Gorehounds Unite!

A handful of college students looking for a good time are thrown into a world of danger in this homage to the slasher film cycle of the 1970s and '80s. Ben (Joel David Moore) has just been given his walking papers by his girlfriend and is deeply depressed. Needing a pick-me-up, Ben and his friend Marcus (Deon Richmond) head to New Orleans for Mardi Gras, and take in a "Haunted Swamp Tour," with master of ceremonies Shawn (Parry Shen) guiding guests through a spooky patch of bayou country. Along the way, Ben and Marcus meet a pair of half-bright exotic dancers, Misty (Mercedes McNab) and Jenna (Joleigh Fioreavanti), as well as Marybeth (Tamara Feldman), a pretty girl who is secretive about her past. As they tour the swamp, Shawn tells his customers about the local legend of Victor Crowley, a deformed man who was taunted by the other children living near the swamp until he was nearly bludgeoned with an axe by his father while trying to open the door of their burning shack. While Ben and Marcus don't think much of the story at first, it doesn't take long before they have serious reason to believe Victor Crowley is still at large -- and is looking to settle some old scores. Hatchet received its world premiere at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival

  The film takes place in New Orleans during Mardi Gras and the film starts out with our main characters enjoying the Beer,Breasts and drunken carnage that populates this yearly drunk fest....that is everyone except for Ben (Joel Moore: Grandmas Boy) who has recently broken up with his high school sweatheart who persuades his best friend Marcus (deon richmond) to go on a haunted boat ride that he has heard about from some old college buddies. (Yeah I know.....I would have slapped him and called him gay as well for not enjoying all Mardi Gras has to offer as well!)

 When they finally arrive at the location of the Haunted Boat tour they are joined by other tourist about to embark on the tour as well. This group includes an old married couple (This couple just screams midwest!)(Richard Riehle and Patrika Darbo). A girls gone wild type of director and his two gorgeous but dim witted aspiring "actresses" (Mercedes McNab and Joleigh Fioreavanti) And Mary Beth (Tamara Feldman) The mysterious but beautiful local woman and the clueless tour guide who seems to be newer to the area than even the tourists.

 Of course in typical horror movie fashion the inept tour guide ends up wrecking the boat and stranding them all after one of the tourists is injured. This of course convinces the local girl to tell the horrible tale of  the deformed and demented Victor Crowley and his loving father. ( Both of which are played by genre favorite Kane Hodder in possibly the best performance of his career to date in and out of make-up!). And it's at this point that all hell breaks loose and good old Victor starts taking out our hero's one by bloody one!

 The cast first time director Adam Green has assembled here reads like a who's who of  80's genre actors and new up and coming talent that includes Tony Todd, Robert Englund, and of course Kane Hodder! The acting is top notch and all of the actor's seem to really be invested in their characters and just having a blast (even if some of the blood and crying was real....see the extra features for more on this!)!

The location of the film adds so many layers to the already creepy story of Victor Crowley and brings a feeling of unease as the characters have to not only fight Victor Crowley but also mother nature in the likes of Alligators and bad weather. The swamp is the last place I would ever want to have to fend of a Homicidal maniac.

  You can tell from the get go that this film was made by a fan with a true love for the genre. Adam Green made this film for himself as it's what he's always wanted to see on the screen as a fan. Luckily he gets to bring us as viewers along for the ride!

 The Gore and effects in this film were handled by genre veteran and Make-up FX master, John Carl Buechler (who also has a funny cameo in the film as well) and his artistry really shows in this film from the first kill to the brutal last.....he really outdid himself on this one. The only complaint I had about the make-up was that not enough of Kane was used and in certain scenes the "latex rubber suit" look really shows as well as a few scenes where the blood was squirted a little too vigorously and you can see nothing but air pissing out of the wound. But really these are all very minor gripes at the most.

 The one thing about this film that brought the score down for me was the ending.......dont get me wrong the film was balls to the wall all the way to the end credits but the way the film was ended tended to garner groans from me and the few friends that watched it. (It's not horrible but at the same time detracted slightly from what was a really kick ass horror film). One other thing to note is that like all of the classic 80's slashers this film tends to skew toward comedy relief (intentionally) at times which brings any sort of scare factor off the table. (this did'nt detract from the score at all....in fact I think it made the film even better).

  Hatchet has done the unthinkable.....this film pays loving homage to the classic era of 80's slasher films yet at the same time go above and beyond what those films were able to accomplish. This film has it all....gratuitous nudity, great storyline and locations, and more blood than any other horror film in recent memory.

 Hatchet is a gorehound's wet dream and with Victory Crowley we now have a new Icon in horror that will keep the Jasons and the Freddys of the genre looking over their shoulders in fear. Victor Crowley is the new generation of Slasher, More vicious and brutal than Jason, Freddy, and Michael Myers combined!

 With any luck we will be seeing alot more of Mr. Crowley in the near future! This is what we as horror fans have been waiting the better part of 20 years for.........Buy this now! If your a fan of 80's Slashers or just your novice horror fan.....everyone will find something to like in this film.

 This film is due out on December 18th 2007 ( The Perfect Stocking Stuffer!) from the great folks at Anchor Bay and Starz! Visit them now at:

Anchor Bay website: http://www.anchorbayentertainment.com/

Starz website: www.starz.com

Adam Greens Myspace:  http://www.myspace.com/ariescope  

Rating:

4 out of 5 Severed Heads and an Official Gorehounds Seal Of Approval!