Have you ever watched a 'slasher' film and really enjoyed it? Have you then gone on to watch the THIRD instalment of the same franchise? Yes, I know - quite a drop in quality. I remember the first 'Hatchet' film. It was hardly 'high art' - it was about a killer who killed people with - guess what - a hatchet! It could have effectively been a script in the early days of the 'Friday 13th' franchise - it was that original. However, it was actually quite witty and self-knowing - something they seem to have forgotten how to do between parts I and III.I have to confess that I never watched part II, therefore I'm not entirely sure how xxx Crowley suddenly upgraded himself from psycho-killer, to supernatural, indestructible psycho-killer. Anyway, he's unstoppable now... and he kills people. If you've ever watched a 'Friday 13th' film or any type of 'slasher' film like that then you'll know what to expect. One death after the next until the cast of Z-list actors are gradually chopped down to just a couple.There's little else to say about this film, as I've seen it so many times before. About the only name on the cast I recognised was Kane Hodder (who plays Crowley), simply because he's played Jason Voorhees a couple of time. But he's silent all the way through as he butchers his cast-mates, so he could hardly 'save' the film.The one thing I have to say was that the gore/kills were good. They were at least imaginative with what little budget they had at their disposal. If you like this sort of film then you'll already have a dozen similar (and better, obviously!) films in your collection. Just watch one of the 'Scream' films (even part IV is better than 'Hatchet III') or even the first 'Hatchet' film. And, was it just me, or did a killer known as 'Hatchet' fail to use his chopper as much as his name suggests he should? Oh well, that's the least of this film's sins!

The best thing I can say about HATCHET III is that it's a slight improvement over its predecessor, HATCHET II. The first film is still the best, of course, and the only one I'd consider watching again; the problem with these sequels is that they simply retread the original plotting with a few twists to try to bring originality to it, but it doesn't work.Mary Beth thinks she's managed to kill vicious bayou murderer Victor Crowley for good, only for him to return from the grave once again seeking vengeance. She ends up being accused of the previous movie's murders and gets thrown in jail where she must join forces with a reporter to get to the heart of the matter, so to speak. Meanwhile, the sheriff organises a posse to go into the bayou and take down the killer for good...HATCHET III is another excuse for gory effects and the film is chock-full of gooey death scenes which take extreme to a new level. The level of splatter is incredibly over the top, but I didn't like how Kane Hodder looks like a generic mutant villain now and the kills are hardly anything to get excited about, if I'm honest; there's an air of familiarity over the whole production which saps enjoyment of it. This time around Adam Green lets a camera operator buddy of his handle the directing and the result is less than impressive. Still, we do get an impressive cast headlined by the likable Zach Galligan (GREMLINS) and featuring Derek Mears (THE AGGRESSION SCALE), Caroline Williams (THE Texas CHAINSAW MASSACRE 2), a returning Parry Shen, and a cameoing Sid Haig.

Hatchet III picks up were part II left us--Marybeth trying to kill Crowley. It takes a couple of attempts till he finally falls on a running chainsaw and he's split in half. She scalps him and walks into a sheriff's station. Of course no one believes her and they place her in a cell. After some discussion finally deputies, the sheriff, paramedics (why paramedics?), a SWAT team go to the swamps and find countless bodies and body parts. They start dragging body bags onto the boat of the paramedics.Meanwhile an annoying reporter who has been listening to the police frequency shows up at the station, demands to speak to Marybeth. Turns out the reporter is the ex-wife of the sheriff on top of that so she manages to manipulate one of the deputies into doing whatever she wants. She has bad news. Crowley can't be killed. He always returns because he's on a mission and Marybeth is the solution--she and Crowley's father, or rather his ashes. So the three go to pick up the ashes in order to confront Crowley and put and end to him.Crowley of course has resurfaced and is killing any all law enforcement he can. A paramedic, a SWAT girl, and the sheriff manage to hide in a boat. It's not long until Crowley shows up and starts making his way inside. That's when the other three show up and try to lure him to them so they can present him with daddy's ashes.The other two Hatchets were alright but didn't convince me. One problem is that poor Kane Hodder is made to look so dysmorphic under all that make up that he just doesn't look menacing at all. And in the past neither the story nor characters were all that interesting. Part III is more focused, has a better story and it's just so enthusiastic about gore. And there's lots of great gore. I also enjoyed the subtle comedy and then the hilarious politically incorrect scene with Sid Haig. Director McDonnell also does a better job than Green. All that's missing in Hatchet III was more of Danielle Harris, who doesn't get to do a whole lot here, and more nudity, and it could have been a 10/10.

Despite shooting Victor Crowley point-blank in the head with a shotgun, ramming her fist into what remains of his face, and pushing him onto a chainsaw, Marybeth (Danielle Harris) doesn't stop the cursed maniac from returning to kill again the very next night. To end the horror once and for all, she must break the curse by returning to the swamp and giving Crowley what he wants: the remains of his long-dead father.If you enjoyed the comedy-tinged, splatter-drenched silliness of the previous two Hatchet movies, then there's no reason at all for you not to be entertained by this third chapter: let's be honest, they don't exactly try to reinvent the wheel. Director BJ McDonnell (taking over the reins from Adam Green) knows exactly what his audience demands—more over-the-top splatter, more cheesy dialogue, and a cast featuring even more familiar genre faces (Zach Galligan, Caroline Williams, Sid Haig, Derek Mears)—and he delivers it in spades, Crowley's rampage resulting in countless creative and very gruesome deaths.6.5 out of 10, rounded up to 7 for IMDb.