Blu Release – 4/5
Friday the 13th
Director – Sean S. Cunningham (The New Kids, Spring Break)
Starring – Betsy Palmer (Penny Dreadful, Friday the 13th: Part II), Adrienne King (Saturday Night Fever, Psychic Experiment), and Jeannine Taylor (The Royal Romance of Charles and Diana)
Release Date – 1980
Rating – 4/5
Tagline -“They were warned…they are doomed…and on Friday the 13th, nothing will save them”
It’s weird to sit here and type a review for a film as iconic as Friday the 13th but here I am. Like many horror fans, I grew up watching the Friday the 13th films. My introduction into the slasher franchise was Jason Goes to Hell when my uncle gave my mother the movie on tape along with Conan the Destroyer.
When I was in middle school I would finish watching the rest of the films in the series with my grandmother and uncle. I still have an appreciation for JGtH that most horror fans do not but, as I’ve said before, my taste in movies is very different than the normal horror fan. A few weeks ago I got the Scream Factory box set in and decided to dive into it.
**Spoiler Alert** The film follows an old camp that is being remodeled by a group of camp counselors for the upcoming summer camp. The camp was once home to a long running summer camp but the counselor’s neglect results in the death of a little boy. Now years later someone is picking these would be camp counselors off one by one. **Spoiler Alert**
Friday the 13th is a huge part of horror history and a defining film of the slasher sub-genre. Honestly, I would be more pressed to find someone who hasn’t seen the film over someone who just doesn’t like it. Regardless, it’s a huge part of horror history which is why I’m still shocked I was ask to review the 40th Anniversary Steelbook release.
The acting in Friday the 13th is what I often compare other slashers to. I sincerely love the cast of characters that we get. Sure, they are generic for a slasher but in 1980 there wasn’t THAT many to compare to. Not like the sudden wave to follow the summer after. The cast hams it up at times but knows when to bring the right emotion for what the scene calls for.
The story for this one is what I consider to be a slasher in it’s purest form. The early days of slashers followed a simple formula. We get a character that was wronged and then jump forward several years, or even decades, and then people die as a result. I absolutely fucking love this type of story. We get a hack and slasher film that feels like a whodunit type of flick. The twist is now iconic but first time viewers will never see the reveal coming. Sure, that does take the fun out of subsequent views but it is still a damn fine slasher to revisit.
Finally, the death scenes in this film are legendary. A few do take place off camera leaving it up to the viewer’s imagination but the ones we do get are memorable. Effects were handled by the legendary Tom Savini so they insanely fun. Overall, Friday the 13th is a damn near perfect but you are not here because you haven’t seen the film but curious about the 40th Anniversary release. The blu looks great. In fact, it’s leagues better than my DVD release of the film.
Friday the 13th Part II
Director – Steve Miner (Warlock, The Wonder Years)
Starring – Amy Steel (April Fool’s Day, Tales of Poe), John Furey (Matlock, Baywatch Nights), and Kirsten Baker (Gas Pump Girls, Please Don’t Eat the Babies)
Release Date – 1981
Rating – 4/5
Tagline – “The body count continues…”
Most of you may be sick of my Friday the 13th reviews by this point but I’m just beginning. I spent last week and the weekend reviewing a few fan films and several porn flicks that share the Friday the 13th name. Most of the fan films were fun but the fuck flicks that I took a look at were just cheap porn films that wanted to cash in on the franchise’s name.
I’ve seen some very fun and punny porn parodies but these were not them. After I wasted some time on these I decided it was time to focus on the actual slasher franchise now. I reviewed the first Friday the 13th a few months back when I was sent the steelbook for review. After revisiting it for the umpteenth time it was time to spin the sequel from the new Scream Factory box set.
**Spoiler Alert** The film takes place sometime after the events of the first film. The film’s lone survivor is now living on her own when a man breaks into her home and kills her. We then move back to Crystal Lake and another camp on the other side of the lake is preparing to open for the summer. While jokes about Camp Blood run through the counselors they soon discover that Camp Blood is more than just a legend. **Spoiler Alert**
I used to love binge watching the Friday the 13th franchise when I was growing up. I absolutely loved this series but my ranking of the films often draws controversy from other genre fans. I like what I like. The first Friday the 13th is a slasher classic while I feel the sequel is just as good as the first film. Much like Carpenter’s Halloween and Halloween II, I feel that these two are on the same level and work perfectly when played back to back.
The acting in this one is pretty solid but there is room for improvements. We get some deadpan characters that are very serious while we get others that deliver some much needed laughs. Aside from Ralph in the first film, the “intentional” laughs are forced. However, the cast in this one delivers a more genuine comedic performance.
The story for this one is a continuation of the first film while, in a round about way, delivers the same story. We follow a group of counselors who are preparing to open a summer camp on the same lake murders took place. Almost all the same characters are rewritten from the head of the camp, his love interest, the horny counselors, and the comedian. The killer is obviously changed but the regurgitated story still works. Slasher fans want boobs and blood and the story works both of those in.
Finally, the film has several now iconic death scenes. The film uses both classic prop and camera tricks to pull off the kill along with some great practical effects. They are standard slasher kills which has been outdone but this is the beginning of the trend here. Overall, Friday the 13th Part 2 is just as essential for horror fans as the first film. It’s the first film to launch the iconic slasher Jason while solidifying he groundwork that would become the slasher formula. I highly suggest giving this one a spin if you are one of five people that have not seen it. The blu looks absolutely stunning. The audio and video are spectacular here.
