Review: VICTOR CROWLEY (2018)
In August of last year what was billed as the official ’10th Anniversary Event’ screening of the original HATCHET turned out to be a surprise showing of the secretly shot fourth film in the franchise VICTOR CROWLEY. This was followed by special one-night events in October featuring Adam Green collectively known as the “Victor Crowley Road Show”. Now ahead of its DVD and Blu-Ray release we ask, how does it compare to the rest of the films?
Ten years after the original massacre sole survivor Andrew (Parry Shen HATCHET 3, UNIDENTIFIED) is on a book tour cashing in on his notoriety. His manager Kathleen (Felissa Rose UGLY SWEATER PARTY, TERROR TALES) having arranged a big dollar payday for an interview at the location of the killings. However, a film crew has accidentally resurrected Victor (Kane Hodder, KNIFECORP, TO HELL AND BACK: THE KANE HODDER STORY) When Andrew’s plane crashes into the swamp both groups find themselves fighting for their lives.
The opening prologue is a sign that nothing has changed in the years between HATCHET 3 and VICTOR CROWLEY. Two men are killed with swift single blows while a woman is slowly dismembered before her head is cut off. Fans of the franchise can probably stop reading here, you know you’re going to see it. For everyone else, this one probably won’t change your opinion of it. The plot is simply an excuse for loads of creatively brutal and bloody deaths. All of which are rendered with excellent practical effects, no CGI here. The characters are mostly obnoxious caricatures you can’t wait to see die, and Victor is an unstoppable killing machine.
On the downside, it’s pretty obvious almost all of the budget went into the effects, casting scream queens Felissa Rose and Tiffany Shepis (KILLER KATE, STRANGE NATURE). And of course, bringing Kane Hodder back as Victor. As a result, the crashed plane set that much of the film takes place in looks incredibly cheap and flimsy, something that really hurt the film.
VICTOR CROWLEY is an old school backwoods slasher on steroids. There’s a few jump scares but let’s face it, it’s the gore that’s the attraction here. And that is delivered in spades. The ending indicates there’s going to be a sequel. But how they bring Victor back after his demise this time may be the biggest surprise of the series.
Dark Sky Pictures will release VICTOR CROWLEY on VOD, Digital, Blu-ray, and DVD on February 6, 2018