Mercer Times

By day, Matthew Lawrence serves as an Assistant Professor of Communication Studies, teaching digital filmmaking. By night, he channels his expertise into writing and directing horror films. His latest project, "Bloody Axe Wound," hit theaters in December.

The film follows Abbie Bladecut, a young woman whose father is a killer reminiscent of characters like Jason from "Friday the 13th" or Freddy Kruger from "Nightmare on Elm Street." He records his murders and rents them out at his video store. Abbie wishes to follow in her father's footsteps but faces skepticism due to her gender. She infiltrates a high school and discovers the students are more complex than she anticipated, creating tension between her family's traditions and her new relationships.

Lawrence began writing the script a decade ago but faced setbacks in getting it produced. After his previous feature, "Uncle Peckerhead," gained attention in 2020, interest in "Bloody Axe Wound" revived. Actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Hilarie Burton helped promote the script, leading AMC to take an interest due to their horror-specific streaming platform.

The film was officially greenlit two years later, with production starting in 2023. Lawrence described the challenges of directing versus writing: “As a director you have to actually figure out a way to manifest that to the screen knowing you have limited resources and tools at your disposal.”

Filming took place over 18 days in June 2023 near Saugerties, New York. The shoot involved a union crew for the first time for Lawrence with up to 75 cast and crew members on set daily.

Lawrence credits John Carpenter as an influence for his ability to blend entertainment with cultural commentary. Outside horror, he enjoys various genres; surprisingly naming "Wayne's World" as his favorite movie for its underlying commentary on art and commerce.

"Bloody Axe Wound" is now available for rent and purchase on major streaming platforms.