Starring: Brooke Nevin, David Paetkau, Torrey DeVitto, Ben Easter, Seth Packard, Michael Flynn.
Director: Sylvain White.
So, this happened, somehow. They continued the franchise without Jennifer Love Hewitt or any rhyme or reason. No good taste. Just a direct-to-video sequel that really never needed to happen. You'd think that, at least, Brandys dance card was free at this point. But, hey, unnecessary sequels are a big part of the horror genre, so let's check it out.
...I wish I had something better for my fiftieth movie. Didn't quite think the Last Summer films through.
Y'know, I really should have waited until July to do this. I forgot that these all took place on the 4th of July.
So we get another group of lifeless teens who play a fairly pointless prank-one of then dresses up as the fisherman and attacks people because nothing says hilarity like pretending to murder people-resulting in the death of one of their own and so, in bonehead tradition, they decide to not tell anyone they were responsible.
It's interesting that they managed to remember one detail in the script-that the "killer" slashed one of the guys arms-but don't stop to offer why Police(one of whom is the Father of their now dead friend)don't stop to ask why the witnesses disappeared into the woods together for awhile. Also, they apparently are in Colorado. Why is there an urban legend about a Fisherman anyway? I understand it's a direct reference to the first two, and I honestly don't have a problem with the Fisherman becoming some sort of vengeance demon thing, but....they heard about this thing? I don't buy it. They could at least have set the movie in the same location as the first.
Y'know, I know that the boyfriend is supposed to be a dick or whatever but he isn't necessarily in the wrong for breaking up with the lead: he goes off to L.A. (which, she reminds him, was HER idea), decides he doesn't like it and comes home. He also decides that, as a Freshman in College, maybe it's best for him not to be tied down. It's presented as him being a jerk, but those aren't really dick reasons. It actually is kinda rational, really. Of course, he could have told her in private or whatever instead of at a party she didn't even know he was going to, but still...breaking up with a girl for rather valid reasons isn't the best way to establish a jerkass character. He could of at least been making out with another girl or something.
Brooke Nevin is pretty and has a raw charisma and natural vulnerability. Not much of a performer, really, but she has a quality that makes her likable. She's not Jennifer Love Hewitt, but she makes an arresting enough presence in an otherwise forgettable film.
Oh, shit, Zoey-the girl best friend- was on The Vampire Diaries for awhile. Good for her. I like that show. Her character was mostly pointless and then vanished without a trace, but good for her.
The Sheriff saying "It's gonna be tough every year" when the girls say that the 4th of July-the anniversary of their friends(and the sheriffs kid)death-will be tough this year...it's probably the first honest line of dialogue to occur in the film so far.
Aww, I love seeing the main character indulge in their hobbies...no, wait, I don't. It's actually kind of filler material, really. It's justification for a "scary" ski-lift scene...and we probably coulda had a movie without it.
The suicide scene is really arch but it almost works. It's a bit too Requiem For A Dream but it works as another fairly honest reaction to the events of the film: it WOULD be tough to be responsible for the death of a Friend, after all. I'm not sure why the vengeful ghost would bother interrupting or, when confronted with said ghost trying to kill him, why the kid would run away to prevent his own death. Seems like it might be a lot easier than attempting to slit your own wrists. And even if he did decide he wanted to live: he took a bunch of pills with a lot of bourbon. He shouldn't really have much in the way of escape skills. I've drank a lot of bourbon and, even without the pills, I don't think I could realistic outrun a monstrous serial killer, even if they WEREN'T a ghost.
Wow, a cop hitting on a Seventeen Year Old Girl. Stay Classy, Movie.
Zoeys dream sequence was actually a little stylish. Washed out with a grainy brown filter...it actually wasn't that bad. Nothing special, but just a little bit of directorial flare.
Wow, Zoeys band sucks.
"I'll be surrounded by security guards, what's safer than that?"
"Leaving town." Nicely done, Movie.
"Leaving town." Nicely done, Movie.
The Love Interest looks like Zach Braff. Actually, I'd pay to watch Zach Braff in a horror movie. That might actually kinda rock.
Not sure why a Vengeance demon thing would murder the dad of the person whose death he's avenging...but okay, movie.
I get that he's supernatural or whatever, but I still find myself wondering how effective the fishhook really is as a weapon.
Once again the director has sown a desire to do something a little different: There's some nice low angle, wide lens compositions here in the last act. It looks a little unusual, but that isn't really a bad thing. It stands out. Much like the washed out dream sequence, it may not be entirely effective, but it's an interesting try and keeps things lively.
Sooooo the monster is only vulnerable to his own weapon? Was he aware of that, because if he was he's really stupid. "My only weakness! Why didn't I leave it at home and just use a regular knife?!" And as soon as he's stabbed with his own weapon he's suddenly vulnerable to a thresher? Eh, it's hardly the dumbest thing they've done.
Final Thoughts: It's actually a little better than the previous installments? While Brooke Nevin is no Jennifer Love Hewitt, she continues Hewitts legacy of being a charming lead even if she has half the talent. It's much more cheaply made-it certainly can't compete with the production value or visibility of the rest of the franchise-but there's something charming about the lower values. The original might have had the stronger story, and the second may have had the best dialogue, but this last franchise entry actually brings with it some willingness to take risks and move somewhere else with the premise. It may not always work, in fact it doesn't often, but I think I liked it more because it felt the need to give some effort.
Final Rating: Two and a Half Stars.
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