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.
64 Reviews
made more than ten years after his much finer works
christopher-underwood23 August 2020
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.
Lacklustre effort
Leofwine_draca18 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Courtesy of Arrow Films on Amazon Prime, I finally got a chance to check out Jose Ramon Larraz's EDGE OF THE AXE (1988, original title Al filo del hacha), a California-shot slasher made a long time after he'd been shooting classics like VAMPYRES. This small scale, low budget story involves a couple of buddies, one of whom is an early computer geek, whose town is assailed by a masked maniac who bumps off women with a hatchet. The sheriff seems half asleep so it's left to our hero's computer to connect the dots and try to work out the identity of the psycho.
Larraz considered this his worst movie and it's easy to see why; the whole thing is very poorly paced and far too padded out with completely dull character scenes of walking, talking and romancing. The English dubbing is noticeably bad here and the performances of the young stars quite weak; seasoned veterans like Patty Shephard and Jack Taylor bag only small supporting roles. There's some slipshod gore and a fairly decent reveal at the climax, but all feels very tired and lacklustre, going through the motions more than anything else.
Larraz considered this his worst movie and it's easy to see why; the whole thing is very poorly paced and far too padded out with completely dull character scenes of walking, talking and romancing. The English dubbing is noticeably bad here and the performances of the young stars quite weak; seasoned veterans like Patty Shephard and Jack Taylor bag only small supporting roles. There's some slipshod gore and a fairly decent reveal at the climax, but all feels very tired and lacklustre, going through the motions more than anything else.
excellent
rott213 August 2003
This is an underrated horror slasher movie. I think every video store should carry this one. Don't get fooled by the cover. The acting is good and the death scenes are written just right. Plenty of gore in this one. If you see this one do rent it. It's highly worth your time. 8/10
A swing and a miss!
bombersflyup13 February 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Edge of the Axe is pretty damn awful, offering next to nothing, with a nonsense plot and any lack of reasoning.
It's watchable, as the acting's okay, but the characterization and dialogue poor. Christina Lane's nice, but I'm not buying her as the killer for a second. There's one scene with promising potential, but nothing. I can't possibly see how anyone could hold this film in high regard.
It's watchable, as the acting's okay, but the characterization and dialogue poor. Christina Lane's nice, but I'm not buying her as the killer for a second. There's one scene with promising potential, but nothing. I can't possibly see how anyone could hold this film in high regard.
Strangely compelling crossbreed of the American slasher and the European giallo
drownsoda9013 January 2020
"Edge of the Axe", José Ramon Larraz's first proper slasher film, follows a series of brutal axe murders in a Northern California mountain town. A newcomer computer nerd, Gerald, finds himself at the center of them along with his new romantic interest, a local college student, Lillian, who is home for the summer.
Thanks to Arrow Video for unearthing this minor entry in Larraz's career, I've had the pleasure of seeing this film for the first time, and in a glorious print no less. While a far cry from a perfect film, "Edge of the Axe" is an odd entry in the slasher subgenre, not only because it is a late one, but also because it features an unusual blend of styles and tones. A co-production between the United States and Spain, the film boasts a strong slasher Americana disposition, while its hard-edged murder sequences and mystery plot recall European giallo films. The result is a strangely intoxicating crossbreed between national styles and aesthetics.
The bulk of the film was shot in Big Bear Lake, California, and the mountain town atmosphere is laid on thick here, though there are some sequences (including one brutal murder along a train track) that were ostensibly filmed in Madrid, where photography also partly occurred. The murder sequences throughout the film are by and large rather brutal, and Larraz never cuts away from the carnage. The killer, donning a plaster-white mask and a black poncho, is also quite menacing looking, and there are some fantastically-played sequences between the killer and the victims.
