Hatchet II

The theater will erupt in laughter – not terror.

There is nothing new about Adam Green’s newest film Hatchet II. Much like the first Hatchet, it is a comically gory horror film that is certain to collect more laughs than cries of terror. The plot unravels in Louisiana as a group of hunters take off for the marshes to find and bury Marybeth’s recently murdered family – and of course – to seek revenge on the evil hatchet man, Victor Crowley.

The film begins exactly as it left off with the first movie. Marybeth, played by Danielle Harris, is floundering about in the swamp, attempting to escape from the unholy grips of Victor Crowley. She eventually absconds into the woods and finds a cabin in which a cadaverous old man welcomes her.

Marybeth tells the old man about the tragedy that has recently occurred and he is seemingly sympathetic. However, as Marybeth mentions her last name, the old man’s eyes become flooded with terror – he is now determined to get Marybeth as far from him as possible. He tells Marybeth that he will shoot her if she doesn’t leave immediately. Just before she leaves, the old man says she must talk to Reverend Zombie if she wants to know why the evil is stalking her.

Marybeth then goes to Reverend Zombie. She discovers that her father was one of the 3 men who murdered Victor Crowley when he was mortal and this is why Marybeth is now a target of Victor’s. She asks the reverend to accompany her to the marshes in order to collect the bodies of her family. The two recruit other people, suit up and go out into an evil Louisiana night. What follows is a sequence of over-the-top murders, unoriginal unfolding of events, bad writing and even worse acting.

However, just because the movie is shallow and unoriginal doesn’t mean it isn’t entertaining. Hatchet II should undoubtedly be on the must-see list of any fan of campy, B-film-inspired horror movies. Once again you can expect to see people dying in the most disgusting (yet hilariously ridiculous) ways. You can expect to encounter very bad acting (although, yet again, it’s hilariously ridiculous) and yes, you can expect to see naked women. For what makes a throwback horror film, if not for at least one scene with unnecessarily unclothed women? No worries fans, this B-film comes equipped.

In the end, the film accomplishes what it set out to accomplish. It is funny, gory, poorly acted and entertaining – certain to be a cult favorite.

It seems that these types of movies are not – and should not – be viewed in the same way that one views a movie of a different genre. In other film genres, the presence of excess, poor acting, poor writing and general poor movie making is a blockade when it comes to obtaining an invitation to mainstream cinema. However, with recent B-horror films, not only are they welcome, but it seems the new contest is who can make the “best poorly-made film.”
Hatchet II is no game changer. Don’t expect anything brilliant or mind-blowing. Simply expect an hour and a half of entertaining cinema. This film works. And after all, the making of a ridiculous movie is now an art rather than the excrement of a functionless ensemble of moviemakers.

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Hatchet II star Danielle Harris answers questions about her new movie