Horror Movie Review: Bunnyman Vengeance (2017)

The third (and currently final entry) in the Bunnyman series, Bunnyman Vengeance comes from writer/director Carl Lindbergh and stars Michael Shaun Sandy, Omari Washington, and Joshua Lang.

Following on from 2011’s Bunnyman and 2014’s Bunnyman Massacre, Bunnyman Vengeance wraps up the trilogy in uninspired and forgettable fashion. It’s not been a great series of the movies but at least this entry tries to tell a more detailed story. One that leans even more into its Texas Chainsaw Massacre inspirations and throws in elements of The Hills Have Eyes too.

Following the events of the previous movie, Bunnyman is still causing bother to errant travellers but this time does so along with his family. A group of men with their own murderous intentions and plans to open up a haunt that is more real than anyone knows. Their only problem is keeping Bunnyman in check as he’s prone to flying off the handle and gutting anyone in his way.

Carl Lindbergh attempts to make Bunnyman a more sympathetic character in this by delving into his backstory and detailing how he ended up in the suit. That isn’t the worst idea except we’ve been with his character for two films and seen him slaughter innocent people. In fact, the opening of this movie involves Bunnyman and a dead kid. It’s not easy to feel sorry for him.

It’s one of the many confusing elements that are thrown in here. Alongside the arrival of Bunnyman’s family who are just a thing here as though they have always been in the movies. They’re the real villains of this movie but Lindbergh is borrowing extremely heavily from other movies to tell their story. Thankfully the actors are decent and play their roles with enough gusto to be memorable.

Their part in the story actually ends up dominating and pushing Bunnyman into the background. Which would be fine again if the story was interesting, but it’s not. It’s been done before and doesn’t flow well. There are far too many scenes of characters talking without actually saying anything of note. It feels like padding because it is padding.

Then there is the trippy dream sequence masquerading as a music video that completely derails the movie. Visually creative and different, but so out of place that it is absurd.

The budget is stretched quite far here and credit should be given for that. Most of the effects are decent and there is not shortage of blood. However, it’s about all the movie has going for it. There’s just not enough happening around the violence to keep anyone engaged.

So, the Bunnyman series ends with a whimper rather than a bang but based off the previous two movies, is anyone really surprised?