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Pumpkinhead: Ashes to Ashes

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Pumpkinhead: Ashes to Ashes
Official release poster
GenreSlasher, horror
Based onPumpkinhead
by Ed Justin
Screenplay byJake West
Barbara Werner
Directed byJake West
StarringLance Henriksen
Doug Bradley
Theme music composerRob Lord
Country of originUnited Kingdom
United States
Romania
Switzerland
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducersBrad Krevoy
Pierre Spengler
Donald Kushner
CinematographyErik Alexander Wilson
EditorJustin Rogers
Running time91 minutes
Production companiesMPCA
Castel Film Romania
Clubdeal
Original release
NetworkSci Fi Channel
Related

Pumpkinhead: Ashes to Ashes is a 2006 made-for-television supernatural slasher horror film and the third installment in the Pumpkinhead film series of horror films. The film is directed by Jake West (Evil Aliens), who co-wrote the screenplay with Barbara Werner.

Plot

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Pumpkinhead: Ashes to Ashes plotline follows more closely to the first film, with townspeople angered over the local mortician stealing and selling the organs of their loved ones and then dumping the corpses in a swamp, rather than cremating them. When the townspeople find out, they have the old witch Haggis summon Pumpkinhead through the mummified body of Ed Harley (played by Lance Henriksen, who reprises his role from the first film). Pumpkinhead then proceeds to go on his killing rampage murdering all those responsible for the desecration, while Doc Frasier (Doug Bradley) hurries to murder those who summoned Pumpkinhead, which will effectively kill the demon in the process.

Cast

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  • Doug Bradley as Dr. "Doc" Fraser
  • Lance Henriksen as Ed Harley
  • Lisa McAllister as Dahlia Wallace
  • Tess Panzer as Molly Sue Allen
  • Emanuel Parvu as Oliver Allen
  • Ioana Ginghina as Ellie Johnson
  • Douglas Roberts as Bunt Wallace
  • Radu Iacobian as Richie
  • Catalin Paraschiv as Ronnie Johnson
  • Dan Astileanu as Sheriff Bullock
  • Dicu Aurel as Tiny Wallace
  • Iulian Glita as Junior Wallace
  • Lynne Verrall as Haggis
  • Emil Hostina as Lenny
  • Philip Bowen as Reverend McGee
  • Vasilescu Valentin as Deputy Ben
  • Bart Sidles as Fred
  • Mircea Stoian as Agent Bensen
  • Radu Banzaru as Agent Black

Production

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Initially announced as Pumpkinhead 3, it was filmed back-to-back with another sequel titled Pumpkinhead 4 in Bucharest, Romania. The films were renamed Pumpkinhead: Ashes to Ashes and Pumpkinhead: Blood Feud, respectively, before their release.[1][better source needed]

Lance Henriksen had been asked by the producers of Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings to return, but Henriksen declined having read the script deeming it "terrible".[2] Henriksen returned to the role of Ed Harley after talking with Ashes to Ashes director Jake West and Blood Feud director Michael Hurst responding positively to their ideas and excited to play Ed Harley as a ghost.[2] In contrast to prior films most of the effects work was done with CGI rather than practical effects.[2]

Release

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Pumpkinhead: Ashes to Ashes premiered on SCI FI on October 28, 2006, followed by a home video release on March 27, 2007.[3][4]

Reception

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Ian Jane of DVD Talk rated it 2/5 stars and criticized its "cheap, shoddy filmmaking".[5] Dread Central rated it 2/5 stars and wrote: "Despite the cast and crew's obvious devotion to the original, Ashes to Ashes hits every pitfall in the low-budget realm".[6] Virginia Heffernan of The New York Times called it unmemorable and "rote slasher stuff".[7] In an interview with YouTuber Comic Book Girl 19, Lance Henriksen expressed his disappointment with the film.[8]

References

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  1. ^ Larsen, Dave (2006-10-13). "'PUMPKINHEAD' YOU CAN'T KEEP A GOOD HORROR FRANCHISE DOWN". Dayton Daily News. Archived from the original on 2014-07-18. Retrieved 2014-07-16 – via HighBeam Research.
  2. ^ a b c Butane, Johnny (19 October 2006). "Exclusive: Lance Talks Pumpkinhead!". dreadcentral.com. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  3. ^ McCutcheon, David (2007-01-30). "Pumpkinhead Returns". IGN. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
  4. ^ "Blood, Gore, Demons and the Suburban Life". The New York Times. October 27, 2006. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  5. ^ Jane, Ian (2007-03-14). "Pumpkinhead: Ashes to Ashes". DVD Talk. Retrieved 2014-07-16.
  6. ^ "Pumpkinhead: Ashes to Ashes (DVD)". Dread Central. 2006-10-27. Retrieved 2014-07-16.
  7. ^ Heffernan, Virginia (2006-10-27). "Pumpkinhead: Ashes to Ashes". The New York Times. Retrieved 2014-07-16.
  8. ^ Comic Book Girl 19 (10 September 2014). Ep79: Interview with Lance Henriksen, Harbinger Down, Aliens, To Hell you Ride. Archived from the original on 2021-12-14 – via YouTube.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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