Edge of the Axe Blu-ray - Barton Faulks

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

(aka "Al filo del hacha")

Directed by José Ramón Larraz
Spain / USA 1988

From cult Spanish filmmaker José Ramón Larraz (Vampyres, Symptoms) comes this long-neglected late 80s slasher classic, finally unleashed on Blu-ray for the first time ever!

The rural community of Paddock County is being rocked by the crazed exploits of an axe-wielding psychopath, who stalks the night in a black trenchcoat and mask. As the victims pile up, the authorities attempt to keep a lid on the situation, whilst computer whizz-kid Gerald and girlfriend Lillian seek to unmask the killer before the town population reaches zero.

Nominally set in Northern California but shot primarily in Madrid, giving the film an off-kilter, American/European atmosphere akin to the likes of Pieces, Edge of the Axe is a late entry hack-and-slash masterpiece from one of the titans of Spanish terror.

***

An axe-wielding homicidal maniac terrorizes a tiny town in this slasher outing.

Posters

Theatrical Release: May 20th, 1988

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Review: Arrow - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	Arrow - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:31:11.507
Video	1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 40,142,456,821 bytes Feature: 28,823,817,408 bytes Video Bitrate: 34.81 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate Blu-ray:
Audio	LPCM Audio English 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit LPCM Audio Spanish 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit Commentaries: Dolby Digital Audio English 320 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 320 kbps Dolby Digital Audio English 320 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 320 kbps
Subtitles	English (for Spanish), English (SDH - for English), None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Arrow 1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 40,142,456,821 bytes Feature: 28,823,817,408 bytes Video Bitrate: 34.81 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • Brand new audio commentary with actor Barton Faulks hosted by Matt Rosenblatt • Brand new audio commentary with The Hysteria Continues • Newly-filmed interview with actor Barton Faulks (11:03) • Newly-filmed interview with actor Page Mosely (11:23) • The Pain in Spain - a newly-filmed interview with special effects and make-up artist Colin Arthur (7:47) • Image Gallery • Trailer (English - 2:46 / Spanish - 2:46) • Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly-commissioned artwork by Justin Osbourn • FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Collector s booklet featuring new writing by Amanda Reyes Blu-ray Release Date: January 27th, 2020 Transparent Blu-ray Case Chapters 13

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Arrow Blu-ray (January 2020): Arrow have transferred José Ramón Larraz's Edge of the Axe 80's slasher flic to Blu-ray. It's on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate. It is described as a "Brand new 2K restoration from the original camera negative". The image quality is quite strong, color depth, good contrast, grain textures and consistent.

On their Blu-ray, Arrow offer linear PCM mono tracks (24-bit) in the original English or the option of a Spanish DUB. It sounds authentically flat but has a bombastic score by director/composer Javier Elorrieta, sounding aggressive and impacting. Arrow offer optional English subtitles for the Spanish track and English (SDH) for the English track on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Arrow Blu-ray has two commentaries. The first has actor Barton Faulks hosted by, his former student, Matt Rosenblatt where some production details are revealed in a casual atmosphere. The second commentary has The Hysteria Continues team: Justin Kerswell (author of Teenage Wasteland: The Slasher Movie Uncut) Joseph Henson, Erik Threlfall and Nathan Johnson that is fun and educational discussing such details as the differences between Edge of the Axe and other José Ramón Larraz's Euro horror films. There is also a newly-filmed 11-minute interview with actor Barton Faulks who expands on his career. Plus there is a 12-minute interview with actor Page Mosely (whose name in the extras and film is spelled 'Moseley' but IMDB has him as 'Mosely'.) He talks about taking his golf clubs to Spain for a few rounds for the two-month shoot. The Pain in Spain - a newly-filmed 8-minute interview with special effects and make-up artist Colin Arthur who had made a name for himself with Conan the Barbarian and his expertise in axes, blood, the mask. There is an image gallery, trailers in both English and Spanish and the package has a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly-commissioned artwork by Justin Osbourn and for the first pressing includes a collector's booklet featuring new writing by Amanda Reyes.

Edge of the Axe has José Ramón Larraz's extravagant 'build' with some impressive gore (blood, fingers cut-off etc.). I don't think it's at his level of Vampyres or Symptoms but its has some appeal as a small-town slasher gore-hound mystery. The Arrow Blu-ray looks and sounds great and the extras including the two commentaries will garner appreciation. Fans of the genre should have more than enough to encourage them to add to their collections.

Gary Tooze