PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Possum Walk (2010) Director Jeremy Sumrall has a new film out called Pickaxe. No, it’s not a sequel to his 2014 film, The Pick-Axe Murders III: The Final Chapter. They’re actually the same movie. This film stars Tiffany Shepis (Victor Crowley 2017 – read our review here), Cory W. Ahre (Bloodsuckers Handbook 2012), A. Michael Baldwin (Phantasm 1979 – read our retro review here), , Keefer Barlow (Conjoined 2013), Kerry Beyer (Killing Mr. Right 2014), Kelly Byrns (Rogue Strike 2014), newcomer Ashley-Marie Zgabay, Perry Batson (Round 2016) and Elizabeth Redpath (Manos: The Rise of Torgo 2018).
Pickaxe Synopsis
1982: The survivors of a series of brutal killings in a small town thought mass murderer Alex Black was dead and buried after the townspeople put an end to him. But teenagers experimenting with the occult awaken the monster from his grave and he begins another rampage of terror with his favorite tool, a pickaxe. Only those who have faced him before have any chance of stopping Alex Black once and for all.
Pickaxe is a throwback to the slasher flicks of the 1980s and comes right out of the gate with two hapless teenagers in the woods. They are looking for an amulet worn by the dead serial killer Alex Black. Some full nudity, a blood sacrifice, and a few murders later — and Alex Black rises again!
Flash forward to a group of teens setting out to see a concert, stopping first at their family cabin in the woods. Among them are Heather (Zgabay) and Jamie (Redpath). Their plans are soon derailed when they run afoul of Alex Black and his deadly pickaxe! Only one person remains in town that survived the previous massacre: the local alcoholic, Adrienne (Shepis). But can any of them escape his wrath this time around?
Pickaxe is a bloody, raucous, sexy, hysterical good time. I’m a sucker for ’80s films, and this struck all the right cords. If you are looking for: sex? Check. Splatter effects? Check. Screaming? Check. A super villain? Check. Annoying teens dying? Check. This is a glorious homage to all the things we love in 80s horror films tied up with a bloody ribbon.
The special effects were practical and gratuitous in just the right way. Beheadings, gorings and disembowelings are all included for your pleasure. The acting is good enough to keep the film going, though special mention goes out to Tiffany Shepis’ for her gloriously drunk Adrienne. Alex Black is a great villain, menacing and scary enough to carry the film. Let’s face it, Pickaxe is a film any splatter junkie or ’80s horror fan will love. It’s a ton of fun! Watch it at the link below!
