The Hatchet Movies Ranked
Hey, ya know that slasher franchise where Kane Hodder plays a hulking, disfigured undead monster who kills everybody he can get his hands on? No, not Friday the 13th. The other one!
Hatchet‘s antagonist is Victor Crowley, a savage, vengeful beast who terrorizes anyone who dares to enter his desolate Louisiana swamp. He’s very similar to Jason Voorhees – a comparison that is mentioned specifically by a character in the second movie.
The series was created by Adam Green. It’s best known for featuring numerous horror celebrities. Along with Hodder, Tony Todd and Danielle Harris play major roles in the series. And that’s just the beginning of the names that horror fans will recognize.
I’ve included a list of genre celebrities in each installment’s entry. Admittedly, I’m using “celebrity” loosely here. I’m defining it as anybody who has played a major part in at least one installment of a big horror franchise other than Hatchet. Some only appear briefly, so I’ve made note of that as well.
Here are all the Hatchet movies ranked. This was challenging because they’re all very similar. There isn’t much difference between them, plot wise or quality wise. None of them are a great, but none are terrible either.
Hatchet II and III pick up right where the previous installment left off – like literally the next second – making the first three films feel like one big movie. Victor Crowley is set a decade after the end of Hatchet III and feels like an epilogue to the series.
Other than Hodder, Parry Shen is the only actor to appear in all four installments. He plays a tour guide in the original, the guide’s twin brother in the second, and a totally different character in the third and fourth films. Adam Green must have really enjoyed working with him.
The Hatchet Movies In Order
Hatchet (2007)
Hatchet II (2010)
Hatchet III (2013)
Victor Crowley (2017)
All The Hatchet Movies Ranked
Beware! Spoilers below!
4. Hatchet III
Horror Celebrities: Kane Hodder, Danielle Harris, Caroline Williams, Derek Mears
Marybeth Dunston (Danielle Harris) is arrested by police, who don’t believe her claims that Victor Crowley is responsible for the murders in Hatchet II. This time, a SWAT team and a group of paramedics journey into the swamp, only to meet a bloody end at the hands of you know who.
A journalist (Caroline Williams) helps Marybeth escape and she returns to face Crowley yet again. `This one has a Derek Mears vs. Kane Hodder battle that is, to my knowledge, the only fight scene between actors who have both played Jason Voorhees.
So, why is this one ranked last? As I said in the introduction, there really isn’t much difference between these films. The first three, especially, are practically the same movie. I’m putting this one behind its counterparts because it doesn’t have Tony Todd. It also just repeats much of the material that was already seen earlier in the series. The formula feels a bit stale here.
3. Hatchet
Horror Celebrities: Kane Hodder, Tony Todd, Robert Englund (cameo), John Carl Buechler (cameo)
A group of rowdy friends travel to New Orleans for Mardi Gras and embark on a Louisiana swamp tour. Along with several other tourists and their bumbling guide, they have a deadly encounter with Victor Crowley, a vengeful supernatural monster.
The main character, Ben (Joel David Moore), meets Marybeth Dunston (Tamara Feldman), an area native who becomes the final girl of the first three movies.
Hatchet is a clear riff on Friday the 13th from the beginning. For the most part, this is a very derivative ’80s-style slasher. The swamp setting is a clever idea. I’m surprised that there aren’t more slasher flicks set in swamps.
Tony Todd has one of his best roles as Reverend Zombie, but he doesn’t get enough screen time. Kane Hodder’s Crowley makeup is excellent considering the film’s low budget.
2. Hatchet II
Horror Celebrities: Kane Hodder, Danielle Harris, Tony Todd, R.A. Mihailoff, John Carl Buechler (cameo)
This one feels like an expanded and slightly improved redo of the first film. Beginning immediately after the original’s cliffhanger ending, Hatchet II is jarring in the sense that Marybeth suddenly has morphed into a different person. She is now played by Danielle Harris.
Adam Green didn’t get along with Feldman and chose to replace her for the sequel. Harris is good, but she tries a little too hard to mimic a Cajun accent. It just doesn’t sound natural coming from her.
Tony Todd returns, and this time his character plays a central role. He brings a group of redneck tough guys into the swamp with the goal of destroying Crowley once and for all. Marybeth is back as well, and she’s even more determined to take the monster down. It’s fun to see Hodder and Mihailoff battle. Hodder was Mihailoff’s stunt double in the third Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie.
1. Victor Crowley
Horror Celebrities: Kane Hodder, Felissa Rose, Tyler Mane, Danielle Harris (cameo), Tony Todd (his image is seen briefly)
A decade has passed since the gruesome end of Hatchet III. Crowley and Dunston are both presumed dead, and the swamp is quiet. Andrew (Parry Chen), supposedly the lone survivor of the previous massacre, is promoting a book where he falsely portrays himself as a hero.
He gets convinced by his wacky publicist (Felissa Rose) to return to the swamp. As luck would have it, their plane crashes, and the survivors must again face the wrath of a resurrected Crowley.
The fourth installment is easily the most polished and best-looking of the series. It’s also somehow both the funniest and the most disturbing.
Felissa Rose is a great addition. Her thick New York accent is a fun juxtaposition to the Cajun setting. And holy cow, her death scene is insane! One of the most demented and creative deaths I’ve ever seen.
Hatchet 5?
Victor Crowley was well received, so I’m surprised that this hasn’t happened yet. Another installment seem possible, and this current era of horror could be a good time for it. Green has stated that he has ideas for multiple future installments.