Friday the 13th Part III
Director – Steve Miner (Warlock, House)
Starring – Richard Brooker (Deathstalker, Trapper John M.D.), Gloria Charles (Nation Lampoon’s European Vacation, Brewster’s Millions), and David Katims (Otherworld, The Invisible Kid)
Release Date – 1982
Rating – 4/5
Tagline – “A new dimension in terror”
The first Friday the 13th catapulted slashers to stardom. Their simple story and cheap production value made them extremely profitable so hundred of production companies decided to jump on the craze. The sequel introduced the now iconic Jason and made his name the face of the slasher sub-genre.
The third film tries to launch the 3D fad but failed while, inadvertently, making the hockey mask in the film the iconic face of slashers. Once I finished the first two I couldn’t wait to revisit this third installment of the film…gimmick and all.
**Spoiler Alert** The film follows a group of friends who are going into the country to stay at a friends cabin. The home is located near Crystal Lake where she suffered an attack at the hands of a disfigured man (Jason). Now, years later, she is struggling to cope with the attack but is haunted by the memory. Her friends use this as a chance to have a weekend getaway. What they don’t know is that Jason has returned and now he has a knack for murder. **Spoiler Alert**
When the first film cemented slashers as a staple at theatres throughout the 80s, the sequel introduced horror fans to Jason who would be the face for horror for decades. However, it was the third film that gave him his iconic hockey mask. Until this point each film has severed as a stepping stone from the last. The 3D gimmick for the film may have it’s fun novelty moments but you can enjoy the film just the same watching the 2D release.
The acting in this one is fun. We get a little more livelier characters in this installment but the acting is still the same. The cast delivers some solid performances but the more horror oriented scenes does feel forced and overdramatic. Fans of slashers know exactly what to expect when they toss in a slasher and those cliched performances are what made Friday the 13th and it’s sequels so much fun.
The story for this one takes a step away from the previous films. We still follow people at Crystal Lake but it ties in Jason more while giving us more of the same clichés. The film takes what we already expected and spruced them up so to speak. The characters and how they die is what this one so much fun and why slashers are known for their body counts.
Finally, this one has several iconic deaths. Many try to make use of the 3D gimmick but they were still fun and cheesy. The practical effects are great for some and laughable for others but I wouldn’t call them bad. Overall, Friday the 13th Part III is not only a huge part of horror history but its a solid slasher. Sure, it doesn’t offer anything new for the sub-genre but it’s cliched deaths, characters, and scenery makes it a reliable slasher. I’ve always enjoyed this one just as much as the previous two films and the characters in this one are some of my favorite of the series.
Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter
Director – Joseph Zito (The Prowler, Bloodrage)
Starring – Erich Anderson (Dallas, Quantum Leap), Corey Feldman (The Lost Boys, Gremlins), and Kimberly Beck (The Munsters, Nightmare at Noon)
Release Date – 1984
Rating – 3.5/5
Tagline – “Friday, April 13th, is Jason’s unlucky day”
When you talk to other horror fans they always seem to have their favorite Friday the 13th film and they often look down at you if you don’t agree with them. Over the years I’ve realized that Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter is one of the fan favorites among horror fans. It is the beginning of the Tommy Jarvis chronicles and features Savini once again on effects.
Chronologically, it is another first, like previous Friday the 13th films, where we feature Jason dying for the final time. Honestly, I like it but it is far from my favorite of the series. It gets my respect but I can’t proclaim my love for it like others do.
**Spoiler Alert** The film follows the Jarvis family who lives in a cabin at the lake. A group of teens rent the adjoining cabin for a weekend of partying and sex. Young Tommy Jarvis and his sister are happy to have people their age near them but soon find themselves face to face with the hockey masked Jason and his favorite machete. **Spoiler Alert**
Most people love this film because it introduces the Tommy Jarvis character and has Tom Savini returning on effects. The Tommy Jarvis character is very important in the Friday the 13th mythos but I can’t justify that enough to say this is my favorite film in the series. Honestly, I don’t know if it would even make my top five. However, it is still a very enjoyable film.
The acting in this one is very consistent with the other films. However, the characters are not as memorable as some of the others from previous installments. The shopkeeper and Shelly from the third film, Ted from Part 2, and Crazy Ralph all stand out when you speak about these films and every movie has a stand out character up to this point. However, none really “stand out” aside from Crispin Glover’s dance. Even the Tommy Jarvis character blends into the story here. Important as he is he just doesn’t stand out like the previous films. The acting in solid but the characters are so cliched that they just blend into the background.
The story for this one takes the standard and true Friday the 13th slasher story and finally gives the character of Jason an ending…for a limited time. The movie once again delivers on the teens going to the lake that Jason calls home where he kills them one by one. With that being said, the film tries to give a sense of closure with Jason’s death. In 1984 this ending was a big deal but those that watched these films after that date knows this was very short lived.
Finally, this film takes us back to some great practical effects and iconic deaths. This film features some of the series most unforgettable deaths including Jason’s unfortunate demise. The effects are fantastic and this really set the standard for slashers from this point on. Overall, The Final Chapter Is another important installment in an legendary film series but I don’t like it as much as other fans do. It introduces the character of Tommy Jarvis and features Jason’s real death making it another important film up to this point but I couldn’t watch this one over and over like I can the first three films.
Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning
Director – Danny Steinmann (Savage Streets, The Unseen)
Starring – John Shepherd (Friday the 13th: The Series, Quantum Leap), Shavar Ross (Family Matters, Growing Pains), and Tiffany Helm (In the Tall Grass, Freddy’s Nightmares)
Release Date – 1985
Rating – 3.5/5
Tagline – “If Jason still haunts you…you’re not alone”
When people think of the Friday the 13th series the fifth installment, A New Beginning, often gets criticized by fans. It’s very similar to Halloween III: Season of the Witch and how fans hate it even though it is arguably the best in the series. I’m tip toeing around the why these two are similar because I’m trying not to deliver a huge spoiler that can make or break this film depending on how you look at it. Regardless, this film is hated and it’s for a ridiculous reason. I actually enjoy this installment even though it’s doesn’t bring anything new to the series.
