Editorials
[31 Days of Halloween] Day Eighteen: It’s All Guts and Glory in ‘Hatchet II’
This decade has brought not one, but three entries in Adam Green’s ultra-gory slasher series. Starting with Hatchet II, which kicked off the decade with its October 1, 2010 release. That alone would give merit to Hatchet II’s selection as our Franchise Friday pick of the week. But really, it’s because this sequel is so damn fun. Writer/Director Adam Green ups the ante on scope, body count, and excess gore at every turn.
Above all, though, there’s no better time than now to revisit Hatchet II; it’s John Carl Buechler’s final appearance in the series as Jack Cracker. Buechler, who passed away earlier this year, was vital to our genre. He was vital to the Hatchet series, too. It was he, and his shop, that designed and created the gore effects and Victor Crowley. For the sequel, the baton was passed to shop foreman Robert Pendergraft, making Jack Cracker’s final appearance feel like firm closure.
Synopsis: Picking up from the precise moment where the previous film left off, Marybeth escapes the clutches of swamp-dwelling killer Victor Crowley. After learning a startling truth about her family’s connection to Crowley, she amasses a small army of hunters to retrieve the bodies of her fallen kin and exact revenge.
Key Players: Horror fixture Danielle Harris takes over as fierce final girl Marybeth Dunston. Series staple Kane Hodder resumes his role as everyone’s favorite resident of Honey Island Swamp, Victor Crowley. Also look for returning actors Tony Todd, Parry Shen, and John Carl Buechler, of course. Notable horror director Tom Holland appears as Marybeth’s Uncle Bob. R.A. Mihailoff, AJ Bowen, Alexis Kendra, Ed Ackerman, David Foy, Colton Dunn, and more round out the cast as the hired hunters.
Why It’s on the List: The first three Hatchet films are a perfect escalation of violence and scope; three parts of one continuous story. The first film involved a small swamp tour caught in the crosshairs, and this film sees a bigger, more prepared group going in for battle. With that means way more over the top, creative death sequences. And boatloads more gore. It’s that sense of fun and creativity that makes this series so entertaining. For longtime horror fans, it’s also a great showcase of our favorite heroes. Kane Hodder, Danielle Harris, Tom Holland, Tony Todd appear in this entry alone.
Fatality!: Spoiler alert for those who haven’t seen Hatchet II yet: Reverend Zombie tries to pull a fast one on Crowley and Marybeth, and suffers greatly for it. As in, one of the grisliest deaths in the film. It’s essentially a Mortal Kombat Fatality…
Where You Can Watch: Hatchet II, the R-rated version, is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video and Hoopla.
New month, new horror recommendations from Deep Cuts Rising. This installment features one random pick as well as four selections reflecting the month of May 2024.
Regardless of how they came to be here, or what they’re about, these past movies can generally be considered overlooked, forgotten or unknown.
This month’s offerings include a self-loathing serial killer, a violinist’s murderous ghost, and a postmodern vamp flick.
Scream, Pretty Peggy (1973)
Pictured: Ted Bessell and Sian Barbara Allen in Scream, Pretty Peggy.
Directed by Gordon Hessler.
The TV-movie Scream, Pretty Peggy first aired as part of ABC Movie of the Week. Bette Davis plays the mother of a reclusive sculptor (Ted Bessell), and after the previous housekeeper goes missing, a local college student (Sian Barbara Allen) fills the position. Little does she know, though, the young employee’s predecessor was murdered — and the killer is still on the loose.
Admittedly, Scream, Pretty Peggy isn’t difficult to figure out; its inspiration is obvious. However, Bette Davis’ overstated performance and the son character’s macabre artwork are enough to stay tuned and learn who’s behind the killings.
Scream, Pretty Peggy is now available on physical media from Kino Lorber. Perhaps watch the movie with your own mother this Mother’s Day (May 12).
Paganini Horror (1989)
Pictured: The ghostly killer in Paganini Horror.