The acting is actually rather good for a slasher film, and the two leads (Barton Faulks and Christina Marie Lane) make for a spunky, offbeat couple. The technology angle (the two characters use an incipient computer and terminal system to communicate and research the killings) is completely odd, but adds to the late-'80s charm of the film. The screenplay does veer off course a bit in the last quarter, and at times starts to feel directionless, but the conclusion throws a nice curveball by making the audience think they've seen all its cards when they actually haven't. It's not profound, but it does end on a clever note.
All in all, this is a solid entry in the slasher genre. Its international cross-pollination leaves it with an indelible flavor somewhat reminiscent of 1982's "Pieces" (also a Spanish-American co-production), and the woodsy, small-town northern California setting provides a nice ambiance and setting for all the Euro-influenced slashing to unfold. 7/10.
Thanks to Arrow Video for unearthing this minor entry in Larraz's career, I've had the pleasure of seeing this film for the first time, and in a glorious print no less. While a far cry from a perfect film, "Edge of the Axe" is an odd entry in the slasher subgenre, not only because it is a late one, but also because it features an unusual blend of styles and tones. A co-production between the United States and Spain, the film boasts a strong slasher Americana disposition, while its hard-edged murder sequences and mystery plot recall European giallo films. The result is a strangely intoxicating crossbreed between national styles and aesthetics.
The bulk of the film was shot in Big Bear Lake, California, and the mountain town atmosphere is laid on thick here, though there are some sequences (including one brutal murder along a train track) that were ostensibly filmed in Madrid, where photography also partly occurred. The murder sequences throughout the film are by and large rather brutal, and Larraz never cuts away from the carnage. The killer, donning a plaster-white mask and a black poncho, is also quite menacing looking, and there are some fantastically-played sequences between the killer and the victims.
The acting is actually rather good for a slasher film, and the two leads (Barton Faulks and Christina Marie Lane) make for a spunky, offbeat couple. The technology angle (the two characters use an incipient computer and terminal system to communicate and research the killings) is completely odd, but adds to the late-'80s charm of the film. The screenplay does veer off course a bit in the last quarter, and at times starts to feel directionless, but the conclusion throws a nice curveball by making the audience think they've seen all its cards when they actually haven't. It's not profound, but it does end on a clever note.
All in all, this is a solid entry in the slasher genre. Its international cross-pollination leaves it with an indelible flavor somewhat reminiscent of 1982's "Pieces" (also a Spanish-American co-production), and the woodsy, small-town northern California setting provides a nice ambiance and setting for all the Euro-influenced slashing to unfold. 7/10.
Uninteresting Murder Mystery
juderussell-8409429 January 2020
Edge of the Axe opens with a bang as a nurse is murdered by a creep with an axe during a routine trip through a car wash, but then it starts to trail off and follow a bunch of character who we couldn't possibly care less about and it's hard to tell which characters are important and which ones are just offering a little extra color.
As best I can interpret, the leads are a young mysterious guy who falls for a local girl who just got released from a mental hospital and is trying to pick up the pieces. There are a series of murders in their small town and it could be anyone (there's even a cheesy pop song that says this at some point on the film's soundtrack). A few more people get murdered and everyone starts to wonder what the hell is going on and why these people are getting murdered and who the main characters really are and what the whole point of this thing is.
Edge of the Axe really only ever comes to life during the stalking/kill scenes which crackle with a surprising amount of intensity. It's never truly scary or suspenseful (probably because, as much as these people love to talk and talk and talk, we still don't know much about them), but the kills themselves are shockingly brutal and even a little bit gory.
The film falls apart whenever the killer isn't on screen and, unfortunately, that's probably over 3/4ths of the film. The characters and small town drama just aren't interesting or well-executed enough to keep us invested in between kill scenes.
As best I can interpret, the leads are a young mysterious guy who falls for a local girl who just got released from a mental hospital and is trying to pick up the pieces. There are a series of murders in their small town and it could be anyone (there's even a cheesy pop song that says this at some point on the film's soundtrack). A few more people get murdered and everyone starts to wonder what the hell is going on and why these people are getting murdered and who the main characters really are and what the whole point of this thing is.
