So many franchises these days over stay their welcome with little to offer in the way of atmosphere or talent. The ones that become hits usually are devoid of one or the other. Adam Green’s HATCHET is the only modern franchise that upped its game with every subsequent film. That being said, it was sad when the franchise seemed to come to an end. So when we received an invite to the 10th Anniversary screening of the original film, I was happy to get out and relive the horror and fun with everyone. The packed house was treated to a powerful intro by Director Adam Green, who talked about how this creature came to life and where he has been. He discussed some very personal things about himself and how he went to a dark place where he doubted his own talent. It seemed he had all but walked away from film making until he talked to George Romero. George reminded him that the horror community embarrassed him, loved him and loved Hatchet. It was a passionate speech where we realized that George Romero gave us one last gift before he died…he gave us a new reinvigorated Adam Green. He finished off by saying “Victor Crowley is my monster…and I love him” That is when we knew why we were truly there. The secret premiere of an all new Hatchet film – VICTOR CROWLEY.

The big thing about this film is that everything about it is a surprise. Therefore, I will not be spoiling ANY OF IT!There are a lot of great things about the film and it really needs to be experienced. I will tell you this though, it is the most fun I’ve had at a horror film since Hatchet 3 (true story). So I even though I won’t give you a detailed breakdown, here is the synopsis:

“Set a decade after the events of the series’ first three films, Victor Crowley reunites Hatchet mainstays Kane Hodder (Friday the 13th 7 – X’s Jason Voorhees) and Parry Shen (Better Luck Tomorrow) for an all-new, horrifying journey into the haunted, blood-drenched bayou.

In 2007, forty-nine people were brutally torn to pieces in Louisiana’s Honey Island Swamp. Over the past decade, lone survivor Andrew Yong’s claims that local legend Victor Crowley was responsible for the horrific massacre have been met with great controversy, but when a twist of fate puts him back at the scene of the tragedy, Crowley is mistakenly resurrected and Yong must face the bloodthirsty ghost from his past.

As usual, the cast is sprinkled with awesome casting including Chase Williamson (Beyond The Gates) and Dave Sheridan (The Devil’s Rejects), but it’s genre fave Tiffany Shepis who owns the emotional core of the film as Casey, part of a TV crew flying into the swamp to do a special with Andrew. A little goes a long way with the right actor and Shepis brings it in spades. Felissa Rose is a tour de force as Kathleen, Andrew’s Hollywood agent. Her portrayal is both outrageously fun and slyly on point. Holding it all together once again is Kane Hodder as Victor Crowley. It’s amazing how much Hodder conveys with his eyes and simple gestures. His performance is one of the things that makes Crowley a stand out villain and true horror icon.

VICTOR CROWLEY is a horror film for horror fans. It’s fun and gory, frightening and sexy. It’s everything that so many horror films these days fail to be. This film delivers because Adam Green knows his audience and he knows his craft. He is one of the few horror directors working that pays homage to the stuff he fell in love with rather than chasing the trends. VICTOR CROWLEY is back and with him comes the horror we all fell in love with. This is Adam Green’s monster and he loves him. I hope he knows we love him too.