My review was written in June 1990 after watching the film on Media Home Entertainment video cassette.
"Blades" is one of the dumbest horror films yet. This untenable "Jaws" ripoff received token distribution by Troma last year and currently is on video store shelves.
Filmmakers John Finegan and Thoma Rondinella have concocted the least likely (and most ridiculous) variation on the Peter Benchley horror formula: a monster in the form of a large, runaway lawnmower chewing up victims on a golf course.
Slavish send-up is never funny, despite repeated references to the Zanuck-Brown/Steven Spielberg original, including its music, a teaser opening with teens, a coverup to protect an upcoming tournament and two leads uniting with an older expert to hunt down the monster.\
Flat acting (particularly by lead Robert North) doesn't help this straight-faced farrago. Like most Troma releases, this pickup (lensed three years ago in Pittsburgh) is intended to simultaneously insult and amuse. Nadir comes when seasoned expert Jeremy Whelan (in the Robert Shaw roel form "Jaws") spins the senseless, illogical tale of the lawnmower's genesis.
Credits included plenty of middle initials to puff up filmmakers, even pointlessly crediting one acting role to fictitious Alan Smitheee. Promise of sequel "Hedgers" about crazed hedge trimmers is par for the course.
