Razor Blade Smile 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Razor Blade Smile 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov June 16, 2026

Jake West's "Razor Blade Smile" (1998) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of Severin Films. The supplemental features on the release include multiple audio commentaries; new and archival cast and crew interviews; documentaries on the making of the film; deleted and extended scenes; promotional materials; and a lot more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Angel of Death

Had it been completed several decades earlier, Jake West’s Razor Blade Smile would have been a legitimate Eurotrash film. Unfortunately, its fate almost certainly would have been identical to that of Jean Brismee’s The Devil's Nightmare as well. A small group of people would have appreciated what it does to entertain. An even smaller group of people would have compared it to Harry Kumel’s Daughters of Darkness. Then, during the next couple of years, both groups would have forgotten it, ensuring that it gets buried deep in the annals of genre cinema. Several decades earlier, the Eurotrash film was very popular, and directors on the other side of the Atlantic shot plenty, big and small, good and bad. However, what made the Eurotrash film popular there also killed it because the adult industry hijacked too many of its stars and offered its fans all of what they could only partially see in it.

Because West completed it in the 1990s and gave it a distinct contemporary identity, Razor Blade Smile is a hybrid project, paying tribute to the original Eurotrash film but trying to be something different. Interestingly, between the late 1990s and early 2000s, there were quite a few such hybrid projects, improvising in ways that made them intriguing. Two of the more memorable amongst them are Anne Goursaud’s Embrace of the Vampire and Antoine de Caunes’ Love Bites, both significantly bigger productions than Razor Blade Smile. However, these two films were also conceived to appeal to mainstream audiences, which is why they did a range of things that are virtually impossible to associate with the original Eurotrash film.

Razor Blade Smile begins at the original Eurotrash film’s favorite playground -- the 19th century. Here, a gorgeous young woman named Lilith Silver (Eileen Daly) fails to prevent the death of her handsome lover in an old-fashioned duel. Moments later, in an intense burst of anger, Silver attempts to kill the winner, Sir Sethane Blake (Christopher Adamson), but instead, he kills her. Standing next to her warm body, Blake, a centuries-old Vampire Lord, then bites her neck and makes her immortal.

In the present, Silver, now a highly skilled vampire, makes ends meet as a freelancing assassin. While taking out various high-profile targets for a trusted client, she accidentally crosses paths with her centuries-old nemesis, Blake, who is managing The Illuminati, a secret organization whose members are being installed as leaders at major corporations and government institutions. But as Silver begins plotting the belated revenge of her lover from hundreds of years ago, a veteran Scotland Yard detective (Jonathan Coote) investigating her dead targets realizes that she is immortal.

Despite being a close relative of Embrace of the Vampire and Love Bites, both also featuring gorgeous female vampires, Razor Blade Smile is easier to recommend to fans of the Underworld films. However, it is even easier to warn the same fans that Razor Blade Smile is not going to meet their expectations.

It is primarily because Razor Blade Vampire is a low-budget production, emphasizing sleazy content and atmosphere of the kind that made the original Eurotrash film attractive, but without the same period appearance. Indeed, even though it has plenty of action, it is not an action film with vampires. It is a low-budget genre film that adds vampires and action to make its sleaze more attractive.

The end product is surprisingly effective. However, it is not because somehow West balances everything brilliantly. It is because all of its material, the good and the not-so-good, is unpretentiously cheeky, and its stars do not act to impress the critics.

Razor Blade Smile 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Severin Films' release of Razor Blade Smile is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. The 4K Blu-ray and the two Blu-ray discs are Region-Free.

Please note that all screencaptures included with our review are taken from the Blu-ray disc. We have not provided downscaled screencaptures from the 4K Blu-ray disc.

On the 4K Blu-ray, Razor Blade Smile is presented with HDR. I viewed it in its entirety on 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray. I prefer how most of the film looks in 1080p on the Blu-ray. Here's why:

Both presentations are wonderful, giving the entire film a fresh, very clean appearance. However, the low-budget nature of the production is often greatly exacerbated by the 4K presentation. (This is the only way I can describe what I was seeing on my system). There is a lot of stylization work in it that produces massive native fluctuations in terms of density and delineation, and while the best bits of it look lovely in 4K, the worst ones become somewhat distracting. To be clear, all of these massive contrasts are intended, but I prefer how the 1080p presentation balances them a little better. Color reproduction is very, very nice. The tinted yellow, brown, and red footage looked exceptional on my system, giving the film a very authentic late 1990s appearance. For this reason, I would speculate that someone was very careful to ensure that the color grade is as good as possible. The HDR grade is easy to describe as effective, too. However, because of the stylization work, I think that the 1080p presentation is equally impressive. (The richness and vibrancy that a proper HDR grade brings are already on the 1080p presentation). I did not encounter any traces of problematic digital correction. Image stability is excellent. The entire film looks very healthy as well.

Razor Blade Smile 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I viewed the entire film with the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. Given the low-budget nature of Razor Blade Smile, the 5.1 track surprises with a lot of diverse dynamic content. For example, the shootout at the rocks sounds really nice. Elsewhere, there are some small yet pretty neat surround effects, too. The dialog is very clear, sharp, and easy to follow. In a few places, balance can be slightly better, but this is how the soundtrack was finalized. I did not encounter any encoding issues to report in our review.

Razor Blade Smile 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

4K BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary One - this new audio commentary was recorded by director Jake West and production designer Neil Jenkins. The commentators share a lot of information about the minuscule budget of Razor Blade Smile, its visual appearance and the specific stylization work that was done for the current version of the film, Eileen Daly's transformation into a sexy vampire, and some of the locations where important footage was shot.

