Had to rewatch this stupid gem of a slasher in honor of my new tattoo. (link if you want to see)! It was designed referencing the killers axe from this film along with Tenebrae. I’m very happy with how it turned out, and what it means to me. Horror forever. ❤️ The true love of my artistic life. ( Imma keep adding to my sleeve with more slasher killer weapons overtime hehe) 

About a year ago I watched Edge of the Axe on youtube, and I logged the film on here mentioning how the film “changed my brain chemistry”. I thought that was kind of a dramatic statement looking back at it, but i’ve still never been able to get this film out of my head. I watched this film as I was falling farther down the obscure slasher rabbit hole, and was one of the first that made me really fall in love with these cheaply made low-budget gems. The Arrow Video release cover art is one of the first things I think of when discussing 80s slashers. 

I adore the killers look!!!! (kind of reminds of mtv scream with the rain slicker)! The black slicker and gloves against the expressionless white mask look great on film. I even love the mystery element, and who the killer is eventually revealed to be — despite how ridiculous it is.

I adore the soundtrack, especially the folk song written for the film in the same vain as My Bloody Valentine. 

“I said, hey you! Where were you yesterday?”♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚♬ ﾟ

But easily the best part of this film is its kill/chase sequences. I love axe attacks — maybe because of this film. They are such an iconic weapon in the genre and I love the way this film showcases the attacks. The long cuts of multiple rubbery axe swings spraying blood all over are just so iconic. There’s a brutality to it that also feels so over the top, with the neon red blood. All of the killers attacks and kills in this movie are just really great. The sudden axe swing cutting off the woman’s fingers!!! The axe swinging through the fish tank!!! The opening car wash kill?!!! Like come on!!!! Very Argento and I just obsess over it. 

The small town rocked by a series of killings is always so fun in these films. My mom grew up near Big Bear so seeing it utilized in this film is lovely. I love the cozy town vibes juxtaposed by the violence. 

All this praise doesn’t mean it doesn’t have glaring flaws, but the earnestness that the film exudes makes this one I always come back to. It’s bizarre and choppy and filled with bad moments, but when it gets it right, it gets it right. 

(Final Note: i just absolutely hate the guy who’s Geralds friend!!!! Just such a loser who I wish got a brutal kill scene instead of his wife!!! The cops in the movie literally don’t really care about the murders until a man is killed (horror misogyny at its finest). Having him as the penultimate kill of the film would have been so satisfying — even if it wouldn’t have made sense with the killers motive. But what does even make sense in this movie? i don’t know).