Hatchet III

Hatchet III

Starring Danielle Harris, Kane Hodder, Zach Galligan, Caroline Williams

Directed by BJ McDonnell

Immediately taking place where the second film left off, Marybeth (Danielle Harris) thinks she's just killed the spirit of Victor Crowley (Kane Hodder), and heads back to New Orleans where she goes to a police station, and is immediately arrested by Sheriff Fowler (Zach Galligan).  She tells him everything that happened, but he doesn't believe her and keeps her in a holding cell while he and his men investigate.

They travel to the island where they find countless number of mutilated bodies, and they think it's an open and shut case.  Until Fowler's ex-wife Amanda - who is also a Victor Crowley enthusiast - discovers Marybeth is being held and informs her that Crowley is indeed not dead, but his body re-animates after his supposed hacking.

Sure enough, Crowley comes back to life and begins brutally killing everyone on the island, and it's up to Amanda - who knows how to kill Crowley for good - to finally end his reign of terror.

 Adam Green invented the story of Victor Crowley to make a new serial killer for the next generation, taking ideas from classic movie monsters such as Jason Voorhees to create a new creature.  The first "Hatchet" was one of the best horror films of the decade, filled with totally over-the-top kills and cheesy lines, but it was a good time.  "Hatchet II" introduced horror icon Danielle Harris, but unfortunately it fell flat to its predecessor, and it wasn't as entertaining.

Thankfully, the "Hatchet" trilogy ended on a high note with "Hatchet III."  Back was the cheesy lines, the over-the-top kills, and the shockers.  Plus Green is a big fan of not using CGI, so all the kills were done the old fashioned way - with prosthetics, make-up, and the classic Tom Savini-like designs.  Yes, it looks more fake, but in a way it also looks more real, more authentic, more of a nod to the horror classics of old.  There's no Oscar-worthy acting here, but in a series like this, you wouldn't expect it.  What you would expect - and what you received - is a gory good time.

My Rating: A-