Hatchet III (2013)

I'll be the first to admit that I am not the biggest Hatchet fan in the world; I find them a bit contrived and the CGI blood & guts is something I'm not too keen on, but I can appreciate that they have a sense of fun and a smidgen of of old school slasher about them.

This third instalment in the series provides us with more of the stuff we saw in the first 2; some decent kills, plenty of creative beheadings and a few good moments of tension. My favourite thing about this movie is the appearance of several horror veterans, Caroline Williams gave a particularly enjoyable performance, and the pacing and emphasis on horror over comedy made this episode in the Hatchet series far more enjoyable than the 2nd. Danielle Harris was great again, lighting up the screen for her scenes, she is invariably the best thing about most movies she is in and she delivers again here.

Overall, for fans of the series, it is worth a watch. Otherwise it has enough to be a background movie, it won't be making any top 10 lists but it was decent enough and there was, of course, the obligatory 'cliffhanger ending', should anyone require Hatchet IV.

Fmovies: '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.

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Last week I saw all 3 back to back and it could easily fit all these 3 movies into one full movie,

I loved first movie, It's had gore, it some Nudity and it's some nice tongue in cheek moment that I loved everything about it!

In 2010 I could not wait to see Hatchet 2, I got hopes up little to high, cause, I didn't like, I found that it was tone down some bit,

I found it less gory and it took while for movie to get going after the boring middle part and with no humour.

I didn't really get my hope for this one, Cause, I knew if I did , I would be disappointed by this.

For me Hatchet 3 I found just little more fun and a bit better then Hatchet 2.

I loved the opening of the movie, that is one hell of way to start and I loved very gory opening in this movie.

I think movie a lot more better pace then second movie, there not many of Jump scenes in this movie like Number 2 and calmer scenes don't seem to drag on and I was not bored with this movie at all.

The side-plot of the movie could have been better but it okay and I really enjoyed the last few scenes in the movie.

I loved those effect in the last few scenes, it was very gooey, I did not expect that but I did find little silly how it happened.

Improvement on second movie but I felt they were missing the some of the dark Humour that made first one a lot more fun.

6/7 out of 10 really good sequel

Hatchet III fmovies. Well, "Hatchet III" is essentially the same as the previous two parts, slasher movie a la the good old days. If you have seen either (or both) of the previous two "Hatchet" movies, then you know exactly what you are in for here and what you will get.

Is that a bad thing then? No, not necessarily. If you enjoy these slasher movies where you just disconnect your brain and ride along on the murder ride, then you will enjoy "Hatchet III" for what it is - being exactly that. If you, however, enjoy being challenged and want something to think about, then "Hatchet III" is not the best of choices.

The story pretty much picks up where part II left off, and it is a nice continuation of the story, plus there were some nice cameo appearances as well. The story in a nutshell; the ghost of Victor Crowley (played by Kane Hodder) is still on a murdering rampage in his overgrown swamp where he kills and mutilates anyone who gets onto his land. And it is up to Marybeth (played by Danielle Harris) to put an end to the murdering maniac with the secret that is bestowed upon her.

Essentially, the storyline is straight forward, predictable at times, but enjoyable enough for this particular genre of movie. Straight out from the "let's make a slasher movie handbook". And yeah, Kane Hodder (the iconic horror legend known for his portrayal of Jason Voorhees) is starting off another slasher legend here, or so it would seem. However, it just isn't up to the same level as Jason is. Sure, these are two very different characters, but still, there is just something more dreadful and sinister about Jason Voorhees. But it is cool that he has returned three times for the role of misshapen Victor Crowley.

I enjoyed the movie, and there is a fair amount of blood and gore in the movie to satisfy most gorehounds out there. And it was a particular treat to have Sid Haig appear in the movie as well, as his presence is always enjoyable in whatever movie he is in.

Heads will roll, blood will flow, people will die (in macabre ways) and about an hour and twenty minutes of entertainment is ensured. Thumbs up from me (at least until Crowley chops them off!).

By know we all know who Victor Crowley is and we all do know that this franchise starts with the ending of the previous entry. And so it does. Victor being shot in the head. So it's over and out for Victor? No it isn't otherwise we shouldn't have a part 3.

And that's a bit of my problem with part 3. Victor resurrect again and again. Not that I have something against that fact but when he's cut in two by a chainsaw he still comes back. Luckily the gore is still there and Sid Haig is hilarious here even as he just comes in for a few minutes. The open ending of course makes it possible to start with Part 4 as Danielle Harris (Marybeth) could become the new killer, or am I wrong. But somehow this part didn't work out as I thought it would have. Although there's gore and goo (the ending scene with Victor) I was left with a bitter feeling. And if I say that the tattoo of Danielle took my attention as it is becoming bigger and bigger then I guess that says enough about Hatchet. Again, it wasn't bad but by now we have seen it all before.

Gore 3/5 Nudity 0,5/5 Effects 4/5 Story 2,5/5 Comedy 0/5

When a horror franchise takes a turn for the worst, it scarcely ever catches itself and rebounds back to quality entertainment for its sequels. This reason is precisely why I'm so stunned that I'm awarding Hatchet III three stars. I'm reminded of its predecessor, a dull and gory affair that emphasized on the monotony of the horror genre, and showed that even if you bill yourself as a favorable homage to the films of the eighties that you'll need to work on not having familiarity breed contempt.

Hatchet III, however, is simply fun as we revisit (and hopefully for the final time) the swamps of New Orleans where Victor Crowley (Kane Hodder) lives. Crowley is a deformed killer who exists to haunt the swamps in search of his father's remains. We begin immediately where Hatchet II left off (just like with that film, respectively), where Marybeth (Marybeth Dunston) escapes the swamplands only to be arrested at the police station for coming in bloodied and with a weapon after fighting off Crowley. However, Crowley is still alive in the woods, and accompanied by an investigative journalist who is blacklisted for believing in the man and a police officer, Marybeth and the rest of the police force venture out to the swamps to take out Crowley once and for all.

Hatchet II was a little redundant and smothering with its endless obsession with gore and violence, and its dizzying plot developments that lacked pacing and suspense. Hatchet III is the closest thing to slowburn horror in the slasher genre I've seen recently, giving the film enough time to build up adequate suspense before the arrival of the long-awaited madman. It's fair to say the "catch the killer" plot with an abundance of police officers and methods of blunt force is overdone and repetitive, but I find this to be is more competent approach to a sequel rather than an approach that truly does bring a hatchet-job to a solid idea.

The film was directed by BJ McDonnell and was penned and financed by the franchise's creator, Adam Green, whose film Frozen I named one of the best horror films of the year in 2010. Green, whatever way you want to slice it (pun intended), he has an incorruptible love for the genre and he's showing it in a way that isn't disrespectful or quietly smarmy. He's making rawer, gorier horror films, that kindly drift away from the overcompensating and redundant confines of the paranormal and exorcism plots that plague theaters every year. Whether or not people get his work, as well, doesn't seem to faze him either. He's just seems to be happy his work is getting around and his love for the horror genre is being expressed accordingly.

The Hatchet franchise has been something of a roller-coaster, but never a burden. All the films run at a concise eighty minutes, give or take, and they all feature enough gore and inanity to satisfy on some level.With the third installment, Green has reconnected with his footing, which is a great mix of gratuitous gore and stable plotting; and, not to mention, terrific performances by the likes of Derek Mears and Sid Haig (who gives probably the best performance since Rob Zombie's The Devil's Rejects).

Starring: Danielle Harris, Kane Hodder, Zach Galligan, Caroline Williams, Derek Mears, and Sid Haig. Directed by: BJ McDonnell.