Edge of the Axe really only ever comes to life during the stalking/kill scenes which crackle with a surprising amount of intensity. It's never truly scary or suspenseful (probably because, as much as these people love to talk and talk and talk, we still don't know much about them), but the kills themselves are shockingly brutal and even a little bit gory.
The film falls apart whenever the killer isn't on screen and, unfortunately, that's probably over 3/4ths of the film. The characters and small town drama just aren't interesting or well-executed enough to keep us invested in between kill scenes.
Edge of the Axe
BenTramerLives7824 October 2020
I've heard a lot about Edge of the Axe and was excited to check it out. That being said, it was okay, but to me wasn't as interesting as many other eighties horror films. It's not your usual run-of-the mill slasher though, but more of a mystery.
It's about a young man who loves computers and begins to store as much information as he can about a slew of recent murders in his town. He meets a girl and gives her a computer so they can communicate.
What I was impressed with was the ending. It is a truly great ending but most of the film up until that point is a little slow and sometimes interesting sometimes boring. I think it is worth a watch for diehard mystery and horror fans. Edge of the Axe does stand out from other genre movies of its time and is quite clever.
It's about a young man who loves computers and begins to store as much information as he can about a slew of recent murders in his town. He meets a girl and gives her a computer so they can communicate.
What I was impressed with was the ending. It is a truly great ending but most of the film up until that point is a little slow and sometimes interesting sometimes boring. I think it is worth a watch for diehard mystery and horror fans. Edge of the Axe does stand out from other genre movies of its time and is quite clever.
Bad. And not in the good cheesy horror way
barbell_2818 June 2020
I see a lot of good reviews here, i was excited to watch this one. Turns out, it is bad, and not in the so bad its good kind of way. Its just bad. The acting, although i expected to be sub par, was sub sub par, the story was boring and the kills were so cheesy i just didnt care. The characters are unlikable. Its just a bad movie all around.
Axeman returns!
HumanoidOfFlesh7 January 2010
I remember seeing "Edge of an Axe" many years ago on German satellite television.It's the highest time to watch it again.Jose Rammon Larraz has made a steady output of horror films including "Vampyres"(1974),"Symptoms"(1974),"Stigma"(1979),"The National Mummy"(1980),"Rest in Pieces"(1987)and "Deadly Manor"(1990).A series of brutal axe murders is plaguing small town in Northern California.The killer wears white Michael Myers inspired mask and rain slicker and the police is unable to trace the suspect.The pace is fast and the direction is solid,but there is not enough strong gore for my liking."Pieces" by Juan Piquer Simon is much bloodier and more brutal than "Edge of an Axe".Still if you like low-budget slasher movies give this one a chance.7 axes out of 10.
Dull and not too sharp
movieman_kev18 September 2012
A masked serial-killer spends his time offing the locals of a small tight knit Californian town. Red herrings, nerd-loving girls, severed pig heads, and a duo of sexist neadrethals about. What does not abound though, is anything resembling entertainment value. This was one of the more forgettable slasher films from the late 1980's, having nothing special to distinguish it from any myriad of similar sub-par slashers. Not worth your time or money. Oh and another things, it's a complete boob free slashing movie, whats the point in that?? Something like that is all too commonplace for films of this ilk nowadays, but this was the 80's.... Unacceptable.
An above average slasher flick
pizowell13 March 2001
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
Worth the watch.
cmagerfleisch13 April 2021
Edge of the Axe was first introduced to me when I found a copy on VHS at a thrift store. I knew the second I touched it that it had potential, and the viewing of the film confirmed it. While a bit of a slow burn with the story, the film overall is definitely enjoyable and the mystery of the killer's identity is actually well done. For being more on the cult side, it's awesome.
