[Ruby Hornet will be attending the 49th Chicago International Film Festival from 10/10 – 10/24. Be sure to follow along as we bring you coverage from the longest-running competitive international film festival in the country. You can find all of our coverage from this year’s CIFF here.]
Raze
Director: Josh C. Waller
Country: United States
CIFF Screening: October 12, 2013 (10:15pm)
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Raze is kind of like the female version of Fight Club minus that film’s expository themes of schizophrenia and anti-consumerism. Instead, it attempts to justify rounding up a dozen or so girls together in fights to the death with a cult/secret society obsessed with Greek mythology about strong women.. If the women don’t fight in these gladiator-style 1-on-1 fights or lose, their loved ones are killed by secret assassins… or something. Zoe Bell (Death Proof), Quentin Tarantino’s go-to girl for female body doubles, stars as Sabrina, a hardened, wiser “older” woman who is captured by the aforementioned cult and must fight for her own survival. If the plot sounds ridiculously shallow, that’s because it is. The film’s menagerie of characters run the gamut of stereotypical characters, such as the sheepish, shy girl, the girl with the hidden talents, the bloodthirsty girl who embraces the challenge, etc.
However, pulpy, B-movies like Raze never worry too much about plot. Instead, the focus is on how gruesome and entertaining the action can be. Often is the case with films of this nature, the fight scenes are a lot of fun. With Bell’s background as a stuntwoman, she’s given the spotlight to show off her fighting chops in fights that are similar to MMA matches with a mix of hand-to-hand combat and wrestling techniques. Raze isn’t for the faint at heart, though. Since fights are to the death, you’ll see women with their faces caved in after a dozen point-blank punches or blood stains against the secluded arena’s brick walls.
If you can weather character stereotypes and pointless plots in exchange for brutal, one-on-one female fight scenes, Raze might just be the film for you. It left me wanting more, plot-wise, but once I contextualized the medium of pulp, B-movies, I was able to excuse the otherwise lack of depth. Buy some popcorn, a large Icee, and enjoy the ride.
Score: 
6 out of 10