|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hatchet (2011)
Starring Danielle Harris, Kane Hodder & Tony Todd
Written & Directed by Adam Green
|
Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the swamp, Adam
Green delivers a follow-up to his cult classic with "Hatchet II."
Marybeth, played this time around by horror goddess Danielle
Harris (known for a slew of genre films including the new 'Halloween'
series), escapes the clutches of Victor Crowley (played again by Kane
Hodder) exactly at the point where the first film last left us. When she
is rescued, she is sent on a fact finding mission to Rev. Zombie (Tony
Todd of 'Candyman' fame), to find out how her father, played in the
first film by horror god Robert Englund, could have had a hand in
killing Crowley when he was a child which led to his ghost ravaging the
swamp where he resides.
When Marybeth meets with Zombie the truth about her father comes
out and she decides to go back to the swamp to retrieve the bodies of
her father and brother as well as put to rest Crowley once and for all.
But, not without a few friends of course. Zombie recruits a team of
specific locals, armed with their guns and redneck humor, to take on the
swamp and Crowley, with a five-thousand dollar bribe to whomever can
deliver the head of Crowley as an extra incentive.
What ensues, as per usual, is the dismemberment of the rag-tag
group as they hunt Crowley. There is even dialogue that states the whole
group should stick together yet it is decided they better "split up" to
better find their prey, cliché slasher film gimmick at its finest.
As Crowley picks off the group two-by-two, Marybeth and what is
left of the group (including her Uncle Bob played by Tom Holland
director of "Child's Play" and "Fright Night"), ascend onto his home in
hopes of finding her family. What takes place when they do arrive at the
home ties the whole film up in a nutshell but cannot be explained
without ruining most of the main plot details; which for a horror film
isn't saying too much anyway.
Green takes us back in flashback form early on to better explain
the history of Crowley, giving more insight as to how his legend became
legendary. This is where Hodder, pulling double duty again as Crowley's
father without the disfigured make-up, shows some acting chops that no
one, not even him, (watch the making of featurette on the DVD) thought
he could do. However, Green's directing sometimes needs to be questioned
during the film. There were a lot of long takes that didn't need to be,
which completely threw off the pacing of the entire film. The
storyline, albeit creative, could have been told smoother had he left
out things we already knew about Crowley's past. I still give him kudos
for not following a typical sequel formula, a problem that happens
constantly with slasher films.
Last but not least is the blood, and man is there a shit-ton of
it. The body count triples in this one and Green, with his amazing
effects and make-up staff, upped the ante with new and creative deaths.
Especially worth watching is a headless body, still gyrating after being
decapitated, perform doggy style sex with a blonde
soon-to-be-next-victim. This scene alone makes the movie worth catching.
The film as a whole isn't quite as good as the first outing but
definitely way better than Green's "Frozen" (there is even a cameo of
Emma Bell reprising her role as Parker O'Neil on a TV news cast; how
they worked it into the final cut is actually pretty cool) but as stated
earlier, it was a bit too redundant at times. Slasher fans will love
it, as they should, and, yes, I can't wait to see Green's next outing,
he is a true talent.
|
vincent