Hatchet – Blu-ray Review

The Film:

Old School American Horror. What a bold statement to call your film, especially when Adam Green didn’t have much, if any, track record amongst horror fans when the film was released. But the funny thing was, Hatchet delivered on the bold promise. Playing like an inbred kissing cousin to the redder and wetter maniacs in horror, Hatchet feels more like a long-lost slasher from the bygone era of the 1980s.

It’s funny to think that old school American horror is referencing a time when Reganomics and unkillable men with a knife were at their peak. The economics of the former President’s plan, with a health economy and an increase in jobs, lead to a backfire of debt and the ‘smoke and mirrors’ of these policies, must have subconsciously sparked interest in killers and their endless sequels during that decade. The slasher genre is one of horror’s more debatable sub-genres, since many love it for its simplicity and set-up, while others dislike it for just that reason. Adam Green’s new-age slasher doesn’t really sway away from the conventions of the sub-genre, but in an age of ultra-serious torture flicks, glossy big budgeted studio horror films, and a completely lack of originality in the genre, aided by the slew of remakes, Hatchet is old school American horror in every sense of the term. It’s a blitz of humor, gore, and most importantly, fun. It’s so good playing to the strengths of the conventions of the slasher sub-genre, that it shows horror fans that maybe we don’t need originality in every film, just a film that knows its roots and has a good time with them.

Victor Crowley is just a gross looking bastard; like a lovechild from Pamela Voorhees and a cannibal from The Hills Have Eyes. He’s mean, ugly, unpredictable, and just right when you think any old stuntman could play these masked killers, Kane Hodder valiantly shows you why only the good have been unused in recent horror. As much as the script is funny and gory, as much as Green’s love of the slasher genre is readily apparent, as much as the cast with a pre-Avatar Joel Moore and a bubbly pants-teasing Mercedes McNab (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), every bit of momentum and energy comes directly from Kane Hodder as Victor. Anyone can put on a mask and stalk horny teenagers, but with his Jason from the final few Friday the 13th films and now Hatchet, Hodder proves that it’s an art that only he has a Master’s Degree in. For that, amongst all of the sharp performances, clever kills, fun cameos, boobs, it’s really the Kane Hodder Show that we love Hatchet for.

The Blu-ray:

Audio/Video: Anchor Bay releases the film on its first HD disc and the video is really quite good. Where most transfers suffer is the night scenes or constant darkness, and that’s where this film constantly takes place in, yet the transfer keeps up, offering rich blacks and fine details consistently. Expectations of an HD print are met, and fans should really enjoy this. The audio is in Dolby TrueHD 5.1 – a standard for all Anchor Bay HD discs – and it’s as active, loud, crazy, in the rear speakers and bass, as is the film.

All of the extras from the previous DVD release has been carried over and remain in SD. Making of Hatchet, Meeting Victor Crowley, Guts & Gore, A Twisted Tale, Anatomy of a Kill, are all strong behind-the-scenes with interviews and on-set footage. The Commentary with Green, the actors, and the cinematographer is fun, informative, and strong too. A Gag Reel and Trailers round out the previous DVD’s extras.

The lone new extra for the Blu-ray is an All-New Commentary with Adam Green and Kane Hodder. Intitially, you’d think they just have fun chatting about the making-of the film, but early on the deviate from the old DVD commentary and talk more about what has happened since the film’s release. The track covers the violent and sad battle with Green against the MPAA, how the film spurred Hodder’s career again, modern horror movies, and of course, Hatchet II. Be warned that they do reveal a few spoilers about the sequel, but it’s not their fault. They recorded it in April 2010 thinking Hatchet II was going to be released around the time you’d be listening to the track. Does this new track equal a must purchase in itself? No, but it’s really good and worth listening to when you do get the disc.

Conclusion: Violent, funny, and just plain old good old school horror, that proves they still do make them like they used too. And all on a swell Blu-ray from Anchor Bay.

The Film: Rating:

The Blu-ray: Rating: