In Bloody Axe Wound. Roger (Billy Burke) films himself murdering people and edits the footage into movies that he sells at the video store that he owns. Meanwhile, Abbie (Sari Arambulo), his adopted daughter, wants to join the family business. The screenplay by writer/director Matthew John Lawrence is a painfully unfunny, witless and toothless blend of horror, satire and comedy. None of the beats land despite the  premise that makes the film sounds like it could be an outrageously funny and wildly entertaining guilty pleasure. There's some gore, but nothing that stands out or that pushes the envelope. Lawrence doesn't take his ideas or concept anywhere that's bold, interesting or imaginative enough, so much of the film feels lethargic, bland and underwhelming. At a running time of 1 hour and 23 minutes, Bloody Axe Wound opens in select theaters nationwide via IFC Midnight and Shudder.

      Upon the death of her husband, Santosh (Shahana Goswam) replaces his job as a constable in Northern India and investigates the murder of a young girl with the help of inspector Sharma (Sunita Rajwar) in Santosh. Writer/director Sandhya Suri has woven an intriguing, gripping and slow-burning crime thriller that also serves as a tender psychological drama. Santosh, still grieving the murder of her husband, wants to get to the bottom of who murdered and raped the young girl for the sake of truth, justice and, above all, democracy, but she comes across obstacles along the way that highlights the justice system's dyfunctionality and unfairness. She believes that the prime suspect, a Muslim man, is innocent. Santosh mostly feels like a slice-of-life as it focuses on the protagonist's determination. There's one particular scene toward the end that's hard to watch because of the unflinching violence, so kudos to writer/director Sandhya Suri for being unafraid to go into dark territory. The unhurried pace takes a while to get used to, but it works in the film's favor and leads to an ending that's equally powerful, haunting and understated. At a running time of 2 hours, Santosh opens IFC Center via Metrograph Films.

Number of times I checked my watch: 1

      Vermiglio is an exquisitely shot and poetic, but sluggishly paced and mildly engaging drama set in the French Alps in 1944. The screenplay by writer/director Maura Delpero centers on a family living in a small village called Vermiglio where Cesare (Tommaso Ragno), a schoolteacher, and his wife, Adele (Roberta Rovelli), raise their children, Ada (Rachele Potrich), Dino (Patrick Gardner), Lucia (Martina Scrinzi) and Flavia (Anna Thaler). Lucia romances a Sicilian soldier, Pietro (Giuseppe De Domenico), and, before you know it, she gets pregnant and they get married before he goes away to visit his family in Sicily and mysteriously disappears. Vermiglio takes a while to get anywhere interesting as it takes its time to introduce the characters without anything compelling happening until Lucia meets Pietro. Delpero trusts the audience's patience a lot which is a double-edged sword because, at times, scenes drag and overstay their welcome. It also feels monotonous without much in terms of levity. Often, though, the film's breathtaking scenery speaks louder than words. At a running time of 1 hour and 59 minutes, Vermiglio opens at IFC Center via Sideshow/Janus Films.

Number of times I checked my watch: 3