Silent Night Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out (1989)

(out of 5)

Silent Night, Deadly Night 3:  Better Watch Out

directed by:  Monte Hellman

starring:  Samantha Scully, Bill Moseley, Richard C. Adams, Robert Culp, Laura Harring , Eric DeRae, Leonard Mann                         

Format:  VHS Personal Collection

Every year I watch Silent Night Deadly Night 3:  Better Watch Out and have for years.  Like the second film we follow the bloody trail of the younger brother Ricky from the first film.    Bill Moseley plays Ricky in this one who was not shot in the head of Part 2 but for effect they added that to the story and reconstructed a brain in a glass dome on top of his head.  Campy awesomeness which only adds even more silliness to these terrible sequels.  I mean the first one was campy yes but more of a good campiness instead of nearing just bad campiness like the second film.  My big problem with this one though is the lack of good kills and body count.  Even the 40 minutes of actual story-line in Part 2 had some cool cheeseball effect kills but in this movie eh no way.  Rick escapes from the hospital where he was in a deep coma for many years and goes out in search of a blind girl named Laura whom has been communicating with Ricky telepathically during an experiment with Ricky's doctor. 

            Poor Ricky can barely speak but does manage to make it all the way to Laura's grandmothers house before even she and her brother and his girlfriend arrive.  Laura's brothers hair is another great part of this movie.  Ah the eighties were great for hair and fashion.  Robert Culp makes an appearance as the police officer escorting Ricky's doctor in the search for Ricky before he finds Laura.  Robert is a favorite of mine big time because of the original Outer Limits series so that's definitely a personal plus for me watching it.  Well it was too late for that and Ricky's body count or lack there of piles up.              It really was a waste of Bill Moseley I must say.  For a man with a creeping look and terrifying voice it was a total waste.  For examples see the second Texas Chainsaw Massacre film and Rob Zombie's Devil's Rejects not to mention his voice-over additions to the Evil Ed movie I love so much.  They really could have made Ricky a nasty customer instead of zombie.  Oh well he was in a coma...yes that's correct but if we're following medical science here then he would not have been able to walk anyway.  I remember when I first picked up the vhs case in the rental store and being so excited for a movie with that Bill Moseley guy cause he's crazy.  Eh disappointed there big time.

            You can't expect much with films like this but overall I was disappointed.  However like I said I watch it every year from the so-bad it's good stand point and for the fact that any horror film basically that falls on Christmas about a killer santa I will watch.  I mean I suffered through that Goldberg movie many moons ago but that's a whole different story and review.  Anywho I really do not recommend it unless you're in the mood for campy silliness that kind of drags even when Ricky is on the chase towards the end.