Many horror enthusiasts have a soft spot for slasher films. While not always the most refined examples of the genre, there’s something comforting about watching a campy 80s stalk-and-slash movie or its glossier, ironic 90s counterparts. In the early 2000s, we saw a series of remakes that didn’t quite hit the mark, and for about a decade after, it seemed the slasher subgenre had run its course. However, it’s safe to say that it’s now firmly back - and with a vengeance. From the nostalgia-soaked Fear Street trilogy and the nihilistic Terrifier films to the high-budget legacy reboots, it feels like the slasher genre is having a full resurgence.

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Then there are a number of films that aim to subvert the genre’s typical rules. Some are high-concept with a comedic edge, like Freaky (2020) or Happy Death Day (2017). Others take a more serious approach to challenge expectations, such as In a Violent Nature, a film that has divided audiences (though we, as habitual fence-sitters, remain undecided). When a slasher film is titled Bloody Axe Wound, however, it’s easy to assume it falls into the latter category.

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Set in the small American town of Clover Falls, Bloody Axe Wound follows Abbie (Sari Arambulo), a teenage girl navigating a turbulent life. Homeschooled until now, she’s recently entered high school for the first time - a stressful transition. She works at her adopted father’s video rental store (a business that seems to be stuck in time), and oh, did we mention that her adopted father (Billy Burke) is a prolific serial killer who films his murders and releases them as feature films at the store? Abbie is well aware of her father’s gruesome hobbies and is always willing to assist when needed. But when her father’s health deteriorates, the responsibility of continuing his work falls to her. However, this becomes increasingly complicated as she begins to form connections with her new classmates and make friends.

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Bloody Axe Wound is likely to appeal to certain segments of the horror fanbase, particularly younger audiences. It’s undeniably quirky, heavy on gore, and packed with what the kids would call “bangers” (at least anyone under 40). For others, though, and we count ourselves among this group, it falls flat. You know, life is short and it’ll do no one any favours for us to spend the time writing another 600 words detailing exactly why this film becomes a tedious, eye rolling affair. So, we’ll try and do it in about 200!

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While the film’s premise holds potential for a genuinely entertaining dive into slasher tropes, Bloody Axe Wound fails to deliver. It’s not as absurd as it needs to be, attempting to navigate its tone with a glibness that becomes grating almost immediately. It’s one of those films that’s difficult to engage with; should we be rooting for Abbie, a character with no real redeeming qualities who seems indifferent to killing strangers without clear motive? Should we care about the motley crew of misfits she befriends, whose dullness makes them hard to invest in? The acting is not at fault - the cast performs fine with what they are given - but when the central characters are so uninspiring and the plot so vague, it’s hard to stay engaged. The film is riddled with logical gaps and plot holes, with a nonsensical final twist that feels more baffling than shocking. Jeffrey Dean Morgan is also in this for about 19 seconds so if you tune in for him, you’ll be doubly disappointed. If you're after a fun horror-comedy, we’d suggest Tucker and Dale vs Evil or The Final Girls instead. (189 words, sweet!)