**Spoiler Alert** The film follows a teenage Tommy Jarvis (Shepherd) who is now part of a state run home for other orphans and delinquents. He is suffering nightmares from his encounter with Jason which as crippled his life. The others in the home with him give him a hard time but one of the young men, Victor, struggles with his anger and kills another resident. This sparks a chain of murders resembling Jason even though he is dead. Tommy and the others fight to survive before uncovering who really is behind the deaths. **Spoiler Alert**
Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning doesn’t offer up anything new for the Jason mythology but it is a fun slasher that feels very much like a Friday the 13th film. Up until this point we were given something additional that stuck with the franchise in each previous film. However, Friday the 13th Part V just existed. The twist does turn horror fans off but I appreciate what they did with it at the time.
The acting in this one is probably my favorite in the film. Honestly, John Shepherd as Tommy Jarvis is the low point of the film. Feldman was perfect as Tommy in child form but young adult Tommy is a bit of a messy character that isn’t very likable at all. Shepherd is very underwhelming in his performance. Now, with that aside, the rest of the cast is probably my favorite of all the films in the series. I love all the characters in this film and I feel that this is, hands down, the best acted film in the franchise. The performances feel very genuine and the supporting cast brought a lot to the table.
The story for this one is a Friday the 13th film. We follow a killer who was wronged as he kills anyone and everyone that gets in his way. The kills in the woods and how the people die also are perfect for a Friday the 13th films. However, who is doing the killing is what turns most fans off to this film.
Finally, the deaths in this one are classic Friday the 13th style and they all rightfully deserve their own place among slasher history. Some has a little humor tossed in but all are very slasher inspired and brutal. The practical effects are solid and work very well for the kills. Overall, A New Beginning is deserving of the Friday the 13th name and those that don’t give it a chance are really missing out on this fantastic installment. I highly suggest checking this one out.
Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives
Director – Tom McLoughlin (Freddy’s Nightmares, Friday the 13th: The Series)
Starring – Thom Mathews (Return of the Living Dead, Return of the Living Dead Part II), Jennifer Cooke (Deadly Nightmares, V), and David Kagen (Freddy’s Nightmares, 21 Jump Street)
Release Date – 1986
Rating – 3/5
Tagline – “Kill or be killed”
There has been many milestones with previous Friday the 13th films. The second film introduced Jason, the third introduced his iconic hockey mask, the fourth was Jason’s death and the introduction of Tommy Jarvis. Part V continued the Tommy Jarvis saga but did not introduce anything new to the film. However, Part VI: Jason Lives would be the turning point for the franchise while establishing Jason as the undead slasher that he is known for. The film is a lukewarm entry to the series but is still an important one.
**Spoiler Alert** The film follows Tommy Jarvis (Mathews) who is still obsessed with Jason after killing him at the end of The Final Chapter. He finds his grave and unearths it with plans to burn his body to set his mind at ease. He stabs the body with an iron spike before setting it blaze but lightning strikes it reanimating Jason and sending him on another bloody rampage through Crystal Lake that has been recently renamed Forest Green. **Spoiler Alert**
Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives is the turning point in the series where the films no longer feel like a slasher like the first five films. Instead, it recreates Jason and an undead and unstoppable force that can’t be stopped. Personally, this is where the franchise took a bit of a dive for me but it is still fun and has plenty of fans out there.
The acting in this one is probably my second favorite in the series. Thom Mathews is an amazing actor that not only kills it as Tommy Jarvis but has fans quoting him from his peformances in the first two Return of the Living Dead films. Feldman brought the character to life when he portrayed him as a child but Mathews is the Jarvis most of us think of. It’s a real shame he was not cast as Jarvis in the previous installment. The supporting cast is just as good with most of the characters more down to earth and serious. I do enjoy the more out there characters but this darker story would have fell apart if those comedic performances were delivered.
The story for this one takes Jason in a new direction and this portrayal is more well known among horror fans. When most people think of Jason they immediately think of the undead version. His rotten and broken hockey mask is just as iconic as his rotting body. Fans, at the time, loved this Jason which is why the franchise would have several more installments. With that being said, the film does start the beginning of stories that are little more out there and far fetched. Compared to the following films, this one is pretty grounded.
Finally, this film has several death scenes that features some top notch practical effects along with make-up effects. Jason looks amazing which would be one of the many factors that contributes to this look being his most iconic. Overall, Jason Lives is another solid entry in the Friday the 13th franchise. It re-established Jason in a different manner than the previous films but still delivers the slasher-esque kills that slasher fans enjoy. With that being said, the look and tone of the previous films is absent which does turn some of the fans off. I recommend it but it’s not among my favorite installments.
Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood
Director – John Carl Buechler (Troll, Ghoulies Go to College)
Starring – Susan Blu (Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School, Deadly Weapon), Lar Park-Lincoln (Children of the Night, House II: The Second Story), and Terry Kiser (Pet Shop, The Golden Girls)
Release Date – 1988
Rating – 3/5
Tagline – “On Friday the 13th, Jason will meet his match”
The time of milestones with the Friday the 13th is behind us. From Part VI forward we get outlandish stories and scenaries set against Jason killing people in brutal and inventive ways. When we move on from Part VI we enter Part VII which is more of a supernatural horror tale featuring psychics, ghosts, and an undead Jason. It is one of the more unique Friday the 13th films and probably one of my least favorites.
