Razor Blade Smile
(2000)
review by Krug Stillo

Independently made, original and effective British vampire film set inmodern day London. Razor Blade Smile is a must for all fang fans for its fresh contemporary style, but the influences are evident. In particular, its writer/director, Jake West has mentioned his love for cleverly made 16mm
films such as The Evil Dead and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Made on a minuscule budget film, this film often displays impressive camera work and well choreographed gunfight sequences.

The sexy, leather clad vampire, Lilith Silver (played by the famous face of ‘Redemtion Films’, Eileen Daly) is hired as an assassin, known to the police as ‘Angel of Death’, to kill members of a mysterious sect. Whilst engaged in her hectic daily routine of killing, she discovers that the sect have also
hired a detective (appropriately named ‘Price’) to destroy her.
Complications and plot twists emerge in abundance. Only when the film ends with Lilith’s tongue in cheek words – “Told you, you know fuck all about vampires…” does one begin placing the pieces together.

Of course the film has its bad points, but considering this is an ‘indie’ flick, one forgets about its shortcomings. On a great note, Razor Blade Smile features the last on screen appearance of cult favourite, David Warbeck (of Fulci’s The Beyond and The Black Cat), as the pathologist,
‘horror-film-man’. There’s plenty of sex, violence, some lesbianism and a few good looking, busty babes to boot. This could possibly be the new ‘Hammer Horror’ film for the next generation. If you fancy a different taste to the usual put this on your 'to see' list.

Some interesting quotes –

“What are you people? The undead?” Joking.

“As you can see the stuff about drinking blood is correct. Blood is food and like food some people’s tastes good and others…” Lilith stops drinking, spits on the floor beside her, “...F. Grade! Druggy shit!!”

“A hit-woman. That’s what I think a vampire would do. Little hours and good pay, takes the aches out of deciding who to kill. A set menu gets boring. I wouldn’t want to mope around for eternity looking gloomy.”

“A vampire casts no reflection? There’s another bullshit myth. Imagine how I’d look after centuries without one…”

“I’m Decetive Ray Price. A name you won’t forget!”
“Definitely breath I won’t forget!”
“Garlic not your thing? I have something that’ll take your breath away.”
“Mouthwash?”