Hatchet (film)
A cult classic slasher set in a haunted New Orleans swamp.
Hatchet is a 2006 American slasher film written and directed by Adam Green. It follows a group of tourists on a New Orleans haunted swamp tour who become stranded and hunted by a vengeful, supernatural deformed man. The film received mixed reviews but became a cult classic, spawning three sequels and a comic book series.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Adam Green
- Producer
- Cory Neal
- Scott Altomare
- Sarah Elbert
- Music
- Andy Garfield
- Cinematography
- Will Barratt
- Editing
- Christopher Roth
- Studio
- ArieScope Pictures
- High Seas Entertainment
- Radioaktive Film
- Distributor
- Anchor Bay Entertainment (United States); Echo Bridge Entertainment (International)
- Released
- 27 April 2006, Tribeca Film Festival, 7 September 2007, United States
Facts from the source article.
Plot
Sampson and his son Ainsley are hunting alligators in a swamp. While Ainsley is urinating, Sampson falls silent; Ainsley finds Sampson dead before he, too, is killed by an unseen being. They find the tour closed and are directed to an inexperienced guide, Shawn. The group includes Jim and Shannon Permatteo, two models Misty and Jenna with their agent Shapiro, and Marybeth. Their boat sinks, and Jim is bitten by an alligator. Marybeth finds an abandoned shack and tells the story of Victor Crowley, a deformed boy accidentally killed by his father with a hatchet during a house fire, who now roams the swamp as a vengeful spirit. Victor kills Jim and Shannon, then Shapiro. The survivors return to the house to arm themselves. Marybeth reveals Sampson and Ainsley were her father and brother. Victor attacks, critically injuring Jenna with a belt sander, then decapitates Shawn with a shovel and impales Jenna.
Production
Director Adam Green conceived Victor Crowley's backstory after attending Camp Avoda in 1983 at age 8, where counselors warned of a figure named Hatchet-Face. Green created a story about a deformed boy accidentally killed by his father during a house fire, later reused for Crowley. To secure financing, producer Sarah Elbert had Green and cinematographer Will Barratt shoot a teaser trailer in New Orleans before writing the script. The teaser featured establishing shots from a swamp tour with narration by a young girl relaying Victor's backstory, and it received widespread praise, enabling sufficient funding. Principal photography began on April 25, 2005, at Sable Ranch in Santa Clarita, with a budget of $1.5 million.
Release
Hatchet premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 27, 2006. It was selected for the 2006 London FrightFest Film Festival at The Odeon West End on August 25, 2006, where Adam Green introduced it and hosted a Q&A. The film also screened at the Sitges International Film Festival and Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas, selling out both nights, requiring extra chairs. It won the audience award for Best Picture and jury prizes for Best Actor (Kane Hodder) and Best Special Effects. It was selected for Germany's Fantasy Film Festival in 2006, touring multiple cities. The film received a limited theatrical release in the United States on September 7, 2007, by Anchor Bay Entertainment, earning $208,550 domestically. Critical reception was mixed; Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian gave it 2 out of 5 stars, while Marc Savlov of Austin Chronicle gave 3½ out of 5, praising the dialogue and gore. Bloody Disgusting gave a positive review. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 56% approval rating; on Metacritic, a score of 57. The DVD was released on December 18, 2007, in theatrical and unrated director's cut versions. The film sold over 597,022 units in North America, totaling $8,262,721.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed the music for Hatchet (film)?
The music for Hatchet was composed by Andy Garfield.
How long is Hatchet (film)?
Hatchet has a running time of 83 minutes.
Who distributed Hatchet (film)?
Hatchet was distributed by Anchor Bay Entertainment (United States) and Echo Bridge Entertainment (International).
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