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.

If you haven’t already, do please check out and Like the Hickey’s House of Horrors Facebook page, which you can find here. It gives you a nice quick link to any new posts on this blog, plus regular news updates from around the web. I check the Internet so you don’t have to! Alternatively, follow me on twitter: The House @HickeysHorrors

Until next time, I hope you enjoyed your stay.

RAW REVIEW: PANDAMONIUM (2020)

Long term readers of this blog will be all too aware of my love for Mycho, the independent cinematic universe helmed by the extremely talented MJ Dixon.

With a whopping eight feature-length films already released, ranging from typical throwback slashers to psychological thrillers, from sci-if infused action flicks to supernatural chillers, the Mychoverse is a rich interconnected viewing experience.

Now, ahead of its premiere at the 2020 Horror-On-Sea Festival, Dixon and co offered me a chance to look at their latest effort in yet another sub-genre.

Pandamonium expands on the story of Slasher House II’s stripper hating, panda mask-wearing Jakob Jakushi - this time going the comedy-horror route.

Would Dixon’s talents lend themselves to giggles as well as gore?

Read on...


PANDAMONIUM (2020)



Dir: MJ Dixon

Stars: Oriana Charles, Will Jones, David Hon Ma Chu, James Hamer-Morton, Lee Mark Jones, Derek Nelson, William Marshall, Dani Thompson, Chloe Badham, Charlie Bond, Tatiana Ibba, Annie Knox, Nad Abdoolakhan, Martin W Payne, Pablo Raybould, Charlie Clarke, Susan Lee Burton


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

Arielle (Charles) has landed an admin job at top law firm Killmore & Percival. However, rather than be overjoyed at her big break she comes to realise that she is now working with a group of hard-drinking, drug-using, sexist city boys, headed up by the truly obnoxious Damian Hook (Hamer-Morton).

Forced to work late on her first day, she finds a sympathetic fellow new starter, Daniel (Jones) but things soon unravel when Damian and his cronies hire a team of strippers lead by tough as nails Jasmine (Thompson) - who lets slip a secret about Arielle’s past.

However, the arrival of Jasmine and her crew spells trouble in more ways than one - they have drawn the attention of the notorious Stripper Ripper, panda-mask wearing Jakob Jakushi (Hon Ma Chu). Now with a prime selection of victims assembled in one place, Jakushi won’t rest until he has killed them all - and anybody who gets in his way.





THE BEST BITS (mild spoiler warning): I’ve always been a fan of Mycho’s darker more serious films - as my glowing reviews of grim psychological thriller Hollower and the spookily supernatural Bannister DollHouse will attest. So I approached Dixon’s first crack at full-on comedy with some trepidation.

Thankfully, my fears were utterly misplaced. Of course, some of the wisecracks that he has written for his teen characters and the always acid-tongued Red are side-splitters, but even they could not have prepared me for how smoothly the Mycho team have made the transition to humour.

It’s a non-stop barrage of gags, some well-performed physical comedy and just enough black humour to keep things suitably dark for a movie about a misogynistic panda-headed serial killer.

That’s not to say that the script is all fluff - there’s a strong theme of female empowerment throughout (as there so often is in the Mychoverse works) which might come as a shock to those who will inevitably make snap judgements after reading the synopsis, and some surprising emotional depth to boot.

It’s easy to care for characters when they are written so well and portrayed as brilliantly as they are here.

The frankly wonderful Charles gives what might be my favourite performance in a Mycho movie yet. Her well-rounded character is given plenty to do over her arc and whether she is inspiring sympathy or awestruck admiration, she manages it effortlessly. This is one actress I cannot wait time to see more of.

Equally great is young Tom Hardy-alike Will Jones, who shows real likeability along with serious acting chops. Remember that name, he’s going places.

I also loved the work of Thompson who manages to inject some nice humorous moments into her tough girl performance. I’m crossing all non-essential appendages that we’ll see her cross paths with Red one day.

Speaking of comedy, none deliver as many laughs as our deplorable city boys, with Hamer-Morton chewing the scenery with great aplomb every time he’s on screen. He reminds me of Ralph Inneson’s Chris Finch from The Office - a huge twat but so unapologetically awful you can’t help but grin every time he pops up.

