RAW REVIEW: CLEAVER 3 - MAXIMUM CLEAVAGE

After a short hiatus (about as long as the one I took from this blog!) MJ Dixon's Mychoverse is back, with not one but two brand-new entries!

Both movies see us return to the extended horror cinematic universe’s rogue’s gallery with a new outing for the notorious Bannister dolls coming soon, but first - killer clown Cleaver.

Following on from 2019’s Cleavers, this movie continues the twisted tale of the vicious clown’s family. 

With Mary-Beth Layton already proving to be just as deadly as her serial killer father, the creative folk over at Mycho have decided to team her with a few familiar faces in an exciting new setting for this third installment.

Will the gamble pay off - or is the joke on the audience?

Read on...

CLEAVER 3: MAXIMUM CLEAVAGE (2026)

Dir: MJ Dixon

Stars: HOLLY-ANNE DODKINS, WILLIAM MARSHALL, DAVID HON MA CHU, LEWIS COOPER, SONJA SEVA, ADAM LEZEMORE, AARON JACKSON, BEN MANNING, MARTIN W PAYNE, PHOEBE BAKKER, KIMBERLEY LASI, MOLLY BROWN

SPEEDY SYNOPSIS: I’ll try not to spoil too much here but continue at your own risk.

The movie opens with the authorities closing on Lil’ Miss Cleaver (Holly-Anne Dodkins) in her latest trap-laden hidey hole. Predictably, there is soon much bloodshed. But a touch less predictably, the sequence culminates in the capture of the budding slasher.

The authorities waste no time intending her to a maximum security prison - The Chamber - that holds the worst of the worst - and to illustrate this, we are reintroduced to a handful of monsters that should already be familiar to long-term Mycho fans - Mr Stitch (William Marshall), the Panda-headed Stripper Ripper (David Hon Ma Chu),  C’Nucklehead (Lewis Cooper), and the Man in the Mirro (Aaron Jackson) - all of whom were last seen hacking their way through a selection of victims in Slasher House 3: Rebooted - and actor Adam Lezemore, who hilariously, has no idea how he ended up in a movie filled with fictional killers.

Downtrodden and incarcerated through cutting-edge tech, the group soon become the personal playthings of the twisted Warden (Martin W Payne).

Eventually, Mary-Beth and her fellow inmates decide enough is enough, and set in action a daring plan to escape and exact revenge on their oppressors…

THE BEST BITS (mild spoiler warning): Following the tragic and untimely death of original Cleaver actor Paul Rogers in 2020, the Mycho crew were faced with a big decision - recast or pivot? Out of respect to their late friend, the group decided instead to take a risk, shifting the spotlight and thinking outside the box for subsequent entries in the series. This risk-taking has led to tremendous imagination on their part - and that is abundant in Cleaver 3: Maximum Carnage.

The film bounces along at a rapid rate, complete with fun plot twists, thrilling action sequences, plenty of biting humour, and some nice character development for some of the new faces that may have had more limited screentime in the past.

It helps that these actors are so good - Dodkins is the focal point of this movie, and she effortlessly steps back into the role she played so well in Cleavers. She nails the Harley Quinn-like mannerisms, making Mary-Beth an unhinged but compelling screen presence.

The returning Manning shows nice chemistry with newcomer Seva, and they add a nice, down-to-earth human element to this larger-than-life rollercoaster ride.

Marshall is a real highlight of the movie; he regularly plays smaller roles in the Mycho catalogue so this bigger part is well-deserved. That he does so brilliantly as the monstrous Cletus Sawney is just a further testimony to that fact.

I've spoken at length about how awesome David Hon Ma Chu is (not least in his character's previous spin-off movie Pandamonium). He has consistently proven himself to be among the finest actors in the Mycho troupe, and he does typically fantastic work here. I'm already looking forward to his return in the upcoming Pandamonium Incorporated!

Another regular collaborator is Payne, who also receives a larger role in this movie as the villainous Warden Warner. He's always a joy to watch, and this outing is no exception. Sure, maybe the accent wobbles a little at times, but he's having so much fun chewing the scenery as an out-and-out bad guy you can't help but get carried away by his work.

A special highlight is the brilliantly funny way in which Lezemore is incorporated, oozing fish-out-of-water confusion and at the heart of the movie's funniest moments.

The setting is almost a character in its own right, and shows that microbudget maestro MJ Dixon is far from running out of ideas for the Mychoverse. The Chamber is a brilliant addition - expanding on the shadowy tech and authorities already featured in the Slasherhouse flicks, and also giving our leads a decent dilemma to overcome as part of the storyline.

Dixon has previously said the movie was heavily influenced by the likes of Fortress (with its high-tech penitentiary), Con Air and The Devil's Rejects (with their rogue's gallery of interesting anti-heroes) - and those factors make for a heady, action-packed mix.

However, I'd argue it bears a striking resemblance to another title, too. If the Slasherhouse movies are the Mychoverse's Avengers, this is its Civil War - a smaller, more character-driven crossover with plenty of big moments for fans of the series.

THE WORST BITS (mild spoiler warning):  Perhaps the most obvious point to open, but one which is worth starting - Cleaver 3 is the third part in a trilogy of movies, with close links to multiple other horror films, several chapters into an ongoing and evolving cinematic universe. As such, this is not very newcomer-friendly.

Cleaver 3 was also created using a far smaller budget than your typical big studio (or even small studio) Hollywood horror movie.

It does look great for a film with such humble resources - but it is still a low-budget film. This means that at times it can become a little rough around the edges. Please do bear this in mind.

Finally, and this is only a minor issue, but the decision to cast some of these characters as heroes is pretty risky - not least Jakob Jakushi's, whose attitude towards women in his previous outing makes him very much a villainous character, even when he starts slashing despotic jailors. Perhaps this is the start of a redemption arc?

THE VERDICT: The good folk at Maycho never fail to impress me with their imagination, and Cleaver 3 is a fabulous example of the ingenious ways they find to spin new stories.

Despite setback after setback, and near-crippling budgetary constraints, Dixon and his team continue to deliver again and again. That the third movie in a series could be its freshest yet is truly mind-boggling.

It's fun, funny, and blends in some impressive action sequences, while giving memorable characters, dialogue, and a truly unique plot.

With a credit scene suggesting there's more on the way, count me as part of the Cleaver club!

You can read more about the movie at its official website. Or better yet, hit up the Mycho Patreon and help them create more quality indie horror.

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Until next time, I hope you enjoyed your stay.