Razor Blade Smile (1998)

I remember I desperately wanted to see this one, right after I so much enjoyed Jake West's second film "Evil Aliens" (an insane sci-fi/horror/splatter-fest). This being said, I can say right away that "Razor Blade Smile" isn't that good nor as entertaining. Not by a long shot. But it's got its heart at the right place. We've got sensual vampire chicks in latex outfits. Some soft-core porn flashes. Some lesbian sex. A lot of blood. A few violent shoot-outs. And a few cheap decapitations (and then some...). Jake West just laughs with all the vampire clichés, to such an extend that all we know about them, isn't true at all. I must say that Eileen Daly does a pretty good acting job as Lilith Silver, the sexy bounty hunter/vampire. Her constant off-screen commentary often provides some welcome comic relief, and makes you not take this movie too seriously at all. Sadly, the story isn't up to much, and the conclusion at the end, to me, was a bit disappointing. Also, the sword-fights at the end were even more poorly staged and edited than the ones in Uwe Boll's "Bloodrayne". But then again, "Razor Blade Smile" is a low-budget flick, so it fits the movie. If you decide to watch it, then make sure you keep watching until the end-credits are finished...

After the success of Interview with the Vampire in 1994, there were a number of attempts to modernise the common vampire legend; and a number of failures, which included the likes of The Wisdom of Crocodiles and The Addiction. Razor Blade Smile is another attempt to do the same; and while there are certainly a lot of things wrong with it, I actually found myself liking the film more and more as it went along and director Jake West has to be credited with a really good attempt at doing what the earlier films attempted. Initially I thought this film would be a rip off of Blade; but actually it has its own style. The film begins in the 19th century and we see a young woman turned into a vampire. Fast forward to present day and the woman is Lilith Silver, and she's putting her vampire abilities to good use with a job as a hired killer. She gets given jobs to pick off various businessmen who all form a group known as 'The Illuminati" and she gets some police attention too, before finding that the conspiracy goes much deeper.The film was independently made and does not benefit from good cinematography. Actually the film is rather horrific on the eyes; and that's a shame really. The action scenes are fast and entertaining and more than do their job, but the main draw of this film is the way that the screenplay handles the vampire legend. The film directly addresses most of the common elements of the vampire legend; some are in keeping with the classics while others are glossed over or changed and the film handles its own mythology very well. The way that vampire story is mixed with modern day is good and the lead character's dress sense and associated with the 'vampire' subculture is amusing. Eileen Daly takes the lead role and never really convinces with it; she looks the part but the delivery of her lines is often very awkward, although obviously the screenplay has to shoulder much of the blame for that. The film also boils down to a very good twist at the end, which makes more sense the more you think about it. Overall, this is a long way from perfect; but it's a fun film to watch and the flaws are easy to forgive.

Sultry and willful Lilith Silver (marvelously played by with great saucy verve by the delectable Eileen Daily) gets turned into a vampire in 1850. Lilith becomes a lethal and seductive freelance hired assassin in order to alleviate the tedium of endless immortality. Lilith finds herself in substantial trouble when she begins bumping off members of the powerful underground sect the Illuminati. Ruthless Illuminati leader Sir Sethane Blake (a deliciously wicked portrayal by Christopher Adamson) kidnaps Lilith's lover and employer Platinum (hunky Kevin Howarth). Meanwhile, dogged Scotland Yard Inspector Ray Price (nicely essayed by Jonathan Coote) tries to track down and nab Lilith. Writer/director Jake West turns standard fright feature bloodsucker conventions completely on their ear with this wickedly witty, lively and stylish outing. Moreover, West shows a tremendous flair and skill for snappy editing, striking visuals (the CGI effects are remarkably good), and stirring action scenes. Better yet, West further spices things up with lots of tasty nudity, splashy gore, steamy soft-core sex, and a very British sense of bone-dry sardonic gallows humor (the surprise blackly comic twist ending is a total hoot!). David Warbeck has a nifty small part as a droll coroner called "The Horror Movie Man." James Solan's extremely raw and dynamic cinematography gives the picture an effectively gritty look while the rousing ooga-booga score by Richard Wells likewise does the trick. With her gorgeously voluptuous full figure, long, lustrous dark hair, skintight leather catsuit, and winningly brassy'n'sassy attitude, Daily makes a strong impression as a mega-hot Goth goddess to be reckoned with. A highly entertaining romp.

I really loved razor blade smile it is one of my favourite art-house movies it was played really well in fact I actually believe if vampires existed they indeed would become an assassin I really enjoy art-house and vampire movies so this was in my taste thank you for making such an excellent movie lilithsilver was my favourite character in this movie and I think she played the part excellently the whole plot was designed without flaw I would love to know how exactly how the writer came up with such a genius story there will never be a vampire movie quite as believable and influential there was not a thing I dident believe about this movie and I would recommend this movie for any true vampire lovers so thank you again for making such a great movie.sincerely yours Levi