Hatchet 2

I never reviewed the 1st Hatchet (although I did see it), which makes jumping in with a 'part 2' review a little odd, luckily though, despite picking up right where the first movie left off, it works quite well as a stand-alone; as long as you except 'deformed killer on the loose in New Orleans swamp' as prior knowledge, nothing here goes unexplained - there's even an (expanded) retelling of Crowley's origin story.


Once again, the casting seems a little gimmicky, with Kane Hodder (Jason, Friday the 13th parts 6-10) returning as deformed, killed-as-a-child-but-he-got-better maniac Victor Crowly (typecast much?), and Tony Todd (Candyman) who is given much more to do this time around as voodoo priest Reverend Zombie, being joined this time by Daniel Harris (Jamie, Halloween 4&5, Annie, Rob Zombie's Halloween 1&2).  That said, despite the apparent horror fan pandering, the cast all put in solid enough performances.

The plot is reasonable, Harris's character wants to return to Crowley's swamp to bring her family's bodies home, Zombie wants his boat (also stranded in Crowley's swamp) back, so they put together a hunting party, on the promise of $500 a head, but Zombie has an agenda of his own, that he believes is the only way to end Crowley's reign once and for all...

There's some veritable humour in the film, ranging from a general tounge-in-cheek edge to the kills, to  obscure horror fan in-jokes (a Lesley Vernon reference! That has to be a first!)  to outright slapstick and sight gags, which frankly do not fit.

The kills themselves are mostly entertaining, and certainly varied, with weapons ranging from Crowley's own two hands, to an array of power tools; including what I believe to be the first ever on-screen belt-sander kill!

All in all, i think its an improvement on the original Hatchet and, as with that movie, if you enjoy the later paramount Friday the 13th movies (part 6-8), you're likely to find something you enjoy here.