SYNOPSIS:
When Ben (Joel Moore), his friend Marcus (Deon Richmond) and assorted strangers embark on a creepy nighttime boat trip into the bayou, their journey takes them into the lair of Victor Crowley (Kane Hodder), a freak of nature whose deformity has turned him into a bloodthirsty killer. Only Marybeth (Tamara Feldman), one of the travelers, holds the secret that may keep them alive. Horror legend Robert Englund co-stars in this comic gore fest.
REVIEW:
was looking forward to seeing Adam Green’s HATCHET. I remember the buzz surrounding the film when it was first released. It featured horror icons Robert Englund (A Nightmare on Elm Street) and Tony Todd (Candyman). It was being marketed as “the best slasher in twenty years” and promised “one of the greatest horror characters.” One of the biggest problems with marketing a film like it is the second coming of Christ is that you really have to delivery and, unfortunately, HATCHET did not.
The plot follows Ben (played by Joel David Moore), who has just broken
up with his longtime girlfriend. Feeling dejected and in need of a vacation, Ben and his token black buddy Marcus (Deon Richmond) head to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. Bored with the non-stop party atmosphere, Ben talks Marcus into joining him on a “Haunted Swamp Tour.” They pay Shawn (Perry Shen), an inexperienced Asian tour guide, forty dollars a piece to take them through the creepiest places in the bayou.
Along for the ride, are two ditsy soft-core porn actresses, Jenna (Joleigh Fioreavanti) and Misty (Mercedes McNab), their sleazy producer (Joel Murray), Marybeth (Tamara Feldman), an attractive but secretive young woman, and a middle-aged couple (played by Richard Riehle and Patrika Darbo). They board a rickety old boat and tour the swamp.
Shawn tells them about the local legend of Victor Crowley—a grotesquely deformed kid who lived near the swamp and was tormented by the children in the area. As a cruel prank, some of these kids lit Victor’s shack on fire. His father, attempting to save his only son, chops down the front door and accidentally axes Victor in the face. The tour group does not think too much of the story at first, but they soon learn the legend is real and that Victor Crowley is out there hell-bent on revenge.
HATCHET is unashamedly trying to be a B-movie but it cannot quite balance the delicate line between comedy and horror. It tries to be a throw back to the old school horror films of the 70′s and 80′s. Unfortunately, it does not have the self-reflexive smarts of Wes Craven’s Scream or the dark, menacing atmosphere of Eli Roth’s Cabin Fever. HATCHET is really just schlock for schlock’s sake. The focus is primarily on the over-the-top gore versus good, old fashion scares and suspense—it is nothing but bOObs and blood.
The real star of this movie is veteran stunt guru Kane Hodder and the talented people behind the extremely graphic special effects. Although they are a bit too over the top to be realistic, they are done extremely well. Hodder’s performance as the grotesque, axe wielding manic Victor Crowley is both menacing and fun. The character of Victor Crowley brings back the old school horror villain, the kind we have not seen since Jason and Freddy. He is the type of badass villain you love to hate. I suspect we will be seeing Victor again real soon.
HATCHET is not designed for a mainstream audience. It is specifically aimed at horror hounds and gore whores with an insatiable craving for mediocre 70′s and 80′s slasher schlock. In regards to that, I can imagine that this film all ready has a small cult following. My biggest problem with the movie is that it just did not scare me, at all. There was too much focus on the gore and not enough on creating an ever-escalating sense of menace. I felt like I was just waiting around in between kills and the good comedic lines were just too few and far between. The great slasher films of the 70′s and 80′s are much more entertaining. They are scarier, better written, and have more interesting characters. I can only recommend HATCHET for the special makeup effects and to fans of Kane Hodder. If you love mid to late 80′s slashers—right around the time they were starting to get old—then you will definitely love this one!
Blu-ray DETAILS:
This 2006 slasher film will be presented in an unrated director’s cut. Features an all-new audio commentary with writer/director ADAM GREEN and Victor Crowley himself – KANE HODDER!
Special features include:
Audio commentaries:
Co-producer/writer/director Adam Green and Star Kane Hodder (new)
Adam Green, co-producer/cinematographer Will Barratt and actors Tamara Feldman, Joel David Moore and Deon Richmond
The Making of Hatchet
Meeting Victor Crowley: An in-depth look at the creation of a new horror icon
Guts & Gore: Go behind the scenes of Hatchet’s special makeup and prosthetic effects
Anatomy of a Kill: Witness the “jaw-breaking” birth, design and execution of a death scene
A Twisted Tale: Writer/Director Adam Green recounts his decades-long friendship with “Twisted Sister” front man Dee Snider
Gag reel
Theatrical trailer
