Pumpkinhead: Ashes to Ashes (2006)
Pumpkinhead: Ashes to Ashes is the 3rd film in the series and was released 12-years after the 2nd film and 18-years after the original. The 2nd film wasn’t really connected to the original film and should be seen as its own film. I suppose it’s a loose reboot sequel. The 3rd film ignores the 2nd and is a direct sequel to the original film. One of the main characters is Bunt Wallace a character from the original and some of his siblings return in Ashes to Ashes. Lance Henriksen also returns reprising his role of Ed Harley in visions from Bunt. Pumpkinhead: Ashes to Ashes was made for the Sy-Fi network when it was still Sci-Fi and that should tell you all you need to know. Most of the films made for Sy-Fy are rather awful though a couple work on the so bad it’s good level, but most are quite poor if I’m gonna be totally honest.
The best scenes in Ashes to Ashes would be the flashback scenes from the original film as Ashes to Ashes is quite poor. I didn’t expect much of anything from Ashes to Ashes. I hoped for one of those so bad it’s good films but it ended up being just a subpar film with shoddy CGI. I like the fact the film does tie in with the original but that’s really all that I liked outside of the footage from the original. Ashes to Ashes isn’t the worst film I’ve ever seen, not even close. I suppose it’s somewhat watchable but it can also be quite a chore to get through. Even when it’s kind of watchable it’s at no point very good.
The townspeople summon the demon Pumpkinhead when they learn the local mortician (Doug Bradley) instead of cremating the bodies of their loved ones, he’s just been dumping in a swamp and harvesting their organs to sell.
The screenplay was written by Jake West and Barbara Werner and while the idea itself isn’t too bad, but the writing is quite shoddy from start to finish. Characters also are quite weak. The concept might not be bad, but just about everything in the script is.
Co-writer Jake West also directs and the pacing of the film isn’t very good as there’s stretches where nothing really happens and while sure the writing can get a lot of the blame, but West never sets any real tone, there isn’t any suspense and the longer Pumpkknhead is off camera it can be a chore to stay focused. Though even when Pumpkinhead is on screen it isn’t very exciting either, but it’s a little something.
Whenever I write a review or essay on a film I never wanna trash a film. It’s a lot of work and fact is nobody sets out to make an awful film. But I also have to be honest. Unfortunately there’s really very little positive I can say. When the best scenes is footage from the original, there’s a problem. Like I said Pumpkinhead: Ashes to Ashes isn’t anywhere near the worst film I’ve ever seen. At no point is it a very good film but sort of watchable but as it goes on I found it quite difficult to get through.
Too bad Doug Bradley and Lance Henriksen are wasted in a subpar film.
2.5/5
The Late Night Horror Drive-In 