"Hatchet II" is taking an axe to the MPAA.

AMC Theatres will release the film nationwide Oct. 1 with no MPAA rating, making it the widest release of an unrated genre film in more than 25 years.

Confrontations with the MPAA are nothing new for writer-director Adam Green ("Frozen"), who was told by the ratings association that his film was essential unreleasable without an NC-17 rating.

In 2007, Green was initially slapped with an NC-17 for the first "Hatchet" before enduring two months of appeals and revisions to land an R rating.

But in a sequel featuring 17 kills, nine more than in the original, the confrontation with the MPAA reached new heights, forcing Green to abandon a rating altogether.

"Having a movie as graphically over the top as 'Hatchet II' come out in major theaters unrated is an absolute dream come true -- not only for the genre fans but for the entire make-up effects crew who normally have to watch their amazing achievements get sliced and diced for theatrical release," Green said. "This is an important event for the horror genre and I hope the real horror fans support 'Hatchet II' and help change the way genre films are released theatrically from this day forward.

"Kudos to Dark Sky Films and AMC theaters for truly honoring the spirit of old school American horror and doing this right. Gorehounds won't know what hit them!"

Greg Newman, executive vice president of Dark Sky Films, is thrilled to see that audiences will not have to wait for a director's cut or unrated version.

"Fans will have the opportunity to see 'Hatchet II' in theaters exactly as it was intended to be seen: full-on, uncut and uncensored!" Newman said. "We hope that this unrated release of Hatchet II' marks a new trend in providing an uncompromised theatrical experience for genre film lovers nationwide."

AMC will release the film under its independent program, which embraces diverse storytelling of all types, according to Nikkole Dneson-Randolph, AMC Theatres' vice president, specialty & alternative content.
 
"Bringing a story like 'Hatchet II' to our guests is a natural fit during this time of year and we're excited to share the filmmakers' vision on-screen in its intended state," Dneson-Randolph said.

Meanwhile, "Hatchet II" will make its world premiere this week in London at Fright Fest, a horror and fantasy film festival.

The sequel follows Marybeth -- now played by Danielle Harris ("Halloween") -- as she slips from the clutches of supernatural-slasher Victor Crowley ("Friday the 13th" star Kane Hodder), and then ruthlessly seeks to end his reign of terror in the Louisiana Bayou.

"Hatchet II" also stars Tom Holland, Tony Todd ("Candyman"), R.A. Mihailoff ("Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3"), Kathryn Fiore, Parry Shen, Rick McCallum, Ed Ackerman, Colton Dunn, David Foy, Nick Principe and Alexis Peters.

View the trailer for the film here; see our Comic-Con International story on Green and the MPAA here.