'HATCHET III': Four Stars (Out of Five)
The third installment in the popular slasher film series (that began in 2006 with the cult classic original) about an unkillable and deformed sociopath, named Victor Crowley, lurking in the Louisiana Swamp and killing anyone who comes across his path. He's played (in all three films) by Kane Hodder, who is most well known for playing 'Jason Voorhees' multiple times in the 'FRIDAY THE 13TH' series (which is fitting because Crowley seems like kind of an homage to the Voorhees character and is a very similar unstoppable man/creature). Scream queen Danielle Harris returns to play the lead heroine, Marybeth, for the second time (after replacing Tamara Feldman from the original film). Caroline Williams, Zach Galligan and Derek Mears all co-star in the film (all are well known from multiple other horror films, Mears has also played 'Jason Voorhees'). The film is written (once again) and executive produced by series creator Adam Green but he handed over directing duties this time to BJ McDonnell (a first time director who was a camera operator on the other two films). The movie is just more of the same, as the other two films, but if you're a fan of the franchise you're sure to love it!
The film, like the last installment, picks up right where the previous film left off; with Marybeth (Harris) killing Victor Crowley (Hodder). He's of course not dead though, even though Marybeth blew away his face and sawed him in two! She later learns from an expert on the Crowleys, Amanda (Williams), that Victor is a supernatural monster that can only be killed by Marybeth, through a special voodoo ritual. After turning herself into the police, soaked in blood and carrying Victor's scalp, she's arrested as a suspect for the Crowley murders. As the police investigate the killings, in Honey Island Swamp, they learn that Victor Crowley is still alive and he's going on yet another killing rampage (killing them). Amanda's ex-husband, Sheriff Fowler (Galligan), leads a rescue team into the swamp and teams with a mercenary, named Hawes (Mears). At the same time Marybeth teams with Amanda, for one last attempt to destroy Victor Crowley once and for all.
The movie is once again full of gratuitous violence and gore but it's so ridiculously over-the-top that's it not even disturbing or disgusting to me. Some people will probably have a problem with it but no one who enjoyed either of the last two films should. Like I said it's almost the exact same content again (as the last film at least) but it's still fun and original, in the new ways it comes up with to kill people. I can't see why anyone who liked the last two films would dislike this one. Green didn't direct it but it seems like he did (he must have been whispering in McDonnell's ear the whole time). I love the series and I love this film equally as much as the last installment. The original is still the best but these sequels are about as much as a fan could expect. Victor Crowley is a classic movie villain and I, for one, hope to see more of him.
Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9OJ5gcVSN0
The third installment in the popular slasher film series (that began in 2006 with the cult classic original) about an unkillable and deformed sociopath, named Victor Crowley, lurking in the Louisiana Swamp and killing anyone who comes across his path. He's played (in all three films) by Kane Hodder, who is most well known for playing 'Jason Voorhees' multiple times in the 'FRIDAY THE 13TH' series (which is fitting because Crowley seems like kind of an homage to the Voorhees character and is a very similar unstoppable man/creature). Scream queen Danielle Harris returns to play the lead heroine, Marybeth, for the second time (after replacing Tamara Feldman from the original film). Caroline Williams, Zach Galligan and Derek Mears all co-star in the film (all are well known from multiple other horror films, Mears has also played 'Jason Voorhees'). The film is written (once again) and executive produced by series creator Adam Green but he handed over directing duties this time to BJ McDonnell (a first time director who was a camera operator on the other two films). The movie is just more of the same, as the other two films, but if you're a fan of the franchise you're sure to love it!
The film, like the last installment, picks up right where the previous film left off; with Marybeth (Harris) killing Victor Crowley (Hodder). He's of course not dead though, even though Marybeth blew away his face and sawed him in two! She later learns from an expert on the Crowleys, Amanda (Williams), that Victor is a supernatural monster that can only be killed by Marybeth, through a special voodoo ritual. After turning herself into the police, soaked in blood and carrying Victor's scalp, she's arrested as a suspect for the Crowley murders. As the police investigate the killings, in Honey Island Swamp, they learn that Victor Crowley is still alive and he's going on yet another killing rampage (killing them). Amanda's ex-husband, Sheriff Fowler (Galligan), leads a rescue team into the swamp and teams with a mercenary, named Hawes (Mears). At the same time Marybeth teams with Amanda, for one last attempt to destroy Victor Crowley once and for all.
The movie is once again full of gratuitous violence and gore but it's so ridiculously over-the-top that's it not even disturbing or disgusting to me. Some people will probably have a problem with it but no one who enjoyed either of the last two films should. Like I said it's almost the exact same content again (as the last film at least) but it's still fun and original, in the new ways it comes up with to kill people. I can't see why anyone who liked the last two films would dislike this one. Green didn't direct it but it seems like he did (he must have been whispering in McDonnell's ear the whole time). I love the series and I love this film equally as much as the last installment. The original is still the best but these sequels are about as much as a fan could expect. Victor Crowley is a classic movie villain and I, for one, hope to see more of him.
Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9OJ5gcVSN0