Axe (1977)
October 16th 2011 04:23
Everyone has one of those elusive films they are intrigued by, most often inexplicably. It seems to pop up everywhere reminding you of its existence. For one reason or another, though, you don’t actively seek it out. Then, after some months or years, you finally see it and it changes you forever. Axe is one of those films for me – well, sort of. I saw a trailer for it, under the name Lisa Lisa, a long while ago on some compilation and something about it captured my interest. Maybe it was the dark, gothic atmosphere or maybe the way it seemed to flip the script on the killer-victim relationship. At the time, though, I was just entering into the wonderful world of grindhouse cinema and still had many, more accessible roads to travel. The film, however, kept popping up. I’d see a trailer for it as a bonus feature on another film’s DVD. It would be mentioned in a book I was reading. It would turn up in a genre documentary. Finally, a couple of months ago it was discussed in length on the Video Nasties The Definitive Guide disc. Last week I finally ordered it. It didn’t exactly change my life but it was definitely a pretty interesting film to watch.
The plot is simple. Two guys, evading the law, come upon a farmhouse where a young woman, Lisa, lives with her invalid grandfather. They wander in and insist on staying. Not having much of a choice in the matter, Lisa goes along with it. After the fat, sleazy guy tries to have his way with her in the middle of the night, the innocent Lisa turns the tables. The men, it seems, have bitten off a bit more than they can chew.
I loved the general feel of this well done, low budget production. I have a soft spot for these types of films. I read that film stock was so low that only in emergencies were second takes allowed. The dialogue is sparse. The pacing is slow and deliberate. The acting is toned down. The colour pallete is very rural and drained. When red appears - the ketchup in the store, the tomato soup, blood – it is all the more noticeable. The violence and gore is minimalist yet effective. The film is also very succinct with a run time of a little over an hour. The actress who plays Lisa, Leslie Lee, does a wonderful job in her portrayal. Her sadness jumps through the screen. It is even a more haunting performance with the knowledge that the actress committed suicide a few years after the film was made. It doesn’t even feel like a performance – she is that lonely farm girl caring for her grandfather and carrying out the daily farm chores. It seems ridiculous that this wound up on the Video Nasties list as it is more of an art house piece than a true horror film. I suppose that being marketed as The Virgin Slaughter or the California Axe Massacre didn’t help, and besides, those uptight, religious types didn’t actually watch those movies, right?
The DVD from Something Weird Video is decent. The film is presented in full frame (as it was probably intended) and the transfer is as good as it gets for a low key film like this. There is a bit of grain but it adds to the film’s charm rather than detracting from it. There are special features but the problem is they don’t really have much to do with the film. There are trailers, which are interesting if only to see the multiple ways it was marketed. There is a second feature, The Electric Chair, and two archival short films – none all that interesting. I would love to have a commentary and making of documentary or even a couple of interviews, but I guess with a film like this it is tough gathering up the principles. It is, however, the film that is important. It isn't sublime but I wouldn't call it slack either. It definitely isn't slick. This, although probably not to everyone’s taste, is a pretty decent film.
The plot is simple. Two guys, evading the law, come upon a farmhouse where a young woman, Lisa, lives with her invalid grandfather. They wander in and insist on staying. Not having much of a choice in the matter, Lisa goes along with it. After the fat, sleazy guy tries to have his way with her in the middle of the night, the innocent Lisa turns the tables. The men, it seems, have bitten off a bit more than they can chew.
I loved the general feel of this well done, low budget production. I have a soft spot for these types of films. I read that film stock was so low that only in emergencies were second takes allowed. The dialogue is sparse. The pacing is slow and deliberate. The acting is toned down. The colour pallete is very rural and drained. When red appears - the ketchup in the store, the tomato soup, blood – it is all the more noticeable. The violence and gore is minimalist yet effective. The film is also very succinct with a run time of a little over an hour. The actress who plays Lisa, Leslie Lee, does a wonderful job in her portrayal. Her sadness jumps through the screen. It is even a more haunting performance with the knowledge that the actress committed suicide a few years after the film was made. It doesn’t even feel like a performance – she is that lonely farm girl caring for her grandfather and carrying out the daily farm chores. It seems ridiculous that this wound up on the Video Nasties list as it is more of an art house piece than a true horror film. I suppose that being marketed as The Virgin Slaughter or the California Axe Massacre didn’t help, and besides, those uptight, religious types didn’t actually watch those movies, right?
The DVD from Something Weird Video is decent. The film is presented in full frame (as it was probably intended) and the transfer is as good as it gets for a low key film like this. There is a bit of grain but it adds to the film’s charm rather than detracting from it. There are special features but the problem is they don’t really have much to do with the film. There are trailers, which are interesting if only to see the multiple ways it was marketed. There is a second feature, The Electric Chair, and two archival short films – none all that interesting. I would love to have a commentary and making of documentary or even a couple of interviews, but I guess with a film like this it is tough gathering up the principles. It is, however, the film that is important. It isn't sublime but I wouldn't call it slack either. It definitely isn't slick. This, although probably not to everyone’s taste, is a pretty decent film.
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