Official: Hatchet II Slashes Ties with MPAA! Film to be Released Unrated Nationwide October 1st
Steve Barton
|
Horror fans, you are looking at history in the making. Back in the Seventies and even early Eighties, an unrated movie opening wide in theatres was like a badge of honor. Hell, an X-rated movie even won three Oscars. Since then people have become very conservative and just plain afraid to take any chances. With Hatchet II that stops … NOW.
As you’ll see from the press release below, AMC Theatres (god bless their hearts) has decided to take Adam Green’s follow-up to his slasher favorite Hatchet and release it nationwide in their theatres without the imposed rating by the MPAA. That’s awesome news indeed, but hear me out for a second …
What if this movie ends up doing well? Hypothetically speaking, what if horror fans, whether they’re fond of the Hatchet series or not, support the flick by going to see it or just buying tickets online even if it’s not in their area? Would you pay ten bucks to make a statement that you support unrated releases in theatres? It’s a lot to ask, but you know what? I would and I will. This release could very well be an opportunity to change the game as we know it and have begrudgingly accepted it.
Seriously, this is no doubt a great day for everyone who wants to see Hatchet II, but methinks that there could be an even bigger picture here. If this film is successful, it could open the doors for other filmmakers to get an unrated wide release for their movies, and we’ll finally be able to see these flicks as they were intended to be seen and not cut to shreds by rating imposed by folks who for whatever reason have the power to say what is and what is not acceptable.
What do YOU think? Sound off below.
From the Press Release
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.”
Hatchet II will be in theatres on October 1st! Which theatres? Per @Adam_Fn_Green on Twitter: “AMC theaters! Unrated! Groundbreaking event! October 1st. Real fans – be there!”
Got news? Click here to submit it!
Raise your hatchet high in the Dread Central forums!
Categorized:Uncategorized
