Horror Movie Review: CarousHELL 3 (2023)

It had to happen, didn’t it? It’s the horror way after all. CarousHELL 3 comes from director Steve Rudzinski, who co-wrote the story with Aleen Isley.

So, where did we leave Duke? Being a good father to Robbie and getting on with life as a carousel unicorn now that he’s a good guy. Having initially broke free of his carousel prison and going on a murderous rampage in the first film (read our review here), Duke faced off against Nazis in the second film, and won (read our review here).

So, what new threat will Duke have to contend with? Or does CarousHELL 3 take us back to the series’ roots with Duke using his horn to stab some fools? Unfortunately, it’s the former as the character shift that Duke experienced in the second film is here to stay. Not that there’s anything really to complain about here, as this version of Duke (voiced again by Steve Rimpici) is very likable.

Which makes his film’s new threat the most dangerous of all. A threat that comes from Duke’s past (not the Nazi past), knows more about Duke than he does, and will stop at nothing to get his power.

It’s a sultry carousel rabbit, because, of course it is.

That’s not the only issue Duke has to contend with this time though. The pizza man Joe (Steve Rudzinski) is also back and he wants revenge for what Duke did to him in the first film. Refusing to believe for a second that Duke is good now.

This is not the only callback to the series’ start that CarousHELL 3 has to offer either and there is a strong sense of the story coming full circle. All while new and interesting characters are introduced ensuring that regardless of the continued tone change of the series, blood, guts, and sex is still very much on the cards.

If you’re familiar with the series to date, then you won’t be surprised by what CarousHELL 3 has to offer, outside of a more coherent plot. All the ridiculousness of the series is on show, yet, this film feels like a payoff for the fans who have invested in the insanity and it’s fair to say that should there never be another entry, CarousHELL 3 ended things in satisfying fashion.