**Spoiler alert** The film follows Tina (Park-Lincoln) who is taken back to the cabin at Crystal Lake where her father was killed. Tina is telekinetic and accidentally killed her father when she was a child. Her doctor and mother bring her back to the same cabin in hopes to help her get over it. However, the doctor is hoping to use her powers to benefit himself. What they don’t expect is that her powers will free Jason who is chained and trapped in the lake. Once again we follow Jason as he goes on a murderous rampage. **Spoiler Alert**
A piss poor Friday the 13th is still better than most slashers. I love this series which should be evident from these reviews. However, I beleive that this installment is the low end of the franchise. It’s just so far out there from the original films that it almost doesn’t feel like a Friday the 13th movie. Hell, if you changed the killer it would have been a different movie.
The acting in this one went from the best acted in the series to one of the worst. The characters and the cast in this one has always made me laugh with their soap opera like demeanor and reactions. The characters are cliches of what you would find in most slashers but how the cast reacts to different scenarios always made me laugh.
The story for this one is just one absurd moment to another making this one feel less like a Friday the 13th movie and more like a late 80s Full Moon flick. We follow a woman with psychic abilities who struggles mentally with killing her father. We then have her dad who is dead but nota ghost or rotting, living in the lake that helps her at the end of the film. Honestly, I always felt that the writers were high as fuck when they wrote this one.
Finally, this one keeps it up with the death scenes. The kills are not as polished as the previous films but it still satisfies those looking for slasher deaths. The practical effects are solid but we don’t get anything we haven’t seen before. Overall, The New Blood is easily the most laughable entry in the series. It’s still a fun watch but it is easily the most out there entry in the entire series.
Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan
Director – Rob Hedden (Friday the 13th: The Series, Star Trek: Enterprise)
Starring – Todd Caldecott (21 Jump Street, Fear), Tiffany Paulsen (Daredreamer, Love 101), and Kane Hodder (Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings, Jason X)
Release Date – 1989
Rating – 3.5/5
Tagline – “New York has a new problem”
When I was in elementary school I watched the entire Friday the 13th series with my grandmother for the first time, at least the movies that were released up to that point. I had watched Jason Goes to Hell several times before this but I had never seen most of the other films before. I was at my grandmother’s house for the night and one of the channels was running a marathon. We decided to check them out and I watched them and fell in love with them. They were all fun but I was so shocked by how much better most of the movies were than Jason Goes to Hell.
One that always stuck out with me was the 8th installment. Jason Takes Manhattan is never the Friday the 13th movie that fans talk about but I absolutely loved it. In fact, I would say that it’s probably my favorite in the series. I know it’s not as good as the other films but, to me, I have the most fun with it.
**Spoiler Alert** This one, once again, follows Jason as he is accidentally freed from his watery grave by a boat anchor. He then finds himself aboard a cruise liner going from Crystal Lake to the Big Apple taking students there as part of their class trip. **Spoiler Alert**
I know Jason Takes Manhattan is one of the weaker installments. It has a chaotic and unorganized story, it has some of the worst character out of the entire franchise, and there is a complete subplot that not only doesn’t make sense but it’s so absurd that most people can’t look passed but I fucking love it. With that being said, I’m not so self absorbed that I don’t know when something is bad. I know it’s bad but holy fuck do I have fun with it.
The acting in this one is easily the most lackluster of any of the films. The characters are flat and painfully cliched with the cast giving it a minimal effort. I watched a bunch of direct to video horror titles from the 90s when I was growing up and this movie puts a good bit of them to shame.
The story for this one is outlandish before you even toss in the sub-plot following the film’s lead who was almost drowned by the kid Jason in the lake. Yea, you read that right. The sub-plot follows the film’s lead, when she was younger, who was dragged under water by the child Jason…the same Jason that actually grew up into adulthood. Why, you ask? Because, fuck you. That’s why. It makes no sense but I guess they used it as a distraction to make everyone forget that Jason just boarded a cruise liner and is headed to New York. I know this is stupid and most fans hate this but I fucking loved him in New York. This was a welcomed change from the previous 7 films that was rather becoming stale. The outlandish changes in recent films didn’t really bring about change. The sub-plot should have been scrapped and the New York adventure should have been fully embraced.
Finally, this film still delivers on the kills. We get the standard slasher fair with plenty of blood, practical and make-up effects, and the best looking Jason to date. Overall, Jason Takes Manhattan is not the most original or important installment in the series but I will always have a soft spot for it. However, it is one of the weaker films in the series regardless of how I feel about it. I still recommend checking it out.
Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday
Director – Adam Marcus (Let It Snow, Secret Santa)
Starring – John D. LeMay (The New Kid, The Twilight Zone), Kari Keegan (The Prince of Pennsylvania, Mind Games), and Steven Williams (The X-Files, Supernatural)
Release Date – 1993
Rating – 3/5
Tagline – “Evil has finally found a home”
When I was in elementary school my uncle randomly appeared. My family was not that close and this was one of the first times that I remember meeting him. The only reason this meeting stood out with me was because he gave me Conan the Destroyer, Jason Goes to Hell, and Die Hard on VHS. All were in those clear clamshell cases that most video stores used so I assumed it was stolen from a video store where ever it was he lived.
I watched these movies a lot growing up but Conan would be my go to but I still enjoyed the others for the most part. Jason Goes to Hell will always be the first movie I saw in the Friday the 13th franchise which will be a lasting experience but when you watch it back to back with the previous films you can’t help but laugh at how ridiculous it is.
