Review of Hatchet (2006) by Dan H — 01 Dec 2008

Hatchet - It's not a remake, it's not a sequel, and it's not based on a Japanese one. Old school American horror.

Thats the tagline...and it delivers just that. Hatchet is a throwback to the 80's slasher films that many of us horror fans grew up watching. Well...wait, throwback is not the right word, it fulfills the slasher genre. This film is everything you'd want in a slasher film. Pointless topless girls, innovative electric hand tool kills, and lots of blood...im talking gallons. Oh and it has a deformed psycho serial killer who lives deep in the Louisiana Swamps. It reminds me of the Friday the 13th films pre A New Beginning (about the time they had their gore wings snipped from the MPAA).

This film is not only gory, but its also funny. Its not comedic in and of itself but its comedic to drive character development so you actually begin to relate and feel for the characters. This film also boasts an impressive guest list of Horror Icons like Kane Hodder (Friday the 13th), Robert Englund (A Nightmare on Elm Street), Tony Todd (Candyman), Mercedes McNab (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Deon Richmond (Scream 3), and Joshua Leonard (The Blair Witch Project).

If you're a fan of the 80's slasher films, body count films, or dead teenager movies (as Roger Ebert calls them), this is a must see.