Hatchet- The Complete Collection Blu-ray Steelbook Review
The Hatchet is collected for the first time ever in this new Blu-ray steelbook set.
In this first release in a new boutique line known as Dark Sky Selects, all 4 films of Adam Green’s indie slasher film franchise Hatchet are collected together (although there could be more in the future). How does the Hatchet series hold up upon revisiting it? Read on to find out.
Although “Frozen” is Adam Green’s finest work as a writer/director, the first “Hatchet” is a close second. Anyone who grew up on 80’s slashers or has an affection for the horror subgenre. The story is simple- Ben is in New Orleans for Mardi Gras with his friends, but wants to check out a haunted swamp tour after being burnt out on the party scene. His friend Marcus reluctantly decides to join him. Shawn leads a boat tour into the Honey Island Swamp along with other tourists and the mysterious Marybeth (Tamara Feldman) who has her own agenda. The swamp has a notorious ghost story about the violent and vengeful ghost of a deformed man named Victor Crowley. It turns out the legend is true and now everyone is in great peril.
For the horror lovers out there, this movie has everything you could want. A now iconic killer, a tongue-in-cheek vibe, nudity, blood and guts, an atmospheric setting, non-CGU practical effects and make-up and a cast comprised of genre favorites like Joel David Moore, Kane Hodder (in multiple roles including Victor Crowley), Mercedes McNab, Tony Todd, Robert Englund, and Richard Riehle. Sure, one can argue there’s a bit too many scenes of running around the swamplands, but as far as modern slashers go, this is among the best.
“Hatchet 2” picks up right where the first left off, but unfortunately the second time is not the charm in this lazy and frankly boring sequel that has a paper thin plot. Marybeth is recast here with Danielle Harris now in the role. The story finds Marybeth learning about dark family secrets and assembling a team of hunters to find her parents’ bodies and take out Victor Crowley once and for all. The violence is extremely cartoony this time around, the locations are different, Tony Todd’s scene stealing character Reverend Zombie from the first film becomes a jackass this time around, and there’s far too many characters that merely exist to die by Victor’s hands.
It’s not all bad, however, as the sequel does have its moments. There are fun cameos, tie-ins to other horror films (including “Frozen” and “Behind The Mask: The Rise Of Leslie Vernon”), and the Crowley family’s past is expanded upon. Parry Shen also steals the show portraying another character (he plays 3 characters throughout all 4 installments to be precise).
“Hatchet 3” picks up where 2 left off, but thankfully, this time around the results are better. Having “defeated” Victor Crowley, Marybeth shows up at the police station in quite a bloody state where she is arrested. She tells the Sheriff and company about the Victor Crowley massacre, but they believe she may be responsible. The police and later a SWAT team are dispatched to the swamp where Crowley begins a new rampage. Marybeth, meanwhile, goes on her own journey with a journalist (Amanda) who believes she knows how to get rid of Victor Crowley for good.
Adam Green wrote the third entry, but this time around BJ McDonnell directs. While the plot is pretty pedestrian, the third installment is a lot more bloody fun and boasts a bunch of horror genre favorites like Zach Galligan (of “Gremlins” fame), the late Sid Haig, Derek Mears (another Jason!), Sean Whalen, and Caroline Williams.
“Victor Crowley” is the best of the sequels and refreshingly features a different story this time around. Set 10 years after 3, the lone survivor (Andrew) has written a book about his experience although many think he is responsible for the Honey Island Swamp murders. When he is offered a hefty sum of money (allegedly), Andrew boards a plane to do an interview for a TV series at the scene of the crimes. The plane ends up crashing…right into Honey Island Swamp. Elsewhere in the story, a group of filmmakers attempting to make a mock trailer for a planned Victor Crowley movie are also in Honey Island Swamp. Unfortunately, they may have just woke up Victor Crowley which spells bad news for them and the plane survivors.
Like “Hatchet 3,” “Victor Crowley” is loaded with familiar faces like Jonah Ray, Brian Quinn (from Impractical Jokers), Felissa Rose (“Sleepaway Camp”), Tyler Mane, Dave Sheridan and Laura Ortiz who steals the movie (she should be in more movies). Their presence certainly elevates the movie as a whole, but it’s Adam Green’s script that really makes this a fast paced slasher flick. It’s a nice change of pace from Marybeth’s story.
Hatchet- The Complete Collection is now available to purchase here: https://selects.darkskyfilms.com/products/hatchet-complete-collection
Video/Audio:
Presentation: 1.78:1 1080p for the first 2, 2.35:1 1080p for part 3 and 2.39:1 1080p for ‘Victor.’ How do they look? All 4 films get solid hi-def transfers. It would have been nice to potentially see 4K transfers, but who knows what the future holds.
Audio Track: Dolby TrueHD 5.1 for the first film, 5.1 DTS-HD MA and PCM 2.0 Uncompressed for “Hatchet 2” and 5.1 DTS-HD MA for parts 3 and 4. How do they sound? All the tracks are satisfactory.
Extras:
* Hatchet- Theatrical trailer, Dark Sky Films trailers, 3 ½ minute gag reel, “The Making Of Hatchet” featurette, “Meeting Victor Crowley” (a featurette on the villain), “Guts And Gore” (about the make-up, effects, and props), “Anatomy Of A Kill” (a behind-the-scenes look at the making of a death scene), “A Twisted Tale” (Adam Green talks about his inspiration), commentary by Adam Green and Kane Hodder, commentary by Adam Green, Will Barratt, Tamara Feldman, Joel David Moore and Deon Richmond,
* Hatchet 2- Dark Sky Films trailers, trailer, teaser TV spot and radio spot, “Hatchet 2: First Look” featurette, “Meet The FX Team” featurette, “Hatchet 2: Behind The Screams” behind-the-scenes of the production extra, 2 commentaries (one by Adam Green, Kane Hodder, and Tony Todd and the other more technical track by Adam Green, Will Barratt, and Robert Pendergraft.
* Hatchet 3- Dark Sky Films trailers, commentary by Adam Green, BJ McDonnell, Will Barratt and Robert Pendergraft, another commentary by Adam Green, Kane Hodder and BJ McDonnell, a behind the scenes featurette, “Raising Kane” (behind-the-scenes footage of Kane Hodder), “Swamp Fun” (a behind the scenes extra of life on the swamp set), and a trailer and a teaser.
* Victor Crowley- Dark Sky Films trailers, trailer and teaser, “Fly On The Set” (a fun extensive 68 minute behind the scenes video diary of sorts) and “Raising The Dead…Again” (26 minute Adam Green interview with set footage), cast commentary by Adam Green, Parry Shen, Laura Oritz, and Dave Sheridan and a technical commentary by Adam Green, Jan-Michael Losada, Matt Latham and Robert Pendergraft.
* Bonus Disc- The main selling point of this set is the addition of 2 brand new extras. The first is the revealing and insightful 53 minute “Hatchet: Swamp Tales” which is a roundtable discussion between Adam Green, DP Will Barratt and producer Sarah Elbert who share behind-the-scenes stories about the “Hatchet” films, “Holliston,” gore, the ups and downs, the swine flu epidemic that occurred during “Hatchet 2,” the “Victor Crowley” premiere screening, and more. The second is the 59 minute “Production Journals” which features all of the web journals from the cast and crew of the first “Hatchet.”
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