**Spoiler Alert** Jason is baited back to Crystal Lake where a military outfit blows him up. His body is taken to study but the heart is not dead. It forces one of the doctors to eat it and once inside possesses the host sending him on another bloody rampage jumping from body to body until it reaches Crystal Lake. A bounty hunter claims to know how to stop Jason for good and needs a relative of Jason to put a stop to him before more bodies pile up. **Spoiler Alert**
Jason Goes to Hell follows in the outlandish exploits of Jason that started to pick up from part VII until now. Though it is crazier than a telekinetic camper and Jason in New York it still pulls the viewer in with the crazy practical effects and gruesome scenes. The movie tries to add some depth to the Jason character by giving Jason a supernatural history and a much broader story than the original films did. However, it fails to really gain any traction.
The acting in this one is pretty solid. Some of the characters are comic reliefs while others are a little too serious for their own good. We have Leslie Jordan and Rusty Schwimmer delivering some funny performances as the off beat couple that are polar opposites of each other while Steven Williams is just a little too serious. In fact, some of the scenes comes off as comical because he is just too into it. Aside from these three, I found the movie to be pretty well grounded and the cast does a pretty great job in the roles. The characters are standard cliched horror characters but the cast does a solid job with it.
The story for this one blends the already established Jason mythos with a newer one that paints him more than just an undead slasher. The film gives him a reason to kill aside from revenge with a much bigger family origin story. It would have worked if it was something established 9 films previously but randomly inserting it into the 9th film in the series makes it feel rushed and doesn’t have the impact that it would have had if it was introduced earlier in the franchise. With that being said, it is an interesting concept that brought about a much bigger scope than just a masked man killing campers.
Finally, this one has some of the most impressive practical effects and kills out of the entire series. KNB Effects was in charge of this and it’s one of the most memorable kills and unforgettable effects. With that being said, I don’t care for the look of Jason in this one but he’s only in the film for a short time. Overall, Jason Goes to Hell will always hold a special place in my heart as the first Jason film I had seen but I know it’s a mess of a film. The kills are fun and the story starts something than is never fully explored but stands without saying. It’s watchable but sinks to the bottom of the pile.
Jason X
Director – James Isaac (Skinwalkers, The Horror Show)
Starring – Kane Hodder (Jason Goes to Hell, The Twilight Zone), Lexa Doig (Supernatural, Smallville), and Jonathan Potts (The Strain, Swamp Thing)
Release Date – 2001
Rating 2/5
Tagline – “Evil gets an upgrade”
Jason Goes to Hell may have been my introduction to Jason but Jason X was the first Jason flick that was released while I was conscience of him and the Friday the 13th series. My generation finally had their own installment in the series and I couldn’t wait to see it. I didn’t make the theatrical run but I did get the VHS from Wal-Mart when it was released and later upgraded that to the DVD.
I only watched it a few times and remembered some cool moments but outside of that I couldn’t tell you much about it until I rewatched with the others in the Scream Factory blu set. This movie did not hold up well and I can safely say that this is the worst in the entire series. It’s almost painful to watch now.
**Spoiler Alert** The film follows Jason who is captured by the government and imprisoned in chains. However, he is able to escape but finds himself trapped and cryogenically frozen, along with a female scientist. They awaken almost 250 years into the future when they are discovered and thawed. Those on board have no idea about the hell they just unleashed on their craft and the carnage that will fall in his wake. **Spoiler Alert**
Jason X was released 21 years after the original and 8 years from the previous installment. A lot had changed in that time. They tried to give this one an edge that made it stand out from the others which turned out to be the film’s downfall. This futuristic sci-fi approach sometimes offers up some cheesy fun like in Leprechaun in Space. However, it was just too cheap and not enough cheese in this case.
The acting in this one is rough for me. In fact, I can’t really find any aspect of the cast that I enjoyed. The characters are all sci-fi clichés and can be found in almost any SyFy original film. Even when I first laid eyes on this release I never cared for the cast or characters which is even more apparent all these years later.
The story for this one tries too hard to be a sci-fi flick that it completely disregards the Friday the 13th aspect of the film. It’s an insult to the franchise and really scrapes the bottom of the barrel. The only redeeming aspects of the film is the kills and we only get one or two that stand out.
Finally, the film has a few unforgettable death scenes and a few that are not as wild. These two or three kill scenes really use some creativity and great practical effects. However, some of the other kills are painfully bland. Also, the film uses some extremely dated visual effects that was laughable in 2001 and even more laughable now. Overall, Jason X is a humiliating entry in the series. I remember being excited for a new installment but now I’m ashamed of the film and embarrassed for anyone associated with it.
Freddy vs. Jason
Director – Ronny Yu (Bride of Chucky, Fear Itself)
Starring – Robert Englund (A Nightmare on Elm. St, Supernatural), Ken Kirzinger (Stan Helsing, The X-Files), and Monica Keena (Aftermath, Night of the Demons)
Release Date – 2003
Rating – 2.5/5
Tagline – “Place your bets”
When I was in high school I was already fully obsessed with horror. Movies like Thir13en Ghosts, Idle Hands, Jason X, and so on were movies that were hitting store shelves during these years. When I was a sophmore or junior in high school the battle all horror fans wanted, Freddy Vs. Jason, was finally getting the big screen treatment. This was something that had been hinted at a decade earlier during the end scene of Jason Goes to Hell.
Fans wanted to see these two slasher titans face off and the movie was finally here. I went to theaters with my brother to watch it and then rushed out to pick it up after school when it got a physical release. I loved it…but it did not age well and now I feel stupid that I actually enjoyed it all those years ago.
**Spoiler Alert** The film follows the kids of Elm street who is being hunted down by the Crystal Lake slasher Jason. Freddy scoured Hell looking for someone to help him the kids of Elm street remember him so he can regain his powers. Jason’s rampage works and the kids on Elm street start dreaming about Freddy but Jason doesn’t stop forcing the two to face off over who has the right to slaughter the teens. **Spoiler Alert**
I can remember watching Freddy vs. Jason several times in high school and once or twice when I was in college. I enjoyed it at the time which is why I watched it so many time. However, it did not fucking age well and it was rough to finish especially if you marathon all the films like I did. It almost works as A Nightmare on Elm St. movie but even then it comes up short.
