Blood Night: The Legend of Mary Hatchet

Blood Night: The Legend of Mary Hatchet is a 2009 American horror film directed by Frank Sabatella and starring Bill Moseley, Danielle Harris, and Nate Dushku. The film is centered around the urban legend of Mary Hatchet, a young girl who supposedly murdered her family with an axe in the late 1970s and was subsequently killed by the police. Years later, on the anniversary of her death, a group of teenagers find themselves haunted and hunted by her vengeful spirit.

Plot

The story begins with a brief background on Mary Mattock's gruesome murder of her family, which earned her the nickname "Mary Hatchet." After being committed to a psychiatric hospital, she is raped by a guard and gives birth to a baby that is immediately taken from her, leading her to go on another killing spree before being shot dead by the police. The film then fast-forwards to a group of high school students who decide to celebrate "Blood Night," a local tradition that commemorates the anniversary of Mary Hatchet's death, with a party. As the night progresses, they are terrorized by a mysterious figure, leading to a bloody and brutal series of events that connect back to the legend of Mary Hatchet.

Cast

• Bill Moseley as Graveyard Gus
• Danielle Harris as Alissa
• Nate Dushku as Alex
• Samantha Facchi as Mary Mattock
• Anthony Marks as Chris
• Billy Magnussen as Eric

Production

The film was shot primarily in Long Island, New York. Director Frank Sabatella aimed to create a horror film that paid homage to the slasher films of the 1980s, incorporating traditional elements of the genre such as a high body count, a supernatural killer, and a final girl.

Reception

Blood Night: The Legend of Mary Hatchet received mixed reviews from critics. Some praised its homage to 1980s slasher films and its gore effects, while others criticized its plot and character development. Despite the mixed critical reception, the film has gained a cult following among fans of the horror genre.

Themes

The film explores themes common in slasher and horror films, such as revenge from beyond the grave, the sins of the past haunting the present, and the idea of urban legends and their impact on local culture. It also touches on issues of mental health and the consequences of violence.

See Also

• Slasher film
• Urban legend
• Horror film