thesar-2 Strange, even as short 'Axe' was (running time barely just past an hour) the movie seemed so long. Some scenes were drawn so far out and even the opening and closing credits were all but on "pause." Then, as if the director/actor realized this, he jumps some scenes hilariously from one character/object to another at light speed. And speaking of jerking cameras, to prove there was little to zero budget, every time an action or horror scene was to happen, the camera would blink away. Case in point, one of the most hilarious scenes was a man jumping out of a window 10 or so stories (get this, to avoid death) and you not only can't see him jumping, you simply hear glass and a character looking behind drawn shades. Clearly, this was just another typical 70s horror, no budget revenge/bad guys getting what they deserve flick, a la 'Last House on the Left.' The title escapes me, because the heroine uses an axe (again off screen) but also uses many other devices. I suppose it was just to draw the same 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' audience. Three men who kill another man while watching, I guess, was his partner plunge to his death, try and secure safety in a farm house occupied by a paralyzed grandfather and his granddaughter. They apparently pose a deep threat to the twosome, yet no attempts at escape entail. When one tries to rape her, she goes savage and offs him. It doesn't stop there. Blah, blah, nothing new, even back then. Slightly creepy in closing, but again, this hour-long movie seems like three hours. Not even recommended for revenge/torture/rape victim rights group movie lovers.

lastliberal You'll find this video nasty on the shelves under the name Axe. Don't be tempted to spend your money even if it is at Wal-Mart, which I doubt.After being banned in Britain, it was released uncut in 2005. They didn't do anyone any favors as the production values are bottom of the barrel, the acting is little to none, and the horror is all off screen. I can't even guess why it was banned in the first place unless it had to do with the rumor that the girl in the film was allegedly 13. No, nothing happens to her, as she kills an attempted rapist with a straight razor, and chops another with an axe after he fights her for about five minutes. Some tough guy - he can't even subdue a little girl.Writer/director Frederick R. Friedel only made three films, turning to comedy after his failure at exploitation horror. Leslie Lee was only a voice in one other film. Ray Green was also in only one other film. Jack Canon didn't have much of a career - mostly voice work. And, this was granddad's (Douglas Powers) only film. In fact, the only person that had a long career in film was David Hayman, and he was only a voice on the TV in this film. He is probably happy about that.

lovecraft231 A gang of three psychopaths on the run end up in a small farmhouse owned by Lisa (Leslie Lee) and her Grandfather (Douglas Powers). Grandpa is paralyzed, but Lisa's not-and she's not exactly mentally stable either.Producer Harry Novak ("The Child", "Rituals", "Hitch-Hike To Hell" and several soft core movies) and Writer/Director Fredrick ("Date With a Kidnapper")R. Friedel present "Axe", a surprisingly good no budget Grindhouse flick. While the low budget is a bit too apparent at times (a few performances are uneven, the blood is incredibly fake), this movie actually works thanks to it's low budget, which adds a sense of realism to the proceedings. Leslie Lee is quite effective as Lisa, exuding a sense of silent, feminine menace with her simple performance. Also, the score by George Newman Shaw and John Willhelm is an effective blend of organ, piano, percussion, and bongos. It's definitely 70's but it's still great."Axe" went through several different titles, including "California Axe Massacre", which is interesting considering that the movie owes more to "Last House on the Left" than "Texas Chainsaw Massacre." It also found itself on Britain's "Video Nasties" list, though its really not very graphic. What it is though, is a nice little Exploitation movie that, while not really a classic, deserves more attention.

Leonard Smalls: The Lone Biker of the Apocalypse Well, my journey down the 'video nasty' road has brought me to a little-known gem called "Axe." My buddy loaned it to me and I checked it out with great expectations. I'd heard lots about this movie and how gritty it was. I have to say, I am not too impressed.I like the mediocre acting, the cheesy plot, and the music, but there just wasn't enough violence and blood in this film for me. You never actually see someone get hacked up. It's one of those 'camera cuts away just before' movies. The plot was pretty much a run of the mill "Last House on the Left" ripoff. Sadistic lunatics torture a family. Big deal.Even for the low budget, "Axe" should have been better. I mean come on...how expensive is fake blood? 4 out of 10, kids.