Pumpkinhead 4: Blood Feud

(2007) ***

Jodie Hatfield and her boyfriend Ricky McCoy are passionately in love. The only hiccup in their otherwise perfect relationship is the fact that their respective families have been in a bitter feud for decades (Hatfield and McCoys feuding, hmmmm). After some careful planning the two lovers meet up in the woods late one night to have sex by the well from The Ring. Ricky’s younger sister agreed to act as a lookout so the two could bang in peace. When two hillbilly Hatfield boys show up to ruin this romantic moment, Ricky’s sister is accidentally killed while attempting to warn her brother of the impending danger. Although the Hatfields were not technically at fault, Ricky vows vengeance.



Seeking the aid of the local witch in the woods, Ricky conjures up Pumpkinhead to murder all the Hatfields (except his gal pal). Meanwhile Bishop from Alien, who must be hurting for some work, show up as a ghost periodically to warn Ricky about the price he’ll pay if he doesn’t stop the carnage. Ricky ignores Bishop, however, and Pumpkinhead begins his hillbilly kill-spree.



Yes this is a silly movie, but you know what you’re getting into when you watch a Pumpkinhead film. Actually I’ve never seen Pumpkinhead 2 or 3 but I dug the original enough to check out this installment. Pumpkinhead 4 follows the same formula as the original whereby a grief-stricken individual invokes the wrath of Pumpkinhead only to regret it later. Although Pumpkinhead looks like a man in a rubber outfit, the FX have improved over time and he’s a decent enough creature to hold the premise together. The kills are brutal, including several intestine-spilling scenes, and the action never slows down. Fun, stupid stuff and perfect for Horrorthon.