The acting in this one is a little better than Jason X but not by much. Robert Englund delivers another amazing performance as the iconic Freddy. This character’s personality is unforgettable and at this point Englund is the only one that can do it right. The others characters are ok but we only want to see them die. I know that’s an asshole thing to say but in a Freddy vs. Jason film we want to watch them both hack and slash through teens.
The story for this one is, once again, on the goofy side. It doesn’t feel like a very good continuation of the Friday the 13th film but you can almost see if as another ANOES. The film uses an interesting idea to bring the two together BUT there could have been so many other ways to get these to face off. With that being said, a lot of the scenarios the “teens” find themselves in and how they handle it just feels rushed and not thought out. I feel like the film was brought together in a brainstorming session with not rewriting or polishing done to it.
Finally, the film has several death scenes and does not shy away from the blood. Some of these use practical effects but most use some form of dated visual effects that really takes away from the kill. Some of the more entertaining death scenes features some of the most laughable visual effects. Overall, Freddy vs Jason was a huge part of my high school experience but after revisiting it 17 years later I have to admit that it’s a read dud. This one accompanies Jason X as being the worst installments in the franchise.
Friday the 13th (2009)
Director – Marcus Nispel (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Frankenstein)
Starring – Jared Padalecki (Supernatural, House of Wax), Danielle Panabaker (The Flash, Sky High), Amanda Righetti (Captain America: The First Avenger, Deranged Granny)
Release Date – 2009
Rating – 3/5
Tagline – “Welcome to Crystal Lake”
When I was in college I wasn’t collecting movies like I once was. I was on my own, working a full time job, and a student full time. That doesn’t mean I had cut horror completely out of my life. I just was unable to spend the money on movies like I once was. That didn’t stop me from going out and watching the Friday the 13th remake when it was released.
I know I went to see it opening weekend but I didn’t remember a damn thing about it. I even picked up the DVD when it was released and watch it…yet I don’t remember a damn thing about it. While I was digging through this box set I went ahead and finished with this easily forgettable remake.
**Spoiler Alert** The film opens with a woman killing counselors at a summer camp before she is beheaded by one of them. We jump forward several years and the camp is now abandoned and falling in on itself. A group of twenty-somethings are camping nearby when they are attacked by that woman’s son, Jason. A few months go by and one of the victim’s brother arrives looking for her as another group of college students arrive to drink it up and party. Jason once again crashes their party forcing them to fight for their lives or die by his hand. **Spoiler Alert**
I genuinely love remakes. John Carpenter’s The Thing, Vincent Price in the House of Wax, Marcus Nispel’s Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Tom Savini’s Night of the Living Dead are fantastic remakes that I’ve spent many hours enjoying. I say this because I’m not one of these people that immediately hate on remakes without giving them a chance. Friday the 13th is not a bad remake but it’s painfully forgettable without bringing us something new to watch. Honestly, it could have been a little more entertaining if I had not spent the last week watching the original series before this one.
The acting in this one is enjoyable but far from perfect. I’m a huge Supernatural fan and I enjoy the second remake of House of Wax so it was awesome seeing Jared Padalecki in this one. He is a bit of an odd duck in the film and doesn’t really fit in but his Sam Winchester performance does oddly work here. I also enjoyed Danielle Panabaker as the film’s female lead. She’s not a strong final girl but the film mixes it up on us with her. The supporting cast is solid as well but there is several characters that you just wont like. The characters are written that way but the cast does a solid job at making them unlikable.
The story for this one blends the first four films of the original films into one while changing some of the characters around. I kind of liked the meshing of the important moments from the first four films but it does make these aspects feel meaningless. The pacing is fairly smooth and we get plenty of slasher action to break up some of the more slower scenes.
Finally, the film features some slasher inspired kills. The practical effects are solid and the kills match the film but they are nothing we haven’t seen before. In fact, when compared to all the other films these kills are fairly easy to forget. Overall, Friday the 13th is not a bad remake but its painfully bland and forgettable. It’s fun if you are wanting something different but if you are binging the Friday the 13th franchise I would stop before this one.
Special Features
DISC 1:
FRIDAY THE 13TH (1980) – R-RATED THEATRICAL VERSION
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono – English SDH
NEW 4K scan of the original camera negative
U. S. Theatrical Trailer
International Theatrical Trailer
TV Spot
U.S. Radio Spots
U.K. Radio Spot
Movie Stills Gallery
Posters and Lobby Cards Gallery
DISC 2:
FRIDAY THE 13TH (1980) – UNCUT VERSION
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono, 5.1 – English SDH
NEW 4K scan of the original camera negative
NEW restored original mono track
Audio Commentary by director Sean S. Cunningham, screenwriter Victor Miller, actresses Adrienne King and Betsy Palmer, composer Harry Manfredini, editor Bill Freda and assistant editor Jay Keuper, hosted by Peter M. Bracke
Fresh Cuts: New Tales from Friday the 13th
The Man Behind the Legacy: Sean S. Cunningham
Friday the 13th Reunion Panel
Lost Tales from Camp Blood – Part 1
Vintage Fangoria Magazine Article (BD-Rom)
DISC 3:
FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 2
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono, 5.1 – English SDH
NEW 4K scan of the original camera negative
NEW restored mono track
NEW Slashed Scenes – the long-awaited uncut gore footage!