The same holds for the delightfully deranged Lee Mark Jones and Nelson. The pair were in some of the funniest moments in the movie, and while they may not have been the subtlest characters their OTT energy was precisely what the film needed. Bravo gents.

Rounding out the frightful foursome was a familiar Mycho face in the form of Marshall. He’s great too as are the other returning Mycho alum.

Regular readers will know how much of a fan I am of the terrifically talented Badham - so I was delighted to see her back again - while a welcome albeit short appearance by the great Payne also added massively to the film.

In truth there are no weak links - Bond, Ibba and Abdoolakhan are all ace - but one of the very biggest pleasures came from seeing the return of the incredible David Hon Ma Chu. A horror movie is as only as good as its threat - and in this case, we have a superb performance. He made a big impression during his extended cameo at the beginning of Slasher House II - here he has so much more to do and really makes the most of it. It’s difficult to portray a character when your facial expressions are covered all the time, but his laconic and derisive delivery makes for a chillingly realistic yet bizarrely charming psychopath. He makes Jakushi a Ted Bundy-like bear headed buddy and it totally works. A post-credits message suggests there might be more to come for this character - if David Hon Ma Chu is attached then count me in.

It’s not just the wit, warmth and performances that make Pandamonium a must watch - the film never forgets that a horror movie needs scares too. There are some tense set-pieces scattered throughout the film, shot with Dixon’s usual impeccable timing and eye for framing, and the kills are shockingly brutal at times.

Dixon’s eye-catching use of colour (a trademark in Mycho’s output) is as on point as ever while the snappy editing (especially during a Commando-esque tooling up sequence involving office stationery) gives an already electric flick even more energy.

THE WORST BITS (mild spoiler warning): It is becoming boring to write this caveat to low budget indie horror, but once again I need to stress that Pandamonium was a labour of love assembled on a shoestring budget. The cost of this movie is probably less than that spent on catering for your typical big studio Hollywood horror movie.

Pandamonium looks fantastic 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 adjust your expectations accordingly- it’s very much worth it.

For example, the offices of celebrated law firm Killmore & Percival don’t exactly suggest the workplace of a top affluent business. There are no wide bright marble hallways or pristine boardrooms with huge mahogany tables. Instead, it’s a more typical looking office setting. I’m sure with a bigger location budget and unlimited research time Dixon would have shot in a building straight out of LA Law. Instead, the Mycho team did what they do best - take what is available and scale it up to purpose. This is just one more reason to praise their work, not a stick to beat them with.

While I praised the work of the larger cast, it does feel as if a few characters could have used a little more screen time. Of course, when you have a slasher movie you need bodies to up the body count, but it does feel as if a couple of characters have little more than a few minutes of meaningful screen time before they are dispatched. This is a tough one to address - make the movie much longer and it can risk feeling bloated. Ultimately I suppose this is a testimony to Dixon’s characters - the only flaw I could find was that I wanted more!




THE VERDICT: For the last few years MJ, Anna and their team at Mycho have asked me to check out their latest movies ahead of their big premieres at the Horror On Sea Festival in Southend each January. And every year I have been inspired to write ebulliently positive reviews for their efforts.

This streak continues with Pandamonium.

Die Hard meets Severance by way of Halloween, this mishmash of mirthful and murderous mayhem is a resounding hit. Great comedy, superb performances, some killer horror sequences and a lightning pace that never lets up make this another indie must-see from Mycho.

Trust me in this case you will have no choice but to grin and ‘bear’ it!

Pandamonium will premiere at Horror on Sea on 18 January. You can buy tickets for the event here.

In the meantime, why not read more about the movie at its official Facebook page. Or better yet, hit up the Mycho Patreon and help them create more quality indie horror.

If you haven’t already, do please check out and Like the Hickey’s House of Horrors Facebook page, which you can find here. It gives you a nice quick link to any new posts on this blog, plus regular news updates from around the web. I check the Internet so you don’t have to! Alternatively, follow me on twitter: The House @HickeysHorrors

Until next time, I hope you enjoyed your stay.