Computer geek Gerald Martin (Barton Faulks) moves to a rural California town and quickly falls for Lillian Nebbs (Christina Marie Lane). So much so that he gives a computer on their second date. But the little town of Paddock is on edge because some guy in a white mask is running around killing women with an axe. Is it this new guy in town? Or does someone else...wait for it...have an axe to grind? Middle entry of three unrelated slasher films that Spanish director Jose Larraz (VAMPYRES) made in the late 80s. This might be the best of the lot (other two being REST IN PIECES and DEADLY MANOR aka SAVAGE LUST) as Larraz gives us some well shot and gory axe murders. Also noteworthy for its depiction of 80s computers. Did anyone very portray computers accurately during that decade? There are so many red herrings that you might actually be surprised to find out who the killer is. I know I was. Spanish horror vet Jack Taylor has a few scenes as a choral leader.

This is what might be described as a late Larraz, being made more than ten years after his much finer works such as Vampyres and Symptoms and the best things about it is probably the title and the fact that he manages to make his Spanish locations to look so American. The film moves well enough and, this being Larraz, always looks good. Style and just the slightest of artistic pretentious mixed in with the wanton brutality, is almost a Larraz trademark. Trouble is here seems to be that the Spaniard is so keen to keep us guessing as to just who is wielding that axe so furiously that he looses track of the fact we need someone to help us remain interested in these seeming random kills. It doesn't help that the cop in charge is so self obsessed and uninterested and although the central young couple do well enough they are not sufficiently charismatic to carry the whole film. So, great moments and visually arresting but ultimately uninvolving and dull.

Edge of the Axe is pretty damn awful, offering next to nothing, with a nonsense plot and any lack of reasoning.

It's watchable, as the acting's okay, but the characterization and dialogue poor. Christina Lane's nice, but I'm not buying her as the killer for a second. There's one scene with promising potential, but nothing. I can't possibly see how anyone could hold this film in high regard.