Hatchet

2006 USA

Director: Adam Green

Writer: Adam Green

Cast: Kane Hodder, Robert Englund, Joel Moore, Tamara Feldman, Mercedes Mcnab

Producers: Scott Altomare, Sarah Elbert, Cory Neal

Distributor: Anchor Bay

Web: www.hatchetmovie.com

Running Time: 93 minutes

Genre: Horror

Rating: Not yet rated

The killer retard is back. Incidentally, the use of that word is not meant to be derogatory, it’s merely descriptive of the attitude that films like Deliverance, Friday the 13^th and now Hatchet have towards the mentally handicapped. To more sensitive viewers, those born with mental or physical deformities are to be pitied, protected, and coddled with euphemisms and special treatment. To the victims of Hatchet, they’re the Incredible Hulk with a cleft palate and bad case of bloodlust. And though it’s been a while since the big screen has been blessed with a lumbering behemoth drooling half-syllables while releasing under-developed sexual urges onto a college co-ed with a hammer, Hatchet’s whole-hearted embrace of the ‘old school horror’ label has brought this particular form of the horror movie “other” back with a vengeance.  

Of course, by accepting and marketing itself around that phrase, Hatchet is clearly admitting that it breaks no new ground. It does, however, break a few heads, most notably that of one of the Cosby kids. While there are absolutely no surprises in Hatchet in regards to plot, it’s one of the most capably made, goriest, and overall most satisfying slasher films made in years. Joel Moore stars as Ben, a young man who’s seeking to forget the demise of his seven-year relationship by wandering out into the middle of a swamp with a few random victims and the monster from Humongous. Once meeting local retarded killer Victory Crowley, aka Hatchet Face, what follows is an extremely funny, solidly scripted, and incredibly bloody 93 minutes. The slasher genre has its own conventions and touchstones, plot, intelligence and logic not being any of them, but the film rises to the occasion with strong performances and great dialogue. Director Adam Green is clearly such a fan of the genre he’s giddy at the prospect of pleasing fans half as much as he’s pleased himself with his film, and judging from the rousing reception Hatchet received at its Canadian premiere at the Fantasia film festival, he’s succeeded in pleasing the retard in all of us.

Rating: 7 on 10

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