Contains big SPOILERS!
gridoon7 September 2003
Warning: Spoilers
A few scary, brutal murder sequences, surrounded by a lot of triviality and talking. The pacing is stagnant (there are many scenes that could have been trimmed) and the story is absurd (a girl falls off a swing, hits her head, develops amnesia and then becomes a homicidal psychopath out to get the nurses who treated her!!!). Footnote: I don't think I've ever seen the police being more stupid and inactive than they are in this movie. (*1/2)
Q: "What Shape Was The Body In?" A: "Hamburger Meat!"... ...
azathothpwiggins20 May 2020
EDGE OF THE AXE is a cavalcade of senseless slaughter, brought to us by a masked lunatic in a raincoat. In between the gory murders, we're treated to the denizens of the town, and their romantic prospects.
This movie is pretty much by the numbers, featuring a mysterious madman on the loose, a host of suspects, stumped law enforcement, and fairly likable central characters. It's not overly tedious or stupid, and unfolds at a tolerable pace. This late, lesser-known slasher film even contains a few jolts and memorable set pieces, including the opening car wash scene, which sets things up nicely. The final revelation is far-fetched and the ending is predictable, but not a total embarrassment.
Worth a watch for the die-hard fan...
This movie is pretty much by the numbers, featuring a mysterious madman on the loose, a host of suspects, stumped law enforcement, and fairly likable central characters. It's not overly tedious or stupid, and unfolds at a tolerable pace. This late, lesser-known slasher film even contains a few jolts and memorable set pieces, including the opening car wash scene, which sets things up nicely. The final revelation is far-fetched and the ending is predictable, but not a total embarrassment.
Worth a watch for the die-hard fan...
Weird Euro-Californian Slasher with Brutal Kills
WisdomsHammer19 April 2019
If the title of this review hooks you, then you'll probably find this movie worth watching, but calling it "good" is stretching it.
The kills are amazing and brutal, the make up effects are great, the setting is really cool - a California town in the woods with lots of neat cabin-like buildings, the killer has a decent get up, and the story idea is okay.
The pacing is terrible, the script is worse, the story tries to throw in laughable red-herrings and goes all over the place, and the ending is laughable.
Still, this is a rare gem with scenes that will stick with you long after you've seen it. Fans of Euro slasher Giallo movies will probably like it a lot if they can put up with the slow pacing and ridiculous script.
Why do I only rate this 3/10? The fifteen or so minutes of this that is fun and worth watching is really good, but the rest is so painful I can't stand it.
The kills are amazing and brutal, the make up effects are great, the setting is really cool - a California town in the woods with lots of neat cabin-like buildings, the killer has a decent get up, and the story idea is okay.
The pacing is terrible, the script is worse, the story tries to throw in laughable red-herrings and goes all over the place, and the ending is laughable.
Still, this is a rare gem with scenes that will stick with you long after you've seen it. Fans of Euro slasher Giallo movies will probably like it a lot if they can put up with the slow pacing and ridiculous script.
Why do I only rate this 3/10? The fifteen or so minutes of this that is fun and worth watching is really good, but the rest is so painful I can't stand it.
Edge of the Axe
Toronto8522 June 2013
A masked serial killer is murdering women in a small town in 'Edge of the Axe'. We meet Gerald who loves computers, his exterminator friend Richard, two sisters Lillian/Susan, and Richard's older wife Laura. Our main character Gerald meets Lillian who he immediately clicks with. They end up talking about their love for video games, and he shows her his new computer and how it works. In the midst of all this "fun", young women are getting hacked to pieces by some maniac wearing a stark white mask and carrying around a large axe. A prostitute, a farmer's wife and a woman who works at the local church choir are among the victims. They all have one thing in common which lead us to a bit of a surprising ending.
