Hatchet Unrated (2007) Review

Written by: MacheteMassacre   

Hatchet is a throw back to all of the things you loved in the 80's slasher movies...plus more. Displaying probably some of the most inventive, and gory, kills, Hatchet is a comedic horror that you'll want to watch over and over.

A group of new Orleans tourist go on a scenic boat ride for a haunted swamp tour. Sure, it's a scam, but something unexpected to our cast happens. They find themselves fighting and running for survival from local legend Victor Crowley, a deformed man.

Joel David Moore stars as our hero, Ben. He's there with his friends and to forget that his girlfriend of eight years just dumped him. I think he does a fine job, going from wuss to hero. It's him making the decision to fight back and you'd want to fight along side with him and Marybeth (Tamara Feldman). She's tough as nails from the get go and on a mission to find her father (Robert Englund!) and brother. Alongside them as the comic relief is Marcus (Deon Richmond). He cracks jokes and gives attitude, much what you would expect from the stereotype. I partically found it funny that the blonde girl Misty (Mercedes McNab) was dumb as a box of rocks. And of course, Kane Hodder playing the vicious Victor Crowley. Kane does what he does best and slams teens around and tears them to peices! Sure all the characters play the stereotypes, but I think that's what the film makers wanted. And it's pulled off quite nicely.

Hatchet boasts some of the best special effects around without the use of CGI (how it should be most of the time in my opinion). The kill scenes have to be some of the best out there. Very over the top and very very gory! Our unfortunate cast get belt sanders to their face, arms ripped off, heads twisted and cutt off, impaled. All finished with foutains of blood spraying and guts slopping around...just spectacular!

And what over the top gory effects would be complete without over the top sound effects? Like it was out of a Fulci film, Hatchet offers us sloppy, wet and gurggling sound effects that could make you ill.

His first film since 2000, Adam Green didn't get rusty. He put on a great show and I was happy to go along for the ride. Hatchet is by far one of the more enjoyable horror movies of the past few years. While the story line itself may not be so creative, the kills definately are and the dialgoue is quite funny. If you haven't seen Hatchet, do it. Now.