Edge of the Axe

Unrated

5/20/19881h 31m

Theatrical Release (US)

~ There is nothing silent about the nights in Paddock County. ~

Overview:

An axe murderer terrorizes a small Northern California mountain community, while two young computer-obsessed adults attempt to solve the killings.

Director:

José Ramón Larraz

Status:

Released

Language:

Spanish

Buget:

$0.00

Revenue:

$0.00

Key words:

serial killer
slasher
northern california
ax

Cast

Barton Faulks

~ as ~

Gerald Martin

Christina Marie Lane

~ as ~

Lillian Nebbs

Page Moseley

~ as ~

Richard Simmons

Patty Shepard

~ as ~

Laura Simmons

Fred Holliday

~ as ~

Frank McIntosh

Alicia Moro

~ as ~

Rita Miller

Jack Taylor

~ as ~

Christopher Caplin

May Heatherly

~ as ~

Anna Bixby

Conrado San Martín

~ as ~

Ayudante Sam

Joy Blackburn

~ as ~

Susan Nebbs

View full cast & crew

Reviews (2)

JPV852
Written 5 year(s) ago
5
Rather dull horror-slasher Spanish-US production that has some fun little kills but the stuff in between was hard to stay interested in. But the kicker for me was the reveal of the killer, which is BS given the person did not match whatsoever. Even with that, really had a touch time staying awake. 2.25/5
Wuchak
Written 2 year(s) ago
6
“Lost” Euro 80’s slasher set at Big Bear Lake in SoCal

Murders start mounting up in a previously quiet town in the San Bernardino Mountains east of Los Angeles, which the sheriff initially tries to write off as accidents or, in one case, a suicide. Who’s the psychopathic killer?

"Edge of the Axe” (1988) is a Spanish/English slasher set at Big Bear Lake, obviously influenced by the seminal “Halloween” (1978) and “Friday the 13th” (1980). It’s pretty obscure but worthwhile if you like 80’s slashers, like “Pieces” (1982). The scenic rustic setting is great and the characters are fleshed-out with interesting bits, such as the wife of Richard being a good fifteen years older than him, and probably more, as well as the emphasis on 80’s computers.

Christina Marie Lane is notable in the female department as Lillian while Joy Blackburn is worth a mention as Susan. Unfortunately, there’s only one great shot of Christina Marie. The director evidently didn’t know how to shoot women (no pun intended), and I’m not tawkin’ ‘bout nudity or sleaze.

The story is compelling enough with several possibilities in the whodunit scenario. Regrettably, the big ‘reveal’ doesn’t work because (1) it’s not believable if you think about it and (2) it contradicts at least one scene earlier in the flick. This ‘reveal’ is hardly original, as it had been done a couple times 7-8 years prior and no doubt more.

The film runs 1 hour, 31 minutes, and was shot in Avila, Spain, which is an hour drive northwest of Madrid, with lots of establishing shots done at Big Bear Lake.

GRADE: B-