I really liked this one. it had some really close and intense moments with the killer stalking his/her victims. There are some really good night time scenes which are pretty eerie. The acting was okay throughout, especially from the lead characters. I didn't have any issues with it. 'Edge of the Axe' doesn't do THAT good of a job building up the characters and giving them much story, but which late eighties slasher flick did? There's this interesting rock beat that comes on each time the killer strikes which is surprisingly effective and creepy in a way.
And I have to mention that this was the first slasher film I've ever seen to include a car wash murder. Check it out!
7/10
I really liked this one. it had some really close and intense moments with the killer stalking his/her victims. There are some really good night time scenes which are pretty eerie. The acting was okay throughout, especially from the lead characters. I didn't have any issues with it. 'Edge of the Axe' doesn't do THAT good of a job building up the characters and giving them much story, but which late eighties slasher flick did? There's this interesting rock beat that comes on each time the killer strikes which is surprisingly effective and creepy in a way.
And I have to mention that this was the first slasher film I've ever seen to include a car wash murder. Check it out!
7/10
The Edge of the Axe is too dull to cut it.
BA_Harrison19 April 2010
Late 80s slasher Edge of the Axe not only features quite a few brutal, bloody murders, each involving several hefty whacks from the killer's shiny axe, but also the discovery of a severed pig's head, and the gruesome, decomposed remains of a couple of earlier victims, (which naturally pop into shot all of a sudden to provide some cheap scares). Sounds great, doesn't it? Well, it would be, if only the bits in-between the murders weren't so incredibly dull.
José Ramón Larraz, the director best known for his 70s lesbian vampire classic 'Vampyres', pads out the non-horrific parts of his film with some incredibly boring guff that introduces several possible suspects and has them engage in some particularly lame activities, such as boating on a lake and playing video games, whilst sharing banal banter (which I suppose at least has the effect of making the killings seem that bit more exciting); meanwhile, the town's useless sheriff makes zero progress in solving the case.
To make matters worse, Larraz can't even be bothered to include any of that staple of the slasher genre, gratuitous nudity—surprising considering that the two other Larraz films that I have seen so far, the aforementioned Vampyres and soft-core sex comedy El Periscopio, were loaded with T&A.
José Ramón Larraz, the director best known for his 70s lesbian vampire classic 'Vampyres', pads out the non-horrific parts of his film with some incredibly boring guff that introduces several possible suspects and has them engage in some particularly lame activities, such as boating on a lake and playing video games, whilst sharing banal banter (which I suppose at least has the effect of making the killings seem that bit more exciting); meanwhile, the town's useless sheriff makes zero progress in solving the case.
To make matters worse, Larraz can't even be bothered to include any of that staple of the slasher genre, gratuitous nudity—surprising considering that the two other Larraz films that I have seen so far, the aforementioned Vampyres and soft-core sex comedy El Periscopio, were loaded with T&A.
Spain's best slasher movie
LuisitoJoaquinGonzalez17 September 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Whilst Spain's contribution to the slasher genre has not been by any means prolific, my country of birth has made a few noteworthy inclusions. Admittedly, the lacklustre 'El Cepo' was not the most memorable of titles, but Jesus Franco's 'Colegialas violadas' and Juan Piquer's 'Mil gritos tiene la noche' gained notoriety by joining the lengthy DPP list in the United Kingdom and spawning a legion of admirers.
Jose Ramon Larraz, the Catalonian born filmmaker, first sprang to public attention with the outstanding thriller 'Síntomas', which earned him a Golden Palm nomination in 1974. Many regard his greatest cinematic project to be 'El Mirón' from 1977. The movie was impressively visual and had very little dialogue, which meant that everything was suggested with body language and eye contact and it made Héctor Alterio's award winning lead-performance much more of an outstanding achievement. Throughout the majority of his career, Larraz has demonstrated an ability to convey a cohesive and fluid plot without depending on gratuitous shock tactics. He continued to work steadily in cinema, travelling from his home in the United Kingdom to shoot pictures across Europe. In 1987 he directed the ambitious 'Descanse en Piezas', which was the first of two American-Spanish produced direct-to-video splatter flicks. Piezas boasted a creative synopsis but was plagued by a collectively inept cast and struggled to find a sizeable audience.
