Axe (DVD) [2006]

stuart

at 2:25 am

Review by stuart for Axe (DVD) [2006]
Rating: (4 / 5)
Preparing to get together, friends Ashley, (Andrea Bogart) and Raven, (Darlena Tejeiro) decide to go rock climbing, and stop off at a bar first. Meeting bartender Robert, (Jason London) who offers them a great location tip, but soon run afoul of T.J., (Thomas Crnkovich) and his biker gang, who chase them away into the hills. Managing to get away, they hear a report about an escaped convict on the loose named Ivan, (Tim Sitarz) who shows up at the same time as the biker gang. As they manage to survive that encounter, they realize they’ve been double-crossed and are still not out of danger. Getting all the lines cleared and the facts squared away, they race ti save themselves from the deranged killer.

The Good News: This here was a relatively pleasant surprise. One of the biggest surprises is that this is a really complicated story done in an effective manner. Coupling together a bank robbery, a motorcycle gang, mountain-climbers and much more inside a run-of-the-mill slasher film is a great achievement, and that the countless story lines don’t get tangled up or confusing is a major feat. There’s a large amount of ideas in this one, and to have them all inside a regular film like this is a big plus for the film. These also help ensure the film’s other really big factor, the film’s relentless pace. By switching to so many different areas and angles, this one never really has an opportunity to get dull. It’ll switch over to another angle right when it’s starting to slow and play it out before that gets a little slow and then it switches again, keeping the interest there and the film constantly moving along. It may require some clues and hints to be spread throughout on what is going on, but it never gives the feeling of holding back information. There’s also a large amount of great action scenes in here. The big motorcycle chase through the mountain roads is loads of fun, as it takes a long time to get through, features lots of little scenes to keep things interesting and moving forward, and there’s even some other notable action movie staples. There’s plenty of swerving to avoid the pursuing vehicles, a gunfight between each other, and a series of off-the-wall attempts to get rid of the pursuers. This is a great scene that really manages to get the viewer entertained. A shootout in the motel is also pretty exciting, inserted into the film at a great point to keep interest in the film. That it soon switches back to the slasher mode during the middle of the whole thing is a great topping. There’s plenty of stalking, some great kills and a couple really creepy moments. The dispatch of the victims isn’t anything new, but that there’s actually a couple of slasher-style deaths in an action film. There’s even some pretty violent ones in here, including being chopped repeatedly with an ax in the leg, an ax embedded in the shoulder, chest and to the back of the head, a machete dismemberment, and several violent gunshot wounds. There’s more, as the healthy body count provides lots of opportunities. The film’s last big feature is the film’s last-half twist. It’s completely original, comes out of nowhere, and really makes for a complete surprise. It’s a brilliant idea and takes by a thrilling move. These all make the film really enjoyable.

The Bad News: There wasn’t a whole lot here that didn’t really work. One of the main elements that doesn’t work is that the film never offers up solutions for anything. There’s a quasi-explanation offered in the form of a bank heist, but as for an actual word, nothing. There’s nothing as to why the killer’s assistants are placed there or rather why anything in the film is why it is. This makes it seem like it’s just a thrown-together film with nothing at all thought about it. The other big problem is that there’s the occasional scene that comes off as pretty ridiculous or campy despite the intention. The killer chasing after a car in an all-terrain-vehicle, the conversations with a rather goofy motel owner, and so on have the appearance of being too campy for it’s own good than it should’ve been. Otherwise, this one didn’t really have anything wrong with it.

The Final Verdict: This was a pleasantly enjoyable slasher film with very few problems and a lot to really like about it. It’s more action-oriented leanings might not engender it to most hardcore slasher fans but give it an honest shot, there’s a lot to like with it.