You only have to visit one horror convention to understand why, twelve years after Pumpkinhead 2: Blood Wings hit the scene, we're now getting a pair of seriously unnecessary sequels. (Pumpkinhead 4: Blood Feud aired last month.) It's because horror fans are painfully loyal patrons, and they've agreed that the Pumpkinhead character is pretty damn evil, vicious and slick-looking. I suppose we can blame thank director Stan Winston for creating a low-budget 1989 monster movie that the fanbase really embraced, and (as always) those loyal fans are being summarily punished for making the original Pumpkinhead an underground hit on home video. (I actually have kind of a soft spot for Pumpkinhead 2, mindlessly entertaining trash that it is.)

Speaking of trash, Pupmkinhead 3: Ashes to Ashes is every bit the infantile, obvious and amateurish affair that one would expect from a project bankrolled by the Sci-Fi Channel. I hate to say it so callously, but I'm fairly certain that the Sci-Fi Channel guys are well aware of how rotten their "original programming" movies actually are. Sure, Sci-Fi sometimes airs some really solid titles (Dog Soldiers, for example), but when you're dealing with their own stuff, you're generally dealing with the bottom of the genre barrel.

Although I never got into Stargate SG-1 (despite a strong interest, I just never managed to watch enough of the show to get caught up), I really enjoy it's existence. There is something nice about knowing there is a popular, long-running sci-fi show on television, and I could always think "maybe I'll start watching next season." Unfortunately, as we all know, my "next season" plans are no good any longer, as the show is finishing up a ten year (wow, ten years?) run and will not have a "next season" after this spring. Oh well, there are always DVDs.

However, fans will get one final treat according to the Sci Fi Channel's website, as MGM has okayed funds to bring about two low to mid-budget films, most likely in direct-to-DVD form. Essentially, a small budget on direct-to-DVD means they'll be able to make two extra-long episodes on DVD to wrap up the series in fine fashion. According to producer Brad Wright, the first film will wrap up loose ends and such, while the second will be a "time travel" flick of some variety. The cast is very excited for both projects. It is nice to see a long-running show get a proper, well-planned goodbye, instead of a sudden cancellation. Maybe I'll get into it next year ...