Released in 1988, Al filo del hacha was Larraz's first slasher movie, although it wouldn't be his last. He returned to the category in 1990 with Deadly Manor, which signalled his exit from horror pictures. After the uninspiring comedy 'Sevilla Connection' in 1992, Larraz has remained anonymous in cinema, briefly resurfacing to direct a TV movie at the turn of the century.
Shot on location in Mexico, Al filo del hacha tells the tale of a masked maniac stalking a small Northern Californian suburb. In the opening, a woman is brutally murdered in a car wash, which is the first of many successfully conveyed set pieces. We are later introduced to a likable cast, including Page Mosley playing a technically gifted drifter called Gerald Martin. After relocating to Paddock County, he meets with Lillian Nebbs (Christina Marie Lane), and the couple begin a romantic liaison. Meanwhile, as the psychopathic killer continues his rampage across the county, Gerald uses his online resources to find a link between the victims. Could his girlfriend be the killer's intended target?
Whereas Descanse en Piezas boasted a logically creative plot, which mixed everything from suicide and reanimation to Dead and Buried-alike hostile small-townsfolk; Al filo del hacha is a typical slasher-whodunit that swims comfortably in the ocean of genre trappings. But unlike the huge majority of category inhabitants that relied so heavily on their heritage, Larraz's opus makes excellent use of the standard format to deliver an atmospheric and impressively dark environment.
Despite a lack of gratuitous gore, the murders are impressively realistic and at times it feels almost like we are watching a snuff movie. The opening killing has become something of a favourite amongst collectors, although personally I found much more creativity in some of the later slaughters. Larraz is an experienced director and it shows consistently throughout the runtime. In places he manages to build some credible suspense and the tense final is competently handled. Javier Elorrieta's simple but unsettling score creates a harrowing mood and Tote Trenas' cinematography is visibly crisp.
Whilst the cast of Descanse en piezas were incredibly poor to the extent that they ruined the feature in places, Al filo del hacha marks a significant improvement in terms of dramatics. Semi-prolific slasher star Page Mosley (Open House, Girl's Nite Out) delivers a career best performance as a likable lead, whilst the majority of cast members are approachable in supporting roles. Suspicion points at almost every character and Larraz wraps the plot neatly with an ambitious conclusion. Perhaps even more remarkable is the fact that Hacha is a slasher movie devoid of stereotypes. You'll find no horny beer- swigging teenagers here. John Carpenter spoke elegantly of his decision to set Halloween in a normal everyday neighbourhood, in order to distance his movie from the haunted houses and dilapidated castles that have signified the genre. By doing so, he brought terror into our front rooms and reminded us that horror can strike in any place at any time. Giving us ordinary victims in ordinary environments, Larraz incorporated Carpenter's philosophy and avoided the platitudes so commonly linked with the slasher cycle.
The killer looks creepy in Michael Myers-like blank mask and rain slicker, and the movie transcends its budget. There are numerous flaws throughout the runtime, but they never detract from the overall enjoyment, and the flick excels far more than it disappoints.
Al Filo del Hacha may have been released too late to make an impact on the category, but reflection proves that its one of the best late entries to the cycle. Finally after a few attempts, we Spaniards have a slasher movie to be proud of.......
Jose Ramon Larraz, the Catalonian born filmmaker, first sprang to public attention with the outstanding thriller 'Síntomas', which earned him a Golden Palm nomination in 1974. Many regard his greatest cinematic project to be 'El Mirón' from 1977. The movie was impressively visual and had very little dialogue, which meant that everything was suggested with body language and eye contact and it made Héctor Alterio's award winning lead-performance much more of an outstanding achievement. Throughout the majority of his career, Larraz has demonstrated an ability to convey a cohesive and fluid plot without depending on gratuitous shock tactics. He continued to work steadily in cinema, travelling from his home in the United Kingdom to shoot pictures across Europe. In 1987 he directed the ambitious 'Descanse en Piezas', which was the first of two American-Spanish produced direct-to-video splatter flicks. Piezas boasted a creative synopsis but was plagued by a collectively inept cast and struggled to find a sizeable audience.
