hatchet movie review

Selina Bessey

A2 Media

Film Review

Film Title: Hatchet Year of Production: 2006 Director: Adam Green Genre/Genres: Horror / Thriler / Action / Comedy Age Rating: 18

Brief plot outline: When a group of tourists on a New Orleans haunted swamp tour find themselves stranded in the wilderness, their evening of fun and spooks turns into a horrific nightmare.

Which two scenes you the most? Why? The main scene that impressed me the most was the scene where the main character, Hatchet, (fast moving monster) rips open the mouth of the elderly tourist. This was presented in a quick montage to make it feel more uncomfortable. The second scene which impressed me was the end scene. You think the film is going to stereotypically end with the male hero helping the female survivor but it doesn’t. The main character, Hatchet, has cut off the male hero’s arm to help up the what we are lead to believe is the female survivor. I liked the use of the unexpected body horror as it just appeared making it more shocking.

Selina Bessey

A2 Media

How has watching this film helped you understand this genre of filmmaking?

Which features on the genre checklist did you spot in the film? When? How? From watching this film, I have understood more how editing can create a certain feel to the film, for example the quick scene of Hatchet chasing one of the young tourists used collision cutting to switch between the two characters, this created suspense and put the audience on edge. The type of music used also affects the genre of the film; in this case there was a lot of parallel music to fit in with the horror genre. A good example of when parallel music is used is when the teenagers enter Victor Crowley’s house. The music is very mysterious which creates a tense atmosphere where any sudden noise makes you jump. There is a lot of blood and gore in this film which only occurs when it gets dark in the swamp. The main creepy location is Hatchets house; located in the swamp. There are all the stereotypical characters in the film; female victim, female survivor, male hero, pyscho serial killer a.k.a fast moving monster. The beginning scene leads you on to thinking there would be a lot of sex and taboo throughout but that is not the case as the film continues.

Which aspects of the film would you like to INCLUDE in your own trailer?

Why? I would like to include the theme of being trapped in my own trailer. I like the creepy location as well as the low key lighting which is vital to achieving this. I would also like to include some quick montage and collision cutting scenes in the trailer as it is only allowed to be 1 and a half minutes. In such a short space if time, it is important to build tension up and then finish on an exciting scary moment to make the trailer more memorable.

Which aspects of the film would you like to AVOID in your own trailer? Why? I want to make sure to avoid any unrealistic monsters in my trailer. I would like mine to be more paranormal. Ghosts and serial killers are more realistic which tends to scare people more. I would also like to avoid the blood and gore aspect of the film in my trailer. Not necessarily the blood but more the gore and as for some it is just uncomfortable and not scary. I am hoping to make a psychological trailer so I feel the gore aspect isn’t necessary and may take up too much time with the make up.

Selina Bessey

A2 Media

What was the best aspect/more enjoyable moment in the film? Why? Can you recreate this in your own film? How? The best aspect / the most enjoyable past of the film was when they think they have passed Hatchet’s house but it turns out they are right next to it which leads on the female character explaining the history of the house. This makes the location of the house even more mysterious and almost supernatural. I hope to recreate this with flash back scenes using either montages or collision cutting between two separate scenes; cutting from the morning to the night before.