Highly Overrated But Still Good

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

I picked up from the trivia-section that writer/director Adam Green had solemnly planned never to make any further sequels to the "Hatchet" franchise, but that legendary horror directors Wes Craven and George A. Romero both outed themselves as avid fans of the series and encouraged him to make more installments. I don't know if this is truth or just a really good story for Green to tell during interviews or at premieres, especially now that both Craven and Romero passed away before the official release of the film. It's quite possible that the fourth entry simply got produced because another sequel is a guaranteed money-maker. And, quite frankly, I don't really care because personally I'm always willing to watch more "Hatchet" movies. The character of Victor Crowley is the closest thing we've got to a genuine slasher icon since the vanishing of Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees! You have to be a fan of the "Hatchet" series in order to appreciate "Victor Crowley", by the way, since this film is completely over-the-top and slightly obnoxious from all possible viewpoints. The plot is virtually non-existent, all characters are total nitwits (deliberately, I suppose), the gore effects are ridiculously extreme and the humor bounces back and forth between crude, infantile and downright vulgar. Ten years after the infamous Honey Island Massacre, sole survivor Andrew reluctantly accepts an offer to return to the swamp with a TV-crew and shoot a documentary. Their planes crashes and the survivors are violently picked off by local legend Victor Crowley, as he accidentally got resurrected by a YouTube video. Yes, that's exactly how silly the script is. Kane Hodder is having another field day, as Crowley joyously smashes heads, breaks skulls and swings around hatchets. Personally, I would have preferred that Tiffany Shepis' role was slightly more significant and, as I'm a big fan of hers, I really missed Danielle Harris in the cast. As far as I'm concerned, Green can feel free to make another sequel and maybe dedicate it to the memory of Tobe Hooper this time, or something?

This fourth installment following hatchet 3(2013), is among the worst horror films I have seen. The script is pointless and the special effects compared the previous three movies are a joke. All of Green's movies have some female nudity and sex scenes and this one is no exception. Plot in brief: The survivor of the Crowley massacre Andrew Yong (Parry Shen) appears on his ex-wife, Sabrina's, show The Sabrina Show, to promote his new book about the events. Sabrina announces an exclusive book signing to take place later that day. Andrew's manager Kathleen (Felissa Rose) gets him a deal that will gain him almost a million dollars if he returns to the place where the massacre occurred with a filming crew accompanying them. Watch the film to find out what happens next...Verdict: the previous three Hatchet movies were all well written and the special effects and casting were good. This is the worst horror I have seen and I would not recommend it to anyone. The casting is the worst and Parry Shen doesn't manage to give a good performance as he did in the previous movies. The rest of the cast is awful and pointless. Kane Hodder who plays the character Victor Crowley returns for his fourth appearance. Kane's acting is professional but the dull script does nothing to enhance his character. The background sound-effects are okay and the photography is also decent. I thought this horror film would delve more into the back-story of Victor Crowley but I was disappointed that this film was just a cheap gimmick to earn some quick cash. I will never watch another movie directed by Adam Green again.

Saw a premier of this movie during a road show tour, where some of the cast and the director were present for the screening. Overall it was a fun experience with the crowd participation (though it did start to wear on my nerves after a while, with all the whooping and high-fives from the cast in attendance whenever they appeared on screen). It was an ok addition to the franchise, but I have gotten now to where I cannot stand the director. He gave what I thought to be a very personal, thoughtful, and humble speech at the screening. I got the blu ray recently, and there's an interview with him where he gives the same speech, almost verbatim, and I came to realize how "scripted" it all sounded, not heartfelt at all. I also spoke with some people at the convention that was going on in town, where Adam Green was also present, and heard some discussions of how he can treat some of his fans in a very arrogant, phony, non-interested way. I hear this about a lot of celebrities, so I usually take it with a grain of salt, but one of these people showed some very rude, condescending and ugly info that made me see him in a different light. Anyway, most fans of the series of films will probably like it; some won't. For me, it was just "meh" until learning of the director's attitude, so now I don't even like it.

You've heard the names Freddy Krueger, Jason Vorhees, and Michael Myers before, and you know what they're capable of. In addition to those names, you should get to know Victor Crowley, who has earned a spot right next to these horror icons with his own film franchise called 'Hatchet'. Director Adam Green (Frozen, Hatchet, Holliston) comes back to the director's chair for the 4th installment in the 'Hatchet' franchise called 'Victor Crowley'. Green, being a passionate fan of the horror genre himself, has taken his favorite elements from all of our favorite horror movies from the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, and injected them into his films in the best ways. The overall story plot to these films is nothing new in that a group of people usually find themselves in the cajun part of the country where a supernatural monster kills his victims one by one. It's how Green writes his characters and story, which gives these films a fresh and original outlook for the horror genre, not to mention they are a ton of fun with a treasure trove of dark comedy bits. 'Victory Crowley' is no different either.Set a decade after the events of the third film, we focus on Andrew Yong (Parry Shen, who's been in every 'Hatchet' film), as his new book about the Victory Crowley murders is making the rounds on the talk shows and numerous book signings that have some hilarious and odd requests. His manager Kathleen (Felissa Rose from 'Sleepaway Camp'), is trying to secure the most money for him and herself as she can, which is why she enlists a film crew to make a a short film on the Victor Crowley murders where they originally took place. Yong is reluctant to go, but ends up right where he doesn't want to be again with more soon-to-be victims.Crowley shows up in his beefed up stature and overalls and starts to brutally kill everyone in his path. What Green does very well is stage his death scenes with some amazing and gooey practical effects. Brains fall out, limbs are severed and perhaps the best scene in a film of recent memory comes to play here with a severed arm, a mobile phone, and a crotch. It's one of those movie moments where you yell out in joy. With all of the gooey bits being thrown around, Green also keeps the silly comedy flowing as well with his unique dialogue and character actions. Kane Hodder, who is no stranger to playing iconic movie monsters, dons the Victory Crowley makeup and just owns every scene he's in with the intense body language. 'Victory Crowley' might be the most fun you'll have watching a horror movie this year, as it brings back all of the nostalgic elements you fell in love with growing up in horror.