Friday, October 20, 2017

BLOOD NIGHT: THE LEGEND OF MOLLY HATCHET (2009)




Directed By: Frank Sabatella 
Written By: Elke Blasi & Frank Sabatella 
Cinematography By: Chris Walters & Jarin Blaschke 
Editor: Stephen Franciosa Jr. 


Cast: Danielle Harris, Bill Moseley, Nate Dushku, Samantha Facchi, Anthony Marks, Billy Magnussen, Samantha Huhn 

A group of teenagers celebrating Blood Night, the anniversary of the death of a local axe murderer, Mary Hatchet, suddenly find themselves face to face with the realities of her haunting. As they run from the bloody rampage left behind they'll need to survive the night to expose the truth behind the legend of Bloody Mary.


The tale of Blood Night was based off the popular Long Island, NY urban legend of Mary Hatchet. Writer/director Frank Sabatella is from Long Island NY.

While ideally this film seems to want to be an homage to 80's horror films. While updating it and striving to have it's own identity. The film fails on all fronts by just giving us cliche after cliche.

It seems like it takes the film more than half of it's running time to finally begin with the actual horror. After sitting through a not very interesting story and not particularly interesting characters who all seem.

Easily interchangeable get to the point of no return. The. The film seems to go into hyperdrive in dispatching as many people as it can as fast as it can in the remaining running time.

The film does offer up good practical special effects. That is the only nice thing I can truly say about the film. If it was just going to be as basic as it is. It could have used some flavor maybe more humor or inventive kills at least or the rarity, creating vivid characters we care about.

The film has two recognizable stars in supporting roles. They do ok with what they are given but easily tip their hat to the outcome of the film. As the movie stays predictable and the reasoning for the slaughters just seems confusing and stupid. The The film tries to offer a surprise at the end. That even the novice horror fan can see coming.

In fact Danielle Harris being in the film is one of the reasons I wanted to see this film. Other then the fact that it was hard to find and from what I saw got high ratings in amazon. So I decided to give it a try. Even though the film asks us to believe that Ms. Harris is still in high school. Though considering most of the other characters also look long in the tooth. It makes it easier to go with it.

I could see this film being more effective as maybe a beginner horror film for those who have never seen one. Though even they might realize this film is kind of lame.

The film never seems to want to decide whether it wants to be a slasher film or a supernatural one. As it flirts with both and feels like a cop out.

It's one of those films where you wonder if you have nothing to really offer. Why was this made. As the film could easily be a forgettable 80's slasher film. Though again it offers nothing new nor noteable.


Grade: F

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