NEW Audio Commentary with actress Amy Steel, filmmaker Thommy Hutson and author Peter M. Bracke
NEW Audio Commentary with actors Russell Todd, Kirsten Baker, Bill Randolph, Lauren Marie-Taylor, Stu Charno and author Peter M. Bracke
NEW My Life with Ginny – a conversation with actress Amy Steel, moderated by Justin Beahm
Inside Crystal Lake Memories: The Book
Friday’s Legacy: Horror Conventions
Lost Tales from Camp Blood – Part 2
Vintage Fangoria Magazine Article (BD-Rom)
U.S. Theatrical Trailer
Japanese Theatrical Trailer
TV Spots
Radio Spots
Movie Stills Gallery
Poster and Lobby Cards Gallery
DISC 4:
FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 3
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono, 5.1 – English SDH
NEW 4K scan from the original camera negative for both the 2-D and 3-D versions of the film
NEW restored mono track
NEW Blu-Ray 3-D version of the film (To watch the 3D version, you must have a fully capable 3D TV and 3D blu-ray player)
Audio Commentary with actors Dana Kimmell, Larry Zerner, Paul Kratka, and Richard Brooker
Fresh Cuts: 3-D Terror
Lost Tales from Camp Blood – Part 3
Vintage Fangoria Magazine Article (BD-Rom)
Theatrical Trailer
TV Spots
Radio Spots
Movie Stills Gallery
Posters and Lobby Cards Gallery
DISC 5:
FRIDAY THE 13TH: THE FINAL CHAPTER
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono, 5.1 – English SDH
NEW 4K scan from the original camera negative
NEW restored mono track
Audio Commentary by director Joe Zito, screenwriter Barney Cohen and editor Joel Goodman
Fan Audio Commentary by filmmakers Adam Green and Joe Lynch
Slashed Scenes with audio commentary by director Joseph Zito
Jason’s Unlucky Day: 25 Years After Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter
The Lost Ending
The Crystal Lake Massacres Revisited Part I
Lost Tales from Camp Blood – Part 4
Jimmy’s Dead Dance Moves
Vintage Fangoria Magazine Article (BD-Rom)
Theatrical Trailer
TV Spot
Radio Spots
Movie Stills Gallery
Posters and Lobby Cards Gallery
DISC 6:
FRIDAY THE 13TH PART V: A NEW BEGINNING
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono, 5.1 – English SDH
NEW restored mono track
NEW Audio Commentary with Melanie Kinnaman, Deborah Voorhees, Tiffany Helm and author Peter M. Bracke
NEW Fan Audio Commentary by filmmakers Adam Green and Joe Lynch
Audio Commentary by director/co-screenwriter Danny Steinmann, actors John Shepherd and Shavar Ross
Lost Tales of Camp Blood – Part 5
The Crystal Lake Massacres Revisited Part II
New Beginnings: The Making of Friday the 13th Part V
Vintage Fangoria Magazine Article (BD-Rom)
Theatrical Trailer
TV Spots
Movie Stills Gallery
Poster and Lobby Cards Gallery
DISC 7:
FRIDAY THE 13TH PART VI: JASON LIVES
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio Stereo, 5.1 – English SDH
NEW restored stereo track
NEW Audio Commentary with Thom Mathews, Vincent Guastaferro, Kerry Noonan, Cynthia Kania, C.J. Graham and author Peter M. Bracke
NEW Fan Audio Commentary by filmmakers Adam Green, Joe Lynch and writer/director Tom McLoughlin
Audio Commentary with writer/director Tom McLoughlin
Audio Commentary With writer/director Tom McLoughlin, actor Vincent Guastaferro and editor Bruce Green
Lost Tales from Camp Blood – Part 6
The Crystal Lake Massacres Revisited Part III
Jason Lives: The Making of Friday the 13th: Part VI
Meeting Mr. Voorhees – alternate ending storyboards
Slashed Scenes
Vintage Fangoria Magazine Article (BD-Rom)
Theatrical Trailer
TV Spots
Still Gallery
DISC 8:
FRIDAY THE 13TH PART VII: THE NEW BLOOD
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio Stereo, 5.1 – English SDH
NEW restored stereo track
Audio Commentary with director John Carl Buechler and actor Kane Hodder
Audio Commentary with director John Carl Buechler and actors Lar Park Lincoln and Kane Hodder
Jason’s Destroyer: The Making of Friday the 13th Part VII
Mind Over Matter: The Truth About Telekinesis
Makeover by Maddy: Need A Little Touch-Up Work, My A**
Slashed Scenes with introduction
Vintage Fangoria Magazine Article (BD-Rom)
Theatrical Trailer
TV Spot
Movie Stills Gallery
Poster and Behind-the-Scenes photos
DISC 9:
FRIDAY THE 13TH PART VIII: JASON TAKES MANHATTAN
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio Stereo, 5.1 – SDH
Audio Commentary with director Rob Hedden
Audio Commentary with actors Scott Reeves, Jensen Daggett and Kane Hodder
New York Has A New Problem: The Making of Friday the 13th Part VIII – Jason Takes Manhattan
Slashed Scenes
Gag Reel
Theatrical Trailer
TV Spots
Movie Stills Gallery
Posters and Behind-the-Scenes gallery
DISC 10:
JASON GOES TO HELL – R-RATED THEATRICAL VERSION
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio Stereo, 5.1 – English SDH
NEW 2K scan of the interpositive
NEW Introduction by director Adam Marcus
Theatrical Trailer
TV Spots
Movie Stills Gallery
Posters and Behind-the-Scenes Gallery
A look at the Friday the 13th Prop Museum Book
DISC 11:
JASON GOES TO HELL – UNCUT VERSION
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio Stereo, 5.1 – English SDH
NEW 2K scan of the interpositive with HD inserts
NEW Introduction by director Adam Marcus
