Hatchet For the Honeymoon is a Original Study into the Mind of a Serial Killer

 

Credit to Crappy Movie Reviews: Hatchet for the Honeymoon (1970)

I had to include a bad, fun movie for the spooky season. I honestly didn’t know what to watch for today, so I decided to choose a terrible slasher movie on purpose.

Instead of being super bored…I actually enjoyed it?

I think it had to do with one of the main plot points that I honestly thought was kind of genius for a serial killer point of view…because the killer’s main reason for killing was kind of…dumb.

The story follows a handsome young man named John Harrington. He is a serial killer who goes after young women. He is aware that he is a madman, and that no one will ever suspect him of being a killer.

He’s a bit weird.

He likes to make out with mannequins.

I wish I was joking.

He sees himself as a child haunting his adult self.

He even decides to put on lipstick and put a wedding veil on top of his head.

Why?

I honestly have no idea.

He’s a madman.

He even admits it, so I guess that makes sense?

Now let’s discuss this wonderful, dumb story.

John kills women who are going to get married, so that he could remember who killed his mother.

Credit to Hatchet for the Honeymoon — An Underrated Mario Bava Giallo Film (bloody-disgusting.com)

Now…I know what you’re thinking.

This story sounds really stupid.

But I was surprised to learn that I actually didn’t mind the plot. Even though I knew the twist was going to be that he was the one who killed his mother, I actually enjoyed the journey.

The serial killer wasn’t a generic, evil hot guy.

He actually had a personality, and he had some form of empathy. He cared about one woman named Helen Wood, that he never wanted to harm.

It was a nice touch for the film, because I think this movie would have tanked for me if the bad guy didn’t have somewhat of a decent background.

Now, let’s get to what I thought was great about this film.

John kills his wife to finally be rid of her, but there is a great psychological spin to her death.

John’s wife is a bit of an oddball like John in the film. Mildred has a fascination with taking part in seances, and doesn’t seem to mind being married to a man that she thinks is an idiot.

She tells John that she doesn't want a divorce, because she wants to be with him until they die. John loses his mind with her, and he decides to kill her, to end his marriage on his own terms. 

Then something pretty crazy happens. John spots people talking to air.

When John questions these strange occurrences, these people reveal to him that they are talking to his wife.

And he is the only one who can’t see her.

John freaks out, and goes down a path of insanity as he tries to get rid of her for good.

For me this part of the film was great.

It’s a nice spin on whether or not this is all in John’s head, or whether this is really happening.

I love horror that makes me wonder, and this film did a great job on the psychological terror with John’s character!