• Commentary Two - this archival audio commentary was recorded by Jake West and Eileen Daly. The entire commentary is one big trip down memory lane, with the two commentators recalling how different sequences of Razor Blade Smile were shot, what worked exactly as intended and what did not, how some of the more intense action material was done, how the erotic material was done, etc.

• Trailer - presented here is a recent trailer for the new 4K restoration of Razor Blade Smile. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

BLU-RAY DISC ONE

• Commentary One - this new audio commentary was recorded by director Jake West and production designer Neil Jenkins. The commentators share a lot of information about the minuscule budget of Razor Blade Smile, its visual appearance and the specific stylization work that was done for the current version of the film, Eileen Daly's transformation into a sexy vampire, and some of the locations where important footage was shot.

• Commentary Two - this archival audio commentary was recorded by Jake West and Eileen Daly. The entire commentary is one big trip down memory lane, with the two commentators recalling how different sequences of Razor Blade Smile were shot, what worked exactly as intended and what did not, how some of the more intense action material was done, how the erotic material was done, etc.

• Vampires Forever (2025) - presented here is Jake West's recent documentary about the British vampire culture of the 1990s, produced by Jake West. Included in it are clips from interviews with West, Louis Ravensfield (creator of Vampyria), Klif Fuller, writer Charlie Hall, and production designer Neil Jenkins, amongst others. In English, not subtitled. (96 min).

BLU-RAY DISC TWO

• Independents Day - in this new program, several cast and crew members recall their work on Razor Blade Smile. Eileen Daly and Christopher Adamson's comments about their characters and why they agreed to do them are particularly interesting. Journalist and author M.J. Simpson also discusses the British cult film scene of the 1990s. In English, not subtitled. (27 min).

• Dressed to Kill - in this new program, Jake West explains why it was extremely important to get the costumes in Razor Blade Smile right and reveals that a famous character from The Avengers was an inspiration. Costume designer Dena Costello and Eileen Daly comment as well. In English, not subtitled. (9 min).

• Dark God Rising - in this new program, Jake West. Eileen Daly, comic book writer Paul Rogers, and comic book artist John Gallagher discuss a not-very-well-known comic book adaptation of Razor Blade Smile. In English, not subtitled. (16 min).

• Smiling Sharper - in this new program, Jake West and director of photography Jim Solan discuss the new 4K restoration of Razor Blade Smile. West also comments on the previous old, quite problematic telecine master of Razor Blade Smile. as well as the 35mm blow-up of the film. In English, not subtitled. (14 min).

• Smiling at 25 - presented here is footage from FrightfFest, where the new 4K restoration of Razor Blade Smile was presented. Jake West comments addresses the 4K restoration and the gorgeous new appearance of his film. In English, not subtitled. (15 min).

• FrightFest '24 Horror Hangout - presented here is footage from FrightFest, after the screening of the new 4K restoration of Razor Blade Smile, with Jake West, Neil Jenkins, and Aaron Truss. In English, not subtitled. (17 min).

• Cannes '97 Video Diary - presented here is archival footage from Jake West and his crew's trip to Cannes, where Razor Blade Smile was screened, promoted, and sold. In English, not subtitled. (7 min).

• Terror Tarot - Rue Morgue's Laura Hokstad reads from the screen-used tarot deck. In English, not subtitled. (13 min).

• Slices of Life - this archival documentary chronicles the production history of Razor Blade Smile. Included in it are interviews with Jake West, production designer Neil Jenkins, director of photography Jim Solan, Eileen Daly, and Christopher Adamson. West reveals that Razor Blade Smile was made with a crew of six people. In English, not subtitled. (58 min).

• Extended/Alternate Scenes - presented fully remastered in 1.33:1 ratio. Silent. (7 min).

• Blooper Reel - in English, not subtitled. (7 min).

• Still Gallery - a large collection of promotional and production materials. Presented with music. (19 min).

• Storyboard Gallery - presented with music. (3 min).

• Trailers - in English, not subtitled.
  
  1. New 4K Restoration Trailer. (2 min).
  2. Cannes Trailer 1997. (3 min).
  3. Original UK Theatrical Trailer. (2 min).
  4. SyFy TV Spots. (2 min).

• Children of the Night (2000) - presented here is an original documentary about vampire culture and its representation in British cinema, produced by Jake West and shown on Film4. In English, not subtitled. (21 min).

• Club Death (1993) - presented here is a short film directed by Jake West, which can be viewed with an optional audio commentary. In English, not subtitled. (32 min).

• Welcome to Club Death (1993) - presented here is a short documentary about the making of Jake West's Club Death. In English, not subtitled. (12 min).

• Vampire Advert - presented here is content created by Jake West for the 1993 Kodak Student Film Contest. A few bits from this content inspired a key sequences in Razor Blade Smile. In English, not subtitled. (4 min).

Razor Blade Smile 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It would have been surprising if Jake West had not declared that the classic British horror films were an inspiration for Razor Blade Smile. However, it is painfully obvious that the British cult scene of the 1990s and specifically its thriving kink community were an even bigger inspiration. This is why Razor Blade Smile, despite having a contemporary appearance, is a proper relative of the original Eurotrash film. I had seen Razor Blade Smile before, on VHS, enjoyed it, and knew exactly what to expect from Severin's combo pack release. The new 4K restoration prepared for it is outstanding, and all of the new and archival bonus features presented with it are most interesting. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.