SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT 3: BETTER WATCH OUT (1989)
Directed by Monte Hellman
Starring Richard Beymer and Bill Moseley
Pretty silly sequel is technically superior to the first two in the series. It isn't as shocking or disturbing as Part 1 or as unintentionally hilarious as Part 2, but the acting is better. Also, Ricky (the psycho who killed people while wearing a Santa suit) doesn't even dress up as Kris Kringle in this one. Bummer.
The story: A blind psychic connects with the consciousness of the comatose Ricky, whose brain has been medically reconstructed after having it nearly blown off in the second film. He awakens from his coma, kills off a drunk guy dressed as Santa and goes looking for the psychic. Part of his head is missing, so his brain is visible through a Plexiglas cap.
The predictable "Wait Until Dark" thrills and chills result, with the blind girl up against a killer. Watchable, but totally unoriginal slasher film is a big step up from the laughable second entry. Fans of the cult television series "Twin Peaks" will notice Beymer, who plays the doctor who resurrected Ricky in this film. He played the character of Ben Horn on "Peaks." Eric Da Re, who plays one of the good guys in this movie, also starred on "Twin Peaks." He was the wife-beater Leo. Laura Harring is also in it. She would go on to star in David Lynch's "Mulholland Drive." So this film has a Lynch-esque vibe attached to it.
More sequels followed.