Hatchett II Blu-ray Review

• 25th Aug 2011

I can honestly say, I have never laughed so hard or enjoyed a recent slasher film as much as I did Hatchet 2. Following on from director Adam Green’s 2007 original, here he returns to up the gore quota and bring a bit of fun to modern horror, with this a decidedly 80s throwback. And it continues to cement Green as one of the more recent leaders in the modern horror circle.

Now while the first Hatchet was far from a perfect horror (or even original) it did bring a bit of life back into the once again flagging slasher sub-genre. Focusing on the legend of Victor Crowley, a deformed man who was killed by teenagers and his father (who accidentally slammed a hatchet into his head to save him from their burning cabin), who haunts a Louisianan swamp, murdering all those that trespass on his land.

With plenty of knowing nods and geek appreciation tip of a hat to the various American horrors that have come before it, this is certainly one for the hardcore horror fan. Taking place instantly after the first features closing frames, survivor Mary-Beth (this time played by pint-sized scream queen Danielle Harris) escapes the swamp looking for help and revenge for the murders of her brother and father. This leads her to seek the help of Tony Todd’s Reverend Zombie, the only man who might know how to get rid of Victor Crowley once and for all. Together with a band of one note hunters, the stage is set for some gloriously gory nonsense.

One of the films plus points really has to be its pace. It every rarely slows down, throwing decidedly cheesy but quality gore effects at the screen. With a few moments of genuinely funny humor and just the right amount of un-pc distastefulness, that all horror fans crave. A particular moment which provided equal moments of repulsion and a gleefully dark hyper activity, took place during (what could only be described as) one of the most intentionally twisted and bloody hilarious sex scenes ever seen during a horror film. That is high praise indeed because I have seen my fair share during the years of horror viewing.

Any film that includes the funniest ‘dirty talk’ and then disturbingly funny death scene when two characters have sex in the woods. I don’t want to give it away but really is painfully funny. The rest of the deaths are incredibly inventive and on more than one occasion had my jaw literally dropping in amazement. Everything for a seasoned gore-hound is catered for; beheadings, large chainsaw kill, head crushing and a whole repertoire of various other nasty surprises. The first kill is an absolute hoot because of its utterly ludicrousness and also all the better as it happens to happen to one of my favorite make-up artists, John Carl Buechler.

The main issue I had with Hatchet 2 was neither its painfully brilliant, cartoony violence or its host of top notch genre actor cameos, but rather its lack of an interesting script. While it did contain moments of intend hilarity, it lacked anything to truly make it worthwhile. Barring some extended exposition on Victor Crowley’s past, it basically is just a case of getting from scene to scene so the gore happens quicker. Intelligent horror this is most certainly not with its severally lacking and un-engaging script. But then as a sequel to a horror film called Hatchet, it was hardly going to be a masterpiece. You knew that though.

If you are after depth or substance, please for your own sanity give this a miss. But if you are after a fun, gross, screwed up and downright silly Friday night in with some horror fiends and beers. You would be hard pressed to find a recent slasher which is as enjoyable as this light and breezy slice of old fashioned, 80’s American horror. I can guarantee once you see this, you will be talking about the outlandish death scenes for a long time to come. Particularly as Kane Hodder shows (Jason Voorhees himself) just what a new horror icon can show the older generation.

Extras are standard fare with a brief featurette on the make-up effects, a lengthy documentary on the filming, two informative and enjoyable commentary tracks. While a handful of promotional trailers (one which plays homage to the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre trailer) round off the package. If you’re a gore-hound you would be hard pressed to find anything as fun as Hatchet 2 from recent memory.

If you can, pick up the Blu-ray release. Then sit back and enjoy some high definition bloodletting in all its gory glory.

Dominic O’Brien