Axe (film)

Axe, also known as California Axe Massacre and Lisa, is a 1977 American exploitation slasher film directed by Frederick R. Friedel. It is notable for being one of the "video nasties" banned in the United Kingdom in the early 1980s.

The film centers on three criminals who seek refuge on a secluded farm after a robbery goes wrong. The farm is inhabited by a wheelchair-bound grandfather and his orphaned granddaughter, Lisa. As the criminals become increasingly violent and desperate, Lisa, who is mute, takes matters into her own hands to protect herself and her grandfather, using an axe as her weapon.

The film is characterized by its low budget, graphic violence (though relatively mild compared to later slashers), and unsettling atmosphere. Its inclusion on the "video nasties" list contributed to its notoriety and cult following.