pacing and lack of focus.
Missed Opportunities in Character Development
One of the most significant flaws of “Bloody Axe Wound” is its reluctance to fully explore its characters. Abbie’s journey from an awkward teenager to a reluctant killer is rushed and lacks the emotional depth needed to make her transformation compelling. Similarly, her relationship with Roger and her feelings for Sam are underdeveloped, leaving viewers with more questions than answers. Flashbacks or additional scenes delving into Roger’s backstory could have added much-needed context and depth to the narrative.
The supporting characters, such as Eddie Leavy’s Glenn, are reduced to one-dimensional stereotypes, providing cheap laughs without contributing significantly to the story. While these elements might be excusable in a straightforward slasher film, “Bloody Axe Wound” aspires to be more than that, making its shortcomings all the more noticeable.
A Genre-Bending Experiment
“Bloody Axe Wound” attempts to straddle the line between slasher horror and coming-of-age drama, with mixed results. The film’s meta-commentary on horror tropes—such as the unreliable car during an escape attempt—is amusing but fails to elevate the overall narrative. The punk-rock aesthetic that Lawrence is known for is present but feels diluted, as though the director’s vision was compromised in favor of appealing to a broader audience.
Despite its flaws, the film does succeed in creating a unique tone that sets it apart from conventional slasher flicks. The juxtaposition of Abbie’s mundane high school life with her gruesome nighttime activities creates moments of dark humor that hint at the film’s potential. However, these moments are few and far between, buried under a cluttered plot and inconsistent character development.
Could It Have Been Better as a Series?
Given the film’s ambitious premise and the number of ideas it tries to juggle, “Bloody Axe Wound” might have been better suited for a streaming series. A longer format would have allowed for deeper exploration of Clover Falls, its macabre history, and the complex dynamics between Abbie and Roger. Shows like Hysteria! have demonstrated how horror-comedy can thrive in a serialized format, and “Bloody Axe Wound” could have benefitted from a similar approach.
Summary
“Bloody Axe Wound” is a film with a lot of potential but ultimately falls short of delivering on its promises. While it offers plenty of gore and a few standout performances, its lack of focus and underdeveloped characters prevent it from reaching the heights of other genre-bending horror-comedies. Fans of Matthew John Lawrence’s previous work may appreciate the film’s punk-rock sensibilities, but casual viewers might find it lacking in substance.
In the end, “Bloody Axe Wound” is a mixed bag. It’s an entertaining watch for fans of indie horror, but it’s hard not to wonder what could have been if the filmmakers had dug a little deeper into their characters and story. As the axe swings and the blood spills, viewers are left with a film that feels like it’s just scratching the surface of its potential.
Best 2 Rotten Tomatoes Reviews
“Bloody Axe Wound” has a lot of incidents and a clear idea of where its characters should end up, but not much style of its own or a knack for connecting one formulaic dot to the next – Simon Abrams, RogerEbert.com
Bloody Axe Wound offers the kernel of an idea in search of a movie. It’s also a movie in desperate need of a more coherent premise – Mark Dujsik, Mark Reviews Movies
Top Movie Ratings
| IMDb | 6.3/10 |
| JoBlow | 7/10 |
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