Kurt Wendall is a strict father and he’s been pushed to the edge, not only at home, but also at work and as a result of this, he slowly but surely losing his mind. Kurt decides to take his family out for a day to the countryside, where things become darker than they could have ever expected and as his cheating wife’s truths come out, his slutty daughter and probable homosexual son gets on his nerves, he can’t help himself anymore and simply snaps. Who will survive this horrific family day out?
Ryan Lee Driscoll’s Axed is a surprisingly fun film to watch and although I had my own assumptions when I watched the trailer, I was surprised at how very good it was. Yes, there might have been few things that made the flick look cheap and made it not flow as well as it could have, but in the end Axed was a very enjoyable film with a few graphic scenes and would give the viewer a few good laughs. However, to those people who are a little squeamish when it comes to rape, you might want to look the other way… on the other hand, when it comes to emotional bullying, Axed certainly has a spot-on sense of humour and for that I’m more than happy to say it’s a good addition to your DVD collection. Starring Jonathan Hansler (The Grind), Andrea Gordon, Nicola Posener (How to Stop Being a Loser) and Christopher Rithin (Blood Army) and being directed by Ryan Lee Driscoll (Making a Killing), this is very much a “no-name brand” film, but it showcases a lot of talent to keep an eye out for. That being said, there’s also a very realistic plot presented to the viewer as the recent problems with society is revealed and a man just gets fed up with it all.
This is an independent horror film and it’s very apparent, however it’s also very clear that with a bigger budget and a little bit more editing, Axed could have been a mainstream horror. It’s got everything that makes for a good horror, even if there are some things that it lacks. But the things it lacks are the things that gives it a little more humour as well.
How can you not love a film that has a pissed off dad say: “Let’s play a game called ‘Fuck you’.” and gives his family gifts to show them what he thinks of them? How can a viewer not enjoy a movie where an everyday problem in the world becomes viewable in the land of fiction? This UK horror film certainly has a lot going for it, so if you want to watch something a little out-of-the-box I suggest getting your hands on Axed. I’ll definitely be watching it again.
