I realize that ain't saying much. However, for a johnny-come-lately, direct-to-video (or worse, direct-to-Sci Fi Channel) sequel, it's got moxie. While the story stays true to all the canonical elements set forth in the first film, this sequel offers more than a simple retread of "Pumpkinhead"'s plot. For instance, the demon's quarry this time around is comprised of grave robbers and murders, yet their motives are a benefit to the impoverished town in which in they live. Moreover, of the three who call on the demon, one takes a disturbingly self-destructive and sadistic delight in Pumpkinhead's carnage. So, as in the first, there's some interesting moral ambiguity here.

On the other hand, much of the dialogue is stilted and contrived, and while the cast is game, none but Doug Bradley, as the villainous town doctor, are able to settle comfortably into their roles. Some of the cinematography is dynamic, but it seems as though only Stan Winston and Bojan Bazelli will ever be able to convincingly capture Pumpkinhead on film. (The CGI used for some scenes is downright embarrassing.)

At best, "Pumpkinhead: Ashes to Ashes" is a missed opportunity. It had real potential, and an extra million and a couple more rewrites might have brought it out. As it stands, I wouldn't necessarily recommend it, but die-hard Pumpkinhead fans that are able to see through the significant flaws might find something of merit here. It'll be one of those films that rests in you memory better than on celluloid.

I saw this for the first time recently.

Inspite of this one being made in the early 2k, this one looks way too shoddy.

The effects r bad, the acting terrible n the screenplay abysmal.

This one, like part two, has zero atmosphere n zero tension. It has some gory kills but zero nudity.

Lance Henriksen's presence cudnt save this terrible movie. He did this purely to pay his alimony or bills

Now wot kinda church/building has only one exit/entrance?

No concern for fire safety.

This sequel does an end-around "Pumpkinhead 2:Bloodwings" and plays as a direct follow-up to the first film. The main connections are Lance Henrikson as Ed Harley (albeit in corpse-turned-Pumpkinhead form and ghost form) and the characters of Bunt (who was a young teen boy helping out the good guys in the first film) and the old witch lady who oversees the manifestations of the title creature. It's good they forgot about the second film, which featured Bill Clinton's brother as Mayor Bubba! It fairly stunk. This one follows the first film's straight-up revenge theme better. Doug Bradley, Pinhead from the "Hellraiser" films, shows up as the town's doctor, who secretly harvests organs from recently-deceased town folk to sell to a local connection. When his cohorts are arrested after the discovery of bodies in and around the local crematorium, the doc does his best to cover his butt. But several of the kin of the dead people go to the old witch lady and ask for a reckoning for their kinfolk in the form of Pumpkinhead.

It's not long before the creature is wrecking havoc on the the bad guys, and even good guys that get in the way. And once again, the message is that, once you let Pumpkinhead out, you have to let him do his work until he's finished. The best scenes feature Henriksen, who is always good, playing a ghostly conscience haunting Bunt, and the scenes with the monster, who in this film seems to be partly full-body suit and partly CGI. It works to pretty good effect. Bradley is not bad as the doctor, who discovers the secret to stopping Pumpkinhead.

I don't remember too clearly, but is this the first time the creature has had a tail? In the first film I know he had huge shoulder spikes, but in this film they're a bit smaller. I've purposely forgotten parts of the second film, but it seemed like the beast was pretty much like it was in the first. And did he actually have wings, hence the "Bloodwings" of the title? Nevertheless, the third film is a not-bad time passer and a lot better than some stuff you'll see on Sci-Fi. I may rent this and see if anything was cut out of the film. I also see here on IMDb that a fourth film is in the works, with Henriksen once again playing Ed Harley and a cast of people playing Hatfields and McCoys. Are we going into the past or are these people the present kin of the old clans? Interesting. Last words-I recommend this film, but mainly if you're a fan of Lance Henriksen or the Pumpkinhead monster, of which I am both.