Butcher III

As Adam Green says, this is the last part of his own vision. It was always meant to be a trilogy (though obviously you never know if you can actually make 3 movies, depending on how successful your franchise is). But of course, who knows what the studio might decide to do with the franchise? There might be a couple of Hatchets coming our way (recently Saw 8 has been announced to be in development ... they always come back, sooner or later).

Concerning this recent output, it is what you'd expect it to be. It wasn't directed by Adam Green, but he was still very much hands on (writing and contributing in general for the production of the movie). Unfortunately it doesn't reach the fun factor of the first one. It does reach the gore factor of the previous ones, in case that is what you're looking for solely.

There will be a few surprise appearances (if no one spoiled them for you) and you might chuckle here and there (Adam Greens wife is in it too and he's not being gentle with her ... in the movie that is). A recurring actor appears in this, this time with a better excuse than in part two (one of the better jokes of the script). A fun little watch, nothing more, nothing less

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.

Well, Hatchet 1 was interesting. An all-star horror film cast, bringing the old geezers back to us one more time, all of them together, you could say you enjoyed the first just for this reason alone!

2nd part, not that great. Kinda dumb actually, just your usual horror sequel, bad, stupid, something to fill and hour and a half with.

So, what can I tell you about the third one? It was great to see the series ending (tho rumors of a 4th movie exists) with more brains, more gore and more fun! I laughed, I was interested, and overall entertained!

So thank you guys, those who were involved in the making of the last piece, for a grand finale! It was all worth it.

Cause of this movie alone, the series will be remembered as a little gem, a modern horror series that actually succeed, that you might download and watch it with your friends one spooky night!

Thank you guys, thank you for adding one more good trilogy, even tho is more gore than horror, I salute you!

All in all, watch it! Definitely a great ending, a nice series, and a character, Victor Crowley, to be remembered!

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

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!).