There are some companies that I am loyal to in the genre.
I am loyal to the Texas Frightmare Weekend, I am loyal to
the Alamo Drafthouse, and I am loyal to FEARnet.
I have been a customer of Fearnet since its inception in
2006 and I am always happy to check out it’s programming whenever I get a
chance. I have had the pleasure of getting to know some of the staff when they
make promotional appearances at both TFW and Fantastic Fest.
This past year FEARnet premiered its first original series
with Holliston.
Taking place in the town of Holliston, Massachusetts with
the sitcom format the series stars Horror directors Adam Green and Joe Lynch
who are struggling filmmakers who’s misadventures are the main focus of the
series. Laura Ortiz play’s Joe’s half-witted artist girlfriend and Corri
English is Adam’s ex-girlfriend who he is still not over.
Other cast members include Dee Snider as Lance Rocket, Adam
and Joe’s boss at the cable station that they work who often offers criticism
of their movies.
Dave Brockie also stars as Oderus Urungus Adam’s imaginary
friend that often offers advice to Adam, which often backfires in Adam’s face
when he actually listens to him.
Holliston also features guest appearances from many Horror
celebrities. Kane Hodder, Tony Todd, and Danielle Harris have all played
themselves as well as stars like Bill Moseley, Seth Green, and Ray Wise have
made appearances playing over the top characters.
Holliston is highly entertaining especially in the breaking
of the third wall sequences where the characters make fun of their real world
counterparts.
Other reoccurring gags are the imaginary death scenes in
which the characters find themselves being killed in ways that were made famous
in popular horror movies.
Adam Green rose to prominence in the genre with the original
film Hatchet that was released by Anchor Bay in 2007. Hatchet was a flick
following a group of people on a ill fated ghost tour in New Orleans bring
stalked by the ghost of Victor Crowley.
Featuring many genre stars such as Robert Englund, Tony
Todd, and Kane Hodder, Hatchet also featured some of the best kills featured on
screen in years.
The film was followed by a sequel Hatchet 2 in 2010 which
Danielle Harris took on the role of Marybeth replacing actress Tamara Feldman.
Also joining the cast of Hatchet 2 was R. A. Mihailoff and director Tom Holland
making the Hatchet franchise into the “Expendables of Horror”.
Green while staying on as a producer handed the directorial responsibilities
over to BJ McDonnell for the third installment in the series Hatchet III.
Like its predecessor Hatchet III picks up where part 2 left
off in which Marybeth again has to fight Crowley and after killing him with his
own chainsaw walks into the local police station where the sheriff (Zach
Galligan) assembles a team to go into the woods to collect the bodies of the
victims and conduct the investigation while holding Mary Beth as a suspect.
That night Victor Crowley again returns to life and after
making short work of the police and the coroners that are at the crime scene
The Sheriff and the swat team assemble to take down Crowley once and for all.
While this is happening The Sheriff’s ex-wife (played by
Caroline Williams) takes Marybeth to find Crowley’s cousin (Sid Haig) and to
take the Ashes of his father to Crowley in order to put his spirit to rest.
Needless to say nothing goes as planned.
Something that I enjoy about films like the Hatchet series
is the fact that the continuity of the series is maintained very well.
I viewed Hatchet III after watching the other two films in
order and you can almost play them edited together and you maintain a long
film.
The only exception to this rule is the recasting of Mary Beth,
which I am not complaining because I am always happy to see Danielle Harris.
As a matter of fact I have met quite a few of the cast
involved in this flick.
I have known Caroline for a few years now.
In my work at the conventions I have seen Kane quite a few
times and at one convention I was seated next to Zach Galligan at the Horror
Sci-Fi Convention in Tulsa, and I have even interviewed Sid Haig on quite a few
occasions and I have also shot and had drinks with Derek Mears at a couple of
TFWs.
Those details aside I still enjoyed the film.
I thought that the inside jokes were pretty funny.
Adam Green himself makes cameos in all three films as the
friend of the main characters in the first film and the same character is seen
in the opening of Hatchet 2 and he is seen again being arrested in the opening
of this film and even reacts when The Sheriff mocks the story of the film.
Also actor Parry Shen who played different victims in the
previous films also has a role in this film as well.
Again the gore scenes are great and the film features some
amazing kills.
One of my favorite parts in the film is the fight between
Crowley and Mears’ Swat commander as both actors played the role of Jason essentially
giving us the Battle of the Jasons.
I will definitely recommend Hatchet III to all of you horror
fans where those of you non horror fans need not to check it out because it’s
not for the weak of heart.
0 Breasts
1 Beast
4 Impalings
4 Decapitations
Spine Ripping
Electrocuting
Chest Ripping
Arm Ripping
Throat Ripping
Face Sliceing
Exploding Head
Blood Spraying
Police Fu
Crowley Fu
EMT Fu
3 Stars
Check it out.
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