Stunt Icon Raises Issues of Violence and Victimisation

New Zealand Stuntwoman and actress Zoë Bell’s film Raze is one of three out this January, which “tackle semi-weighty issues of violence, victimization, sexuality and gender.”

The online arts and culture magazine Salon describes Raze as a “high-concept action-horror hybrid.”

“[Raze] is directed by Josh Waller and conceived as a star vehicle for semi-legendary Hollywood stuntwoman Zoë Bell, best known for her work with Quentin Tarantino in the Kill Bill movies, Grindhouse and Inglourious Basterds.

“Bell is an authentic icon of not just female empowerment but female ferocity; she could unmistakably kick the ass of at least 98 per cent of the male population (and pretty much does so toward the end of this movie).

“Raze is perhaps best understood as a formal and self-referential work that draws heavily on violent video games, kung-fu movies of the Bruce Lee era and the Saw franchise.”