In theory, "SNDN3: Better Watch Out" couldn't possibly disappoint, or at least not disappoint more than the godawful part II. It's actually even a miracle that producers still wanted to invest money in another sequel, since part II was a bunch of shameless and stupid shenanigans that existed for more than 50% out of recycled footage of the original. Number 3 looks so much better, for starters thanks to the names of the director and several cast members! Monte Hellman admittedly hadn't accomplished much since his cult-classics "Cockfighter" and "Two-Lane Blacktop" in the early 70s, but he nevertheless remains a gifted director to have on board. Bill Moseley, instantly a horror icon thanks to his OTT performance as the demented Chop Top in Tobe Hooper's "Texas Chainsaw Massacre II" takes over the role of Christmas-Killer Ricky, and there are several more intriguing players, including Robert Culp and Leonard Mann, and the future David Lynch collaborators Richard Beymer, Eric Da Re and the stunningly beautiful Laura Harring. This can't go wrong, can it?
Alas, it can. I'll happily admit that "Better Watch Out!" shows good intentions and even attempts to come up with an ambitious & convoluted plot (in which the comatose killer Ricky gets telepathically linked to a blind psychic lady via her dreams), but the pacing is too slow, the script is too ridiculous, and the action/gore is far too underwhelming. My mate and I never quite figured out what Dr. Newbury's big plan was for connecting a relentless killer with a poor blind girl, but we're still willing to overlook that. The film's dumbness only starts when Ricky wakes up from his coma. Apparently it only takes a drunken & foul-mouthed Santa to wake someone from a coma. Then, our killer literally shuffles out of the hospital and onto the interstate in his nightgown, whilst leaving a trail of dead bodies behind him, yet nobody ever notices anything peculiar. Did I mention that Ricky's skull is replaced with a sort of fish bowl through which you can see his brain, by the way? Anyway, Ricky obviously goes after the yummy blind girl, but his doctor and the investigating police officer don't seem in a big hurry to go after him. As much as we enjoyed Laura Harring's bathtub sequences and a few moments of sardonic humor (the gas station's head), it's nearly not enough to compensate for the film's tediousness and sloth. I haven't seen part V ("The Toy Maker") yet, but it seems safe to assume that only the original "Silent Night, Deadly Night" is worth checking out in this franchise, and - to a lesser extent - maybe also the semi-remake of "Silent Night" (2012)
Alas, it can. I'll happily admit that "Better Watch Out!" shows good intentions and even attempts to come up with an ambitious & convoluted plot (in which the comatose killer Ricky gets telepathically linked to a blind psychic lady via her dreams), but the pacing is too slow, the script is too ridiculous, and the action/gore is far too underwhelming. My mate and I never quite figured out what Dr. Newbury's big plan was for connecting a relentless killer with a poor blind girl, but we're still willing to overlook that. The film's dumbness only starts when Ricky wakes up from his coma. Apparently it only takes a drunken & foul-mouthed Santa to wake someone from a coma. Then, our killer literally shuffles out of the hospital and onto the interstate in his nightgown, whilst leaving a trail of dead bodies behind him, yet nobody ever notices anything peculiar. Did I mention that Ricky's skull is replaced with a sort of fish bowl through which you can see his brain, by the way? Anyway, Ricky obviously goes after the yummy blind girl, but his doctor and the investigating police officer don't seem in a big hurry to go after him. As much as we enjoyed Laura Harring's bathtub sequences and a few moments of sardonic humor (the gas station's head), it's nearly not enough to compensate for the film's tediousness and sloth. I haven't seen part V ("The Toy Maker") yet, but it seems safe to assume that only the original "Silent Night, Deadly Night" is worth checking out in this franchise, and - to a lesser extent - maybe also the semi-remake of "Silent Night" (2012)