Does a film have to make sense to be entertaining? Not essentially, nevertheless it largely is determined by the main target of the story. The most recent Shudder Unique, Bloody Axe Wound, is an efficient instance of why nonsense generally works.
Bloody Axe Wound mixes a teen slasher plot with a coming-of-age comedy. The result’s a light-weight and foolish film with a whole lot of coronary heart, and buckets of blood.
The film is about Abbie, the daughter of a infamous killer named Bladecut whose murderous exploits are offered to the general public as slasher films. Abbie needs to comply with in her father’s footsteps, and her journey to discovering her personal path in life is the primary focus of Bloody Axe Wound. Her story is smart from an emotional standpoint, nevertheless it’s the world round her that sidesteps issues like logic and believability.
Nonsensical World-Constructing
The a part of Bloody Axe Wound that’s almost certainly to lose sticklers for logic is revealed on the very starting of the film. The opening scene reveals Abbie following a well-liked slasher, Butch Slater, as he makes a few kills. The primary scene transitions into the subsequent by pulling again and revealing Butch’s antics displayed on a tv display. That is the place we’re briefly launched to the concept, on this world, slashers are actual, and the films they star in comprise actual homicide.
There are already some evident points right here. Most clearly is that, as we watch the scene of Abbie following Butch, no cameras are seen anyplace. There is no such thing as a movie crew following Butch or Abbie. As a substitute, they’re proven to be alone with their victims, after which their actions in some way present up, edited collectively, on a video tape. Additional scenes present this as effectively. No cameras and no crew, however a film is in some way being made. No rationalization of how this works is ever given.
As Bloody Axe Wound continues, extra questions come up. Bladecut’s video retailer is open to the general public, and we see at the least one particular person—the mom of a possible sufferer—watching Butch Slater’s film at residence. It is usually proven that the folks of the city know in regards to the killings which have gone on for years. So, if anybody can watch these films, wouldn’t lots of the victims have been acknowledged by household and associates? How may this be taking place for therefore lengthy with out the residents making a connection between the films and their city’s lengthy historical past of homicide?
Plus, there are questions on logistics. Who’s modifying the films? The place are the advertising supplies being made? Are the films solely out there regionally? And, once more since it’s such an vital level, how are the killers’ actions being filmed with no cameras?! No reply is given to any of those questions. There aren’t even any makes an attempt at explanations. The existence of this nonsensical slasher enterprise mannequin is said as truth, after which we’re hurried alongside to deal with different issues. And but, surprisingly, all of it works.
It Doesn’t Actually Matter, Does It?
There are just a few explanation why Bloody Axe Wound doesn’t actually have to strictly adhere to logic. First is that it’s a comedy. It’s meant to be mild and humorous. There’s a whole lot of meta commentary about slasher films, and it accommodates many parts of parody regardless that it finally falls extra according to a simple slasher-comedy. Nonetheless, a few of the comedy is ridiculous, so just a few gaps in logic shouldn’t be too troublesome for viewers.
Additionally, there are different elements of the film that don’t obtain explanations both. For instance, Bladecut is an undead slasher who will get killed generally, however Abbie buries him, and he comes again to life. Is that this defined? No, nevertheless it’s a horror trope, and it is a comedy, so does it actually matter? No, not likely.
However you is perhaps considering that, because the whole plot is constructed upon this concept that slasher villains are actual film stars, then there must be some kind of logic constructed into that conceit. You’re not incorrect. A film doesn’t have to make sense in real-world logic, however more often than not it ought to make sense by the logic created for its specific story. Bloody Axe Wound will get round this “rule” by merely avoiding all explanations.
Which may sound like a cheat, however right here’s what I imply. We’re informed all the things that we have to know as a way to perceive the motivations of Abbie and her father. It’s a household enterprise and Abbie needs to hitch in, however Roger Bladecut is reluctant to let her slash. That’s all we have to get on Abbie’s aspect and revel in her journey. Nothing else in regards to the setup is crucial, so no additional explanations are mandatory.
Give it some thought like this; If you happen to don’t give any explanations in any respect, then there may be no contradictions in logic, proper? That’s some high-level considering proper there. Apart from, if the film had been to attempt to clarify some, however not all, of the mechanics of how slasher films work on this world, it will trigger us to suppose extra in regards to the pointless logistics of that situation. We’d lose deal with what’s vital within the story.
The main focus of Bloody Axe Wound is on Abbie and her emotional journey. Feelings aren’t all the time logical, and neither is that this film. But it surely is entertaining.
Bloody Axe Wound is streaming now on Shudder and AMC+. It’s also possible to try my evaluate of Bloody Axe Wound on Creepy Catalog.