Excited to see each other at their five year high school reunion, classmates Angie (Antoinette Nikprelaj) and Eva (Maria Hildreth) reunite earlier than expected when they individually stumble upon Ike's (Kane Hodder) gas station off of exit 33. Ike operates the only gas station in the deeply wooded area populated with deer hunters, and unluckily for travelers his service station is open and hunting season has begun.
While this horror film doesn't bring anything new to the eyes of horror aficionados, it is refreshing to see actor Kane Hodder step out from behind a mask. In this film he effectively demonstrates he can emote beyond the limitations placed upon him during his extensive fourteen year run as infamous masked murderer Jason Voorhees.
The instances when Hodder displayed a softer side to his character were surprisingly believable, and garnered sympathy for the killer. Knowing the actor's previous work, it is hard to imagine this imposingly muscular man having a sentimental moment with a child portraying his son, but it is in fact quite endearing.
However, don't think Hodder completely separates his character Ike from the role that horror fans know him best for. While there are differences between the stylistic killings of each, similarities arise as well. For instance, the attire his character dons throughout the film is the similar coveralls uniform. While the dark blue coveralls are indeed commonly worn by those in Ike's profession of gas station attendants, this uniform is also a popular one among killers. Whether you're worried about oil stains or perhaps a bit of unexpected arterial spray, this is a popular choice for those who might get messy on the job.
Fans will also appreciate the tongue in cheek humor as Ike idly flips through a Fangoria magazine, scoffing “Yeah, that's scary.” only to later reveal the cover advertising Jason X, the last time Hodder wielded the machete as Jason Voorhees.
As for the gore displayed throughout the film, there was a bit of a blood drought. Perhaps that is just the desensitization speaking from watching years of horror films, but the blood and guts seemed weak. One particular gag I enjoyed was a victim being knocked out by a blow delivered by Hodder with not his fist, but instead with a severed head.
While this film was not memorable for the victims screaming on screen or the blood running down it, it did reveal a different side of Hodder. Hopefully his work in Exit 33 will earn him similar roles in future films where he does not need to hide behind a mask or facial prostheses.
