Axe Giant: The Wrath of Paul Bunyan (2013) - Inoffensive enough background noise

If there was ever a film that was supposed to be watched in between checking your social media on your phone, it was this.  It's not bad, but it's sure not enough to stop me from idly scrolling through my Instagram feed!

First of all - the title.  Why so long?  Were the film-makers trying to be epic?  It should have just been called 'Axe Giant' and be done with it.  Nit-pick over... it's a horror film about a bunch of young offenders who, as part of their 'rehabilitation program,' are taken off into the woods by a couple of adults in order to do some bonding exercise, or something.  Does this actually happen in real life?  I've now seen it three or four times as the set-up for a horror/monster film, but assigning two full time/paid adult carers to four or five teenagers seems like an expensive way of doing things.  

Anyway, guess what they meet up there?  Hint: the clue is in the title.  And that's where the film does show its weaknesses, i.e. the budget.  It doesn't really have much of one, so all effects are the cheapest computer or stop motion money can buy.  It tries its best, but, even when the gore-effects work, you won't care about the cast - the film tries doe some 'character building' early on by having each of the five kids sit round a fire and spout their back story.  Nothing like 'tell' instead of 'show.'

The film also boasts most horror cliches you've come to expect from a B-movie.  There's the old guy who knows more than he lets on and tries to warn the main group about the impending threat.  The kids that - er - 'get intimate' in the first act.  Guess what happens to them?!

But, despite all its flaws I stuck with it.  When it comes to finding movies to watch on streaming service there are plenty which are so bad I turn off within the first half an hour, so don't feel obliged to be able to write a review.  At least this one kept me entertained for its entire runtime, so it must be better than many.  It's content - filler content for it you're bored and looking for some silly, cheesy blood and gore with a cheap-looking monster.  If that's all you're after, it'll fill the time in between your social media feed of choice updating with new posts.

5/10 You can watch this film while you're doing the ironing (you'll still get the general gist of it)