Directed by Luigi Cozzi.
For National Buy a Musical Instrument Day (May 22), check out this absurd Italian entry in the subgenre of cursed music horror. A rock band unleashes hell when they unknowingly use a satanic piece of music composed by Niccolò Paganini, the violinist who was rumored to have made a Faustian deal.
Even though Paganini Horror is hardly deemed a standout of Italian Horror, and the movie indeed drags itself toward the finish line, there are some bright spots worth focusing on. For instance: Donald Pleasence. If that’s not enough, the very ’80s aesthetic helps gloss over the flaws in Daria Nicolodi‘s uneven script.
Paganini Horror is now on physical media from Severin Films and is also streaming on SCREAMBOX.
Nadja (1994)
Pictured: Suzy Amis Cameron and Karl Geary in Nadja.
Directed by Michael Almereyda.
These vampires may or may not cast a reflection, but they sure do love to reflect. David Lynch executive-produced as well as briefly appeared in the film, which Roger Ebert succinctly described as “Deadpan Noir” in his review. This tale of revenge and philosophical pondering begins with the vampiric namesake (Suzy Amis Cameron) seducing the daughter (Galaxy Craze) of Van Helsing after he killed Nadja’s father, Dracula. From there a war erupts between the two sides, all while taking place in modern NYC.
Nadja is quite slow but also just strange, stylish and creative enough to keep your attention. In addition, the trip hop soundtrack is easy on the ears, and Peter Fonda plays a memorable Van Helsing. Overall, this is a unique and artsy approach to vampire horror.
Nadja is now streaming on Freevee.
The Bone Snatcher (2003)
Pictured: Scott Bairstow, Warrick Grier and Rachel Shelley in ‘The Bone Snatcher’.
Directed by Jason Wulfsohn.
For National Sunscreen Day (May 27), dig up the monster movie The Bone Snatcher. It will take more than a high SPF to protect the sunburned characters here; they are stuck in a South African desert with a bizarre monster called the Esikhulu.
The best things about The Bone Snatcher are its setting and the creature. This beast, which is brought to life on screen using a combination of practical and digital effects, sports a ghastly design to go with its unnerving ability to animate skeletons. Something else this movie has going for it is a refusal to show the monster too often; that way there is less chance of becoming desensitized to the Esikhulu. Ultimately, this has nothing on John Carpenter’s The Thing, however, those more forgiving fans of Syfy-ish creature-features should be satisfied.
The Bone Snatcher is currently streaming on Tubi.
#1 Serial Killer (2013)
Pictured: Jason Tobin in #1 Serial Killer.
Directed by Stanley Yung.
May is AAPIM, and the subversive #1 Serial Killer (originally titled Chink) is relevant when discussing the “Invisible Asian” notion. Acknowledging the irony, Stanley Yung’s movie has gone widely unnoticed despite its potent take on race and identity.
Jason Tobin (Warrior) delivers a compelling performance as the vile protagonist here. The self-hating, Ted Bundy-admiring character discriminates against other Asians after years of mistreatment and disregard, and that growing rage finally manifests as cathartic violence.
#1 Serial Killer is currently available at digital retailers like Apple.
No genre is as prolific as horror, so it’s understandable that movies fall through the cracks all the time. That is where this recurring column, Deep Cuts Rising, comes in. Each installment of this series will spotlight several unsung or obscure movies from the past — some from way back when, and others from not so long ago — that could use more attention.
‘Infested’ Review – One of the Best Spiders Attack Horror Movies in Years
‘The King Tide’: An Island Town Rots with Moral Decay in Canadian Folk Horror Fable [Review]
Limited Edition Morticia & Wednesday Addams ‘Monster High’ Dolls Releasing Next Week!
TWO New ‘Evil Dead’ Movies Now in the Works; Sébastien Vaniček & Francis Galluppi Directing
“AHS: Delicate” Review – ‘The Auteur’ Gives Birth to a Lackluster, Laughable Finale
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