Roll (Blood) Tide! A review of “The Third Saturday In October” & “The Third Saturday in October parts I and V!”

Jakkariah Harding (Antonio Woodruff) and his trademark hearse.

“The Third Saturday In October” might sound like a satirical title for a slasher film, and well, it is.  But it’s also the day Tennessee and Alabama face off in one of the game’s oldest rivalries, and a major event for football fans. Writer/director Jay Burleson has made a throwback horror film set in 1979, Alabama, during the aforementioned game: “The Third Saturday in October.” 

The film is marketed as a recently-unearthed slasher film from the 80’s featuring Jakkariah Harding, a death row inmate who survives his electrocution, only to murder some sports fans who are trying to enjoy the game.

With me so far?  Good, because there’s more.

Burleson has also made a SECOND feature, “The Third Saturday in October Part V (gotta love the return of Roman numerals to horror films, right?).”  Despite being titled “Part V," there are no parts II-IV, and it’s recommended you watch V before the “original.” No need for a flow chart. Burleson knows all about going to the video store and trying to rent part VI when all they have is part III, and if you grew up on horror movies in a certain time, you might, too (I never saw a single famous horror franchise in chronological order until “Saw.”).  But how are the actual films?

These posters are incredible…

‘Part V’ starts without much preamble, aside from a recap of part I.  We’ve learned Jakkariah Harding has risen from the dead to terrorize the town of Haddon-er, Hackleburg, Alabama four times since 1979.  He’s back for a new beginning, driving a hearse on his way to kill folks who are distracted by the big game.  Along the way, we meet a little girl named PJ and her babysitter Maggie, who find their way (surprise) in Harding’s path.  If you’re grinning just reading this, these films are for you.

And if you’re making a horror movie set in 1994, you’re filming a scene in a video store where a character rents a horror movie.  “Part V” doesn’t do the obvious by having PJ rent a slasher film, but rather “Class of Nukem High,” a Troma film.  It occurred to me how appropriate this was once I realized that both “Third Saturday'' films feel more like Troma films by way of Funny or Die than actual slashers.  There's still a good amount of blood spray that Burleson gleefully lights just like the direct-to-video films of the early 90’s. 

…I mean they’re just gold.

Part I (“the original”) is less subtle than the lo-fi heyday of the early 90s, but man does it revel in some good 70’s cheesiness.  This entry has more John Carpenter references than a Robert Rodriguez trivia night.  We begin with Harding’s botched execution and quickly segue into Harding making the rounds, hacking away at 1970’s charc-er, stereotypes while being pursued by a Dr. Loomis-esque character who wants revenge, AND a Marion Chambers-esque nurse with a very Marion Chambers-esque smoking habit.   

PJ (Poppy Cunningham-L) and Maggie (Kansas Bowling-R) getting ready to hit Catfish Cabin.

The casts of both films understand to play all the cliche hits before they’re dispatched.  Everyone’s in on the joke here including Lew Temple and Onur Turkel, who make baffling, but welcome cameos.  Major standouts include Kansas Bowling and Poppy Cunningham, “Part V’s” babysitter final girl and her charge, respectively, who have a winning chemistry.  Cunningham in particular is a hoot.  In fact, most of the characters feel slightly more realistic in “part V,” which makes for a nice contrast to the absurdity of “part I,” which features a token sexy blonde victim who’s somehow ALWAYS dancing.  It’s a funny gag, but it wears out its welcome just before Harding goes in for the kill. 

Vicki Newton (K.J. Baker-L) and Ricky Dean Logan (Darius Willis-R) are Harding’s pursuers in part 1. Check out this “vintage” still.

Burleson seems to have made this double feature with the explicit goal of getting on “The Last Drive-In.”  Watching both back-to-back would be an ideal viewing experience, though I’m honestly not sure why they recommended watching V before I.  While both films try a bit too hard at times, they’re fun, handcrafted throwbacks to the times of saying “dammit, part VI is out AGAIN!?” while the video store clerk shrugs at you.  Here’s hoping Burleson and company get to make that part 6.  Joe Bob Briggs should have the silver bolo at the ready.

Both films come to digital and VOD on May 5th.

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