'Hatchet II' Movie Review

She threatens to turn Zombie in to the authorities for operating tours of the off-limits swamp if he doesn't accompany her back there to gather the remains of her dead father and brother...and maybe get some revenge against Crowley as well. Eager to rid the area of the tourism-killing Victor Crowley, Zombie gathers a posse of locals to hunt for the legend's infamous head.

As the lynch mob roams the swamp, secrets emerge about Victor Crowley's origin and about Marybeth's family heritage that paint events in a different light, ratcheting up the stakes for everyone involved.

The characters likewise are underdeveloped. The posse members are introduced, and several are set up with background information that's never followed up on. Furthermore, the characterizations are so erratic, you're not sure if you're supposed to be rooting for this people or not (not like there's much hope of them surviving). AJ Bowen, who was so good in The Signal, is wasted here in a throwaway role. However, the magnetic and eccentric Tony Todd thankfully has a much-expanded role from the previous film, and genre vet Danielle Harris (Halloween) takes over the Marybeth role ably.

Of course, main talking point of the Hatchet movies isn't the characters or humor, but rather the over-the-top gore. And thanks to a rare (and refreshing) uncut, unrated theatrical release, Hatchet II takes the carnage to the next level. Body parts are ripped off, organs are removed, power tools are used inappropriately and arterial spray coats every flat surface. The gore is so prevalent that it almost does the film a disservice, becoming numbing instead of eye-opening and fun. Still, it's well done, inventive and the main reason to recommend this otherwise disappointing sequel.

• Acting: C (Suffers from casting horror directors and other genre non-actors.)
• Direction: C+ (Generates few of the scares or the laughs of the first movie.)
• Script: D (Plot, dialogue and characterizations feel halfhearted.)
• Gore/Effects: A- (Wildly exaggerated and well executed.)
• Overall: C (A disappointingly average sequel that fails to build on the appeal of the original.)

Hatchet II is directed by Adam Green and is not rated by the MPAA. Release date: October 1, 2010.