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Razor Blade Smile

Razor Blade Smile

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Not bad for a no budget Vamp Assassin movie
Review: If you're looking for another "Interview with the vampire" then you will be badly disappointed, this is low budget film making and has no expensive locations or known actors. It is however an odd movie that grows on you and does have a nice twist in the tail. If it was more consistent I`d give it four, but the quality of production and acting at the start isn't too hot, being reminiscent of a bad pop promo. Don't give up however persist, it improves in leaps and bounds and ends on a high. It has a hard edge too it and is a nice counterpoint to the sanitised vampire tales of Buffy or Angel.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Utter Waste of Time
Review: In one word: crap! I urge you to NOT waste your time or money on this -well,calling it a "movie" is giving it more credit than it deserves. I was suckered by the reviews on the cover- "best vampire movie in 10 years!" etc. They must have been talking about another movie. Poor editing, acting, dialog, you name it. And whats with those STUPID teeth?

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Underrated, entertaining Independent-movie.
Review: It's fun to watch movies by Independent filmmakers, because they often dare doing things the big production companies don't. The first few scenes, set in the 19th century, are black and white (and blood red). After the credit sequence in James Bond style, the movie continues, now in color. It's the end of the 20th century. Vampire Lilith Silver works as an assassin. The remainder of the movie is good as well, but it doesn't keep up quite the same standards as those after the credit sequence. I don't understand the strange dream sequences in the movie, but they are not annoying anyway and very short. Most of the actors are mediocre, including the lead actress, Eileen Daly, but she has a certain charm and charisma that makes it difficult to not like her performance. Her narrating reminds me of that of Criswell in 'Plan 9 From Outer Space'.

This movie isn't very scary, but it's fun and entertaining and I wouldn't mind watching it again. It proves the fact that you actually can make a 'real' movie with a budget as big as that of 'The Blair Witch Project'.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Best of the Bad
Review: Let's face it -- no one watches modern, direct-to-video vampire flicks for high art, taut drama, Oscar-calibre effects, or performances more memorable for skill than unintended humor. They're called B movies for a reason; the B means "bad," but can run the full gamut from "so bad it's good" to "so bad it's funny" to "diamond in the rough" to "just plain awful." Razor Blade Smile has aspects of all of these, but in the end, the positive should far outweigh the negative for all but the most elite (and effete) of film snobs.

The premise offers a new twist on an age-old theme of vampire fiction: the eternal struggle for power and dominance among the immortals who walk among us. After all, for creatures who think in terms of millennia, what's a decade or two between friends? But rather than set up some sort of contrived struggle between opposed armies of noble and savage bloodsuckers, Razor Blade Smile keeps things personal between it's vamps, which ultimately works' to the films credit since much of it is over the top anyway.

Knowing full well that the he couldn't afford actual actors, the director instead goes for a slick, stylized look that combines MTV-esque jump cuts with a host of camera effects. The result, as one might expect, is a bit muddled, but there are moments that absolutely shine. The melange of styles is used at once to add to the feel of the film while covering for the fact that some of the acting is laughably wooden. Still, the costumes and makeup are some of the best you'll find in this budget bracket, and if the actors aren't always convincing, at least they all look like they're having a good time, which is often more than can be said for films in this genre.

Ultimately you'll either love this film or you'll hate it. Those who will hate it: goths who take themselves and "their" culture all-too-seriously; vampire buffs who believe they are descended from Van Helsig himself; anyone looking for serious acting or a bullet-proof plot concept. Those who will love it: all of the above who manage to keep their sense of humor intact; those who recognize the brilliance in Roger Corman or Troma. This one is definitely a try before you buy. Don't expect Shakespeare, but don't expect Ed Wood either. You might just be surprised.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: A Razor Blade Smirk, but not bad!
Review: Lilith Silver is an 18th century British "Lady" who is turned into a vampire, and survives in the 21st century as a Hit Lady for hire. Her latest job has her stumbling upon a secret society that is out to rule the world, and destroy her for doing in it's members.

Lilith is a cooler than cool femme fatale who hangs out in a 'Goth' bar, shooting the breeze with a bunch of yuppie fake vampires (who haven't a clue Who/What she REALLY is). Her current bed mate is a regular human who also contracts her assasination assignments. And she has a coffin full of Ninja swords and exotic hand guns (and a closet of clothes that makes Victoria's Secret look like K-Mart). This is not your father's vampire.

Eileen Daly snugly fits this role like her leather jump suit fits her. Despite her aristocatic good looks, she perfectly conveys the non-chalant evil of her character when Lilith seduces a bar pick-up for a nightcap, then disposes of her with that "Oh well" look. And as her smoldering sexuality stammers two cops attempts to grill her, she "fang flashes" one to remind us of how deadly she really is.

And that is one of the problem with this flick. The director waste too much time oggling Ms. Daly in skin tight jumpsuits, bustiers, and lingerie, and not enough on making her "jump out at you" scary(Now the guy who plays the evil CEO vampire is SCARY). Mind you, I could spend all day watching her run-way model the fore-mentioned, but I digress . Eye rolling, fang showing hisses are not scary when not directed at a victim. And taking a year-and-a-day to sneak through a window or past guards is great for showing off sexy figure in a skin tight leather jump suit, but really empasizes the "B" grade quality of production. Ms. Daly comes off more like a Modesty Blaise with a dental problem and weird feeding habits. Mercifully, there are few laughable cheap special effects (unless you count the gallons of obvious fake blood), but a lot of jump cuts to replace good choreographed action sequences.

Overall, this film delivers what it intends; a smart, beautiful anti-heroine who can shoot it out with the best of 'em, and make a man actually consider receiving the ultimate hickey, and a twist ending that reminds you that she is a deadly vampire, dammit!. Or as Ms. Daly's sexy whiskey and honey drenched voice (which narrates through the film, Thank God), reminds you; "YOU DON'T KNOW **** ALL ABOUT VAMPIRES!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Finally a vampire film we can sink our teeth into
Review: Razor Blade Smile is defiantley one of the best vampire flicks I have ever seen. Finally a movie where the vampire is not moaning and groaning about being a vampire. Lilith enjoys her existance and the black leather really, really, really helps. It's also nice to see a cool vampire movie coming out of England. I think we've all had our fill of both French and Transylvanian vampires.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: This movie is so awful,
Review: that by about half-way through, you will be trying to bite your own ear off; by the ending, you will be laying your head in a guillotine and reaching for the chop chord. Oh, my god, I can't believe I wasted two hours of my life on this film, which by some bizarre twist of metaphysical irony has vampire moniker attached to it. Ok, maybe I'm going into drama king mode here, but Eileen Daly doesn't act-she titulates. Every thing about this film is a cut and paste from other more worthwhile genres of erotic vampirism to preceed this woeful excuse: Rollin's Vampire movies, Vampyros Lesbos, and even Daughters of Darkness. The ending so so cliche' and trite that I wanted to reach into the TV screen and slap the writer of this debacle. Don't waste your time. If you want the real thing, hang with those titles above, it's a good place to start.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: This movie is so awful,
Review: that by about half-way through, you will be trying to bite your own ear off; by the ending, you will be laying your head in a guillotine and reaching for the chop chord. Oh, my god, I can't believe I wasted two hours of my life on this film, which by some bizarre twist of metaphysical irony has vampire moniker attached to it. Ok, maybe I'm going into drama king mode here, but Eileen Daly doesn't act-she titulates. Every thing about this film is a cut and paste from other more worthwhile genres of erotic vampirism to preceed this woeful excuse: Rollin's Vampire movies, Vampyros Lesbos, and even Daughters of Darkness. The ending so so cliche' and trite that I wanted to reach into the TV screen and slap the writer of this debacle. Don't waste your time. If you want the real thing, hang with those titles above, it's a good place to start.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Bloody brilliant
Review: This british vampire flick just reeks of live action manga!.The sexy heroine in her latex outfits and arsenal of firearms,that she keeps in a coffin. It twists the vampire myth to new areas.The context and twist at the end reveal an oustandingly original take on the genre. The budget limitations are plain to see ,but dont detract from a great film. Truely the best British Vampire flck in ages. You cannot help falling for thr charms of Eileen Daly in the lead role as Lilith Silver, she was born to vamp ! Fans of the genre and manga wont be dissapointed,BLOODY BRILLIANT FUN !!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Stylish yet, ultimately empty.
Review: This film has a number of things going for it, including a terrific lead performance and some pretty flasy visuals. However, it ultimately comes up empty. That's too bad, because the film is actually quite engaging for most of its running time. I was left wanting more. Perhaps, that is a good thing. The director shows a great deal of promise. He is certainly one to watch in the future. That said, the film is not perfect. The action in, particular, falls flat. The fights/shoot-outs/sword fights just aren't believable at all. The artistic flourishes are stretched out into absurdity, calling attention to themselves rather than aiding the story. Razor Blade Smile is an OK film that deserves to be seen, if only for its good parts.


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