Oh my how the mighty have fallen..and fallen very very far!
Silent Night, Deadly Night III: Better Watch Out! (1989)
Directed By: Monte Hellman (Cockfighter)
The Prologue
Well lets see here, first we had Silent Night, Deadly Night that had parents all up in arms due to the fact we had an axe swinging Santa running around. Then we had Silent Night, Deadly Night 2 that picked up where that left off this time with Billy’s brother Ricky. Now that movie was 85% flashbacks to the first film but it had it’s moment’s with the “Garbage Day!” scene.
So we come to Silent Night, Deadly Night 3 finally out now on DVD (With 4 and 5 as well) thanks to Lions Gate. And while it’s good to at least have this movie on DVD would it have killed them to have cleaned the film up a bit?? Full screen in VHS quality folks! And while I like my VHS I don’t like it when it’s on my damn DVD! Either way, how was the actual movie you ask??
The Movie
Sooo Ricky wakes up after being in a coma for the past six years and he’s still pissy..perhaps because he went from being all strong and buff looking to looking like Bill Moesley? I dunno, but thanks in a large part to a crazed scientist and a blind psychic girl named Laura, Ricky is back just in time for Christmas!! HO! HO! HO!
Well it’s not pretty folks. For every Otis or Chop Top role the loved Bill Moesley has gotten over the years he has also gotten a role in a movie like this, and while he’s fine and dandy in what he does he doesn’t bring much to the table here..probably due to the fact not even he could polish this turd. He (dressed with a helmet that is showing his brain) just looks silly, the movie makes no sense, and the leading lady here is pretty none sympathetic for a blind girl. The only amusement to is that not only does Ricky look like the Juggernaut in that helmet he is busting through doors with ease just like the Juggernaut!
And really what was with these guys having Bill take over the role of Ricky?? Ricky was a very strong looking kid (as was his brother) while the role wouldn’t take anything special in the way of acting to play I wounder why they didn’t just shave the head of the dude who plays Laura’s brother Chris and have him play the role..it would have fit better. No offense Bill but you could have done yourself a favor avoiding this thing all together sir.
As for gore here it’s pretty none existent, while it has it’s little moments most happens off camera. Oh and did I say the plot makes very little sense?? Cause it’s pretty dumb even if this was a late 80′s slasher. And how are we going to have a Silent Night, Deadly Night without someone doing the killing IN a Santa suit?? That would be like Jason doing the killing without a mask for a whole movie.
The Conclusion
I’m sorry folks but the Garbage Day Scene in part 2 was way better than this whole thing. And you should probably all pity me because I still will have two more of these things to go..Even finding the will to watch the other two may be a hard task.
It’s been a mighty big fall from the original which to this day is one of my favorites of all-time. And if it’s getting worse after this then I may be forced to sit in a corner somewhere and mumble to myself old quotes from the first two while rocking back and forth!…AVOID!!
The Rating (3/10)
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