One Giant Leap For Horror: Hatchet II Getting Wide, Unrated Theatrical Release

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Hatchet is one of the best horror films of the last decade. Not because it is inherently terrifying, but because it pays homage (and pays it well) to the 80’s horror classics to the point that you can’t watch it without feeling nostalgic. Director Adam Green built a classic horror story and populated it with horror icons Kane Hodder (who returns for the sequel), Tony Todd (who is also returning), and Robert Englund (well, his character is dead as hell) just to name a few.

The next installment, aptly titled Hatchet II, is through production and will be premiering this week at London’s Fright Fest. But that’s not the big news. Green and MPI Media Group jointly announced today that the film isn’t only going to be getting a wide release here in the States, but it will be hitting theaters unrated - the first time a film of the genre has done that in 25 years. Green had this to say about the achievement:

"Having a movie as graphically over-the-top as HATCHET II come out in major theatres unrated is an absolute dream come true -- not only for the genre fans but for the entire make-up effects crew, who normally have to watch their amazing achievements get sliced and diced for theatrical release. This is an important event for the horror genre, and I hope the real horror fans support HATCHET II and help change the way genre films are released theatrically from this day forward. Kudos to Dark Sky Films and AMC Theaters for truly honoring the spirit of old-school American horror and doing this right. Gorehounds won't know what hit them!"

Theater owners just aren’t going to know what to do with themselves once this gory mess hits screens and you can almost hear the director maniacally laughing because of it.

Prepare yourself by checking out Hatchet over on Netflix Instant Watch. Check out the whole press release below.

Dark Sky Films, a division of MPI Media Group, announced today that in anticipation of the upcoming Halloween horror movie season, Adam Green's HATCHET II will be distributed in theaters across the country beginning October 1. The film will be released without an MPAA rating, marking the widest release of an unrated genre film in more than 25 years.

AMC Theatres, under its AMC independent program, will be exhibiting HATCHET II in the top 20 markets across the country. Vitagraph Films is serving as theatrical distributor.

The announcement regarding the HATCHET II release was made jointly by Adam Green with MPI Media Group's Senior Vice President of Acquisitions Greg Newman.

A ferociously fun tribute to the old-school horror sensation slasher movies of the 80's, HATCHET II is the follow-up to the popular original film, which was released theatrically in 2007 and became a sleeper hit, gaining a wide following on DVD. The cast of HATCHET II features a cavalcade of horror movie icons including Danielle Harris (HALLOWEEN) and Kane Hodder (FRIDAY THE 13th), reprising his role as serial killer Victor Crowley. Also starring are Tony Todd (CANDYMAN) and R.A. Mihailoff (TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 3).

HATCHET II is having its world premiere this week in London at FrightFest, the UK's premiere horror and fantasy film festival.

Director Adam Green said, "Having a movie as graphically over-the-top as HATCHET II come out in major theatres unrated is an absolute dream come true -- not only for the genre fans but for the entire make-up effects crew, who normally have to watch their amazing achievements get sliced and diced for theatrical release. This is an important event for the horror genre, and I hope the real horror fans support HATCHET II and help change the way genre films are released theatrically from this day forward. Kudos to Dark Sky Films and AMC Theaters for truly honoring the spirit of old-school American horror and doing this right. Gorehounds won't know what hit them!"

Dark Sky Films' Newman added, "We are thrilled that audiences will not have to wait for a director's cut or unrated version of Adam Green's HATCHET II. On October 1st fans will have the opportunity to see Hatchet II in theaters exactly as it was intended to be seen: full-on, uncut and uncensored! We hope that this unrated release of HATCHET II marks a new trend in providing an uncompromised theatrical experience for genre film lovers nationwide."

"Our AMC independent program embraces diverse storytelling of all types," said AMC Theatres' Vice President, Specialty & Alternative Content, Nikkole Dneson-Randolph. "Bringing a story like HATCHET II to our guests is a natural fit during this time of year, and we're excited to share the filmmakers' vision on-screen in its intended state."