Released in 1988, Al filo del hacha was Larraz's first slasher movie, although it wouldn't be his last. He returned to the category in 1990 with Deadly Manor, which signalled his exit from horror pictures. After the uninspiring comedy 'Sevilla Connection' in 1992, Larraz has remained anonymous in cinema, briefly resurfacing to direct a TV movie at the turn of the century.
Shot on location in Mexico, Al filo del hacha tells the tale of a masked maniac stalking a small Northern Californian suburb. In the opening, a woman is brutally murdered in a car wash, which is the first of many successfully conveyed set pieces. We are later introduced to a likable cast, including Page Mosley playing a technically gifted drifter called Gerald Martin. After relocating to Paddock County, he meets with Lillian Nebbs (Christina Marie Lane), and the couple begin a romantic liaison. Meanwhile, as the psychopathic killer continues his rampage across the county, Gerald uses his online resources to find a link between the victims. Could his girlfriend be the killer's intended target?
Whereas Descanse en Piezas boasted a logically creative plot, which mixed everything from suicide and reanimation to Dead and Buried-alike hostile small-townsfolk; Al filo del hacha is a typical slasher-whodunit that swims comfortably in the ocean of genre trappings. But unlike the huge majority of category inhabitants that relied so heavily on their heritage, Larraz's opus makes excellent use of the standard format to deliver an atmospheric and impressively dark environment.
Despite a lack of gratuitous gore, the murders are impressively realistic and at times it feels almost like we are watching a snuff movie. The opening killing has become something of a favourite amongst collectors, although personally I found much more creativity in some of the later slaughters. Larraz is an experienced director and it shows consistently throughout the runtime. In places he manages to build some credible suspense and the tense final is competently handled. Javier Elorrieta's simple but unsettling score creates a harrowing mood and Tote Trenas' cinematography is visibly crisp.
Whilst the cast of Descanse en piezas were incredibly poor to the extent that they ruined the feature in places, Al filo del hacha marks a significant improvement in terms of dramatics. Semi-prolific slasher star Page Mosley (Open House, Girl's Nite Out) delivers a career best performance as a likable lead, whilst the majority of cast members are approachable in supporting roles. Suspicion points at almost every character and Larraz wraps the plot neatly with an ambitious conclusion. Perhaps even more remarkable is the fact that Hacha is a slasher movie devoid of stereotypes. You'll find no horny beer- swigging teenagers here. John Carpenter spoke elegantly of his decision to set Halloween in a normal everyday neighbourhood, in order to distance his movie from the haunted houses and dilapidated castles that have signified the genre. By doing so, he brought terror into our front rooms and reminded us that horror can strike in any place at any time. Giving us ordinary victims in ordinary environments, Larraz incorporated Carpenter's philosophy and avoided the platitudes so commonly linked with the slasher cycle.
The killer looks creepy in Michael Myers-like blank mask and rain slicker, and the movie transcends its budget. There are numerous flaws throughout the runtime, but they never detract from the overall enjoyment, and the flick excels far more than it disappoints.
Al Filo del Hacha may have been released too late to make an impact on the category, but reflection proves that its one of the best late entries to the cycle. Finally after a few attempts, we Spaniards have a slasher movie to be proud of.......
both overrated and underrated
dopefishie11 December 2021
Both overrated and underrated.
Starts out feeling like a Friday the 13th style slasher but then turns into a whodunit. Feels a little like a giallo at times. Throws in the very tired escaped psychopath trope. The police are incompetent. Despite all that, it has a charm. The score is unexpectedly good in certain scenes. The dialogue and characters are better than they ought to be considering that the story and, in some places, the acting quite bad.
