I often try avoiding any spoilers when watching movies (Which seems odd as we do things here that fully embrace the modern day desire to seek out reviews and spoilers.) With that in mind, I knew absolutely nothing about this movie going in.

The first thing that jumped out at me was the presence of Jeffrey Dean Morgan. It starts out with him stalking and killing in a fast food restaurant. Unfortunately his role is pretty much done in the first 5 minutes.

We then jump to a video store where movies are sold that showcase actual killers. Imagine if Jason Voorhees was real and had a film crew following him. This immediately reminded me of Leslie Vernon in the amazing Behind the Mask movie. The store is run by a father (Roger Bladecut) and daughter (Abbie) team (with an employee named Makenzie as well), but the father is rather, well, ugly. Because he is a Jason Voorhees style supernatural killer. But he is a bit old and doesn’t bounce back as quick as he used to. Clawing his way out of the grave tends to be something where a little help is needed.

Abbie is excited to follow in her father’s footsteps, but he is planning to train Makenzie as his successor. I don’t want to go into too much of the details (because we all know I prefer spoiling things that I give less stars to.) At one point Abbie goes undercover into a high school where she is tasked with setting up and killing a selection of teens designated by dear old dad.

I was surprised at the cast a second time here as the role of Sam Crane was filled by Molly Brown. Not a name I recognized instantly, but she is young Deb from Dexter Original Sin! (Yes, I will get back to that soon.) Abbie becomes compromised in her upbringing as she is drawn to Sam and finds a friend. Shattering the isolated upbringing of the typical slasher. It doesn’t make dad happy though, because she is supposed to be killing. Not making friendship bracelets (that may or may not happen, you gotta watch to find out!)

This movie was tough for me to assign stars to. Because I waffle between about 4 and 9. It is campy at times in a way that is almost approaching a B movie. Which drags the rating down. But the idea and overall story I was all in on. I have been waiting almost 20 years for a sequel to Behind the Mask. And that is likely never coming. But Bloody Axe Wound is the sequel we didn’t know we were getting. This movie could absolutely be in the same world, just a different city. (Ooooohh…. And there is a connection I forgot about (well, I didn’t fully forget, because I am about to tell you.) In Behind the Mask we have Hershel from Walking Dead, and this has Negan!)

I think if I had written this right after watching it then it would have been higher on the star chart. Or maybe lower. GAHHHHH…. I don’t know. I’m settling on 7 stars. Because I like it, even though it embraces a little too much camp for me. I feel like the story itself goes high on stars, but then the SFX drags it down because the kills often don’t feel real.