The ending doesn't make sense considering all we saw that came before it. Overall, it's quite a mixed bag.
Starts out feeling like a Friday the 13th style slasher but then turns into a whodunit. Feels a little like a giallo at times. Throws in the very tired escaped psychopath trope. The police are incompetent. Despite all that, it has a charm. The score is unexpectedly good in certain scenes. The dialogue and characters are better than they ought to be considering that the story and, in some places, the acting quite bad.
The ending doesn't make sense considering all we saw that came before it. Overall, it's quite a mixed bag.
The film does conclude well and have some worthwhile scenes for fans of slasher pictures
kevin_robbins27 June 2021
Edge of the Axe (1988) is a Spanish horror movie I recently watched on Tubi. The storyline involves a serial killer in Northern California and two computer nerds trying to track him down with cutting edge technology for the time; but if they aren't careful, the killer may kill them before they can capture him. This movie is directed by José Ramón Larraz (Vampyres) and stars Patty Shepard (Crypt of the Living Dead), Jack Taylor (Conan the Barbarian) and Conrado San Martín (The Black Duke). There's really some clever dialogue and good zings throughout this movie. The music was also well selected. There's some cliche circumstances in this, think a prostitute in high heels walking down train tracks in the middle of the night. And the kill scenes are a bit uneven, some good and some that leave you thinking "wouldn't an ax do more damage than that?" The film does conclude well and have some worthwhile scenes for fans of slasher pictures. I'd score this a 6.5/10 and recommend seeing it once.
A generic retro slasher
rivertam2619 March 2020
Recently they've been releasing a lot of these forgotten horror flux on ritzy new blu ray mega discs. Lucky for me because as a kid I used to live at Palmer video, Metro video and West Coadt video amongst others. I fell in live wi th h the wild artwork on the covers but rarely took them home. Since I was only allowed a rental or two I stuck to my favorites. So I'm definitely happy they are rereleasing them. But what I'm discovering is that a lot of them are just trash, the right kind of trash if you're lucky. This entry I felt indifferent about the mask is creepy and some of the kills are effective but its mostly generic. It's pretty basic as an axe wielding maniac terrorizes a small town while two computer nerds try and solve the crimes before they become the next victims. The movie is clunky and mostly unengaging. But it's well enough to pass a rainy afternoon especially if you're desperate like I am for hidden retro gems.
2.5/5
2.5/5
This is a classic
little-blackbear13 January 2013
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.
Not bad for a 80s slasher I had never heard of
tlharrison-5954612 October 2021
Theories change a lot throughout the movie. Once the last scene begins, it becomes very obvious how the last few minutes of the film are going to unfold.. which is unfortunate. Other than that, I really enjoyed it. There are definitely things that make you go "hmm" but no horror movie is without its faults. I'd watch it again. Love the set design and backgrounds used.
Edge Of The Axe Review
gnis-732-57900910 September 2022
Edge of the axe from my own description is basically about a nowhere town axe killer that targets women. I rated this 5/10 because it really has no solid connections between the characters and the story doesn't really show promise. This film focuses on two computers, the killings, and the local law enforcement always playing catch up. The sherif never does anything to create suspects and just goes from crime scene to crime scene. This movie feels more like a drama that has murder, than a classic horror film.
This film could've been a good film, if properly done right. The script could've been more convincing. The characters should have been written differently so as to be interesting enough to connect with.
There's qualities I like about this film such as the music for when the killer is near, the killers outfit, the overall location, and the fact that there's somewhat of a twist.
This film could've been a good film, if properly done right. The script could've been more convincing. The characters should have been written differently so as to be interesting enough to connect with.
There's qualities I like about this film such as the music for when the killer is near, the killers outfit, the overall location, and the fact that there's somewhat of a twist.
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