NEW The Gates of Hell – an interview with director Adam Marcus
NEW Jason vs. Terminator – Adam Marcus on growing up with the Cunninghams
NEW Über-Jason – an interview with Kane Hodder on playing Jason
NEW Audio Commentary with director Adam Marcus and author Peter M. Bracke
Additional TV footage with NEW optional Audio Commentary with director Adam Marcus and author Peter M. Bracke
Audio Commentary with director Adam Marcus and screenwriter Dean Lorey
DISC 12:
JASON X
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio Stereo, 5.1 – English SDH
NEW 2K scan of the interpositive
NEW Introduction by Kane Hodder
NEW Audio Commentary with writer Todd Farmer and author Peter M. Bracke
NEW Outta Space: The Making of JASON X – featuring interviews with producers Noel Cunningham and Sean S. Cunningham, actor Kane Hodder and writer Todd Farmer
NEW In Space No One Can Hear You Scream – an interview with writer Todd Farmer
NEW Kristi is A Headbanger – an interview with actress Kristi Angus
NEW Jason Rebooted – Sean S. Cunningham on Jason Goes to Hell and Jason X
Audio Commentary with director Jim Isaac, writer Todd Farmer and producer Noel Cunningham
The Many Lives of Jason Voorhees – a documentary on the history of Jason
By Any Means Necessary: The Making of Jason X – Making-of/production documentary
Club Reel
Vintage cast and crew interviews
Behind-the-Scenes footage
Electronic Press Kit – cast and crew interviews and behind-the-scenes footage
Theatrical Trailers
TV Spots
Movie Stills Gallery
Posters and Behind-the-Scenes Gallery
DISC 13:
FREDDY VS. JASON
Audio: Dolby TrueHD 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1 EX – English SDH
Audio Commentary by director Ronny Yu, actors Robert Englund and Ken Kirzinger
21 Deleted/Alternate Scenes, Including the Original Opening and Ending with optional commentary by director Ronny Yu and executive producer Douglas Curtis
Genesis: Development Hell
On Location: Springwood Revisited
On Location: Cabin Fever
Art Direction: Jason’s Decorating Tips
Stunts: When Push Comes to Shove
Make-up Effects: Freddy’s Beauty Secrets
Visual Effects Exploration
My Summer Vacation: A Visit to Camp Hackenslash
Pre-fight press conference at Bally’s Casino in Las Vegas
Music Video: Ill Nino “How Can I Live”
Theatrical Trailer
TV Spots
DISC 14:
FRIDAY THE 13th (2009)
Audio: Dolby TrueHD 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1 – English SDH
Terror Trivia Track with Picture-In-Picture featuring comments from the cast and crew
The Rebirth of Jason Voorhees – a look at the making of Friday the 13th
Hacking Back/Slashing Forward – remembering the groundbreaking original movie
Slashed Scenes
The Best 7 Kills
DISC 15:
BONUS DISC 1:
NEW Crystal Lake Confidential – an interview with producer/director Sean S. Cunningham
NEW Machete Memories – an interview with producer/director Steve Miner
NEW Chicago to Connecticut: The Early Career of Harry Manfredini – an interview with composer Harry Manfredini
NEW The Magic Keyboard – Harry Manfredini on scoring Friday the 13th
NEW Blood Types – an interview with actor Harry Crosby
NEW Once Speared, Twice Shy – an interview with actor Bill Randolph
NEW Back to Camp: The Locations of Friday the 13th and Friday the 13th Part 2 hosted by Michael Gingold
NEW It Came from the Vaults – an interview with La-La Land Records’ Matt Verboys and Michael V. Gerhard and composer Harry Manfredini
NEW Finding Friday: On Location of the Friday the 13th Films
The Friday the 13th Chronicles – an 8-part featurette on the first 8 films
Secrets Galore Behind the Gore – a 3-part featurette on the makeup effects of Part 1, Part 4 and Part 7
Crystal Lake Victims Tell All!
Tales from the Cutting Room Floor
Friday the 13th artifacts and collectibles
Jason Forever – Q & A with Ari Lehman, Warrington Gillette, C.J. Graham and Kane Hodder
Legacy of the Mask
Slasher Films: Going for the Jugular
The Friday the 13th Playing Cards Still Gallery
Easter Eggs
DISC 16:
BONUS DISC 2:
Music Video: Alice Cooper The Man Behind the Mask
NEW Alice Lives: Alice Cooper and Friday the 13th Part VI – a look at the music video The Man Behind the Mask featuring interviews with Alice Cooper and director Jeffrey Abelson
NEW Legends Never Die – Tom McLoughlin at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery
NEW Life, Death and Jason Voorhees – an interview with director Tom McLoughlin
NEW The Road to Crystal Lake – an interview with producer Sean S. Cunningham
NEW Faceless Evil – Sean S. Cunningham and Jason
NEW Jason Was Here: Friday the 13th Part 3 – 6 Locations Then and Now
Scream Queens: Horror Heroines Exposed (2014) – including interviews with Adrienne King and Melanie Kinnaman (80 mins.)
Slice and Dice: The Slasher Film Forever (2013) – including interviews with Corey Feldman and John Carl Buechler (78 mins.)
Trailer Reel – all 12 Friday the 13th trailers in a row
FREDDY VS. JASON Storyboards and Production Galleries
Friday the 13th (2009) Teaser Trailer
Friday the 13th (2009) Theatrical Trailer
Friday the 13th (2009) TV Spots
Friday the 13th (2009) Electronic Press Kit – interviews with cast and crew, behind-the-Scenes footage
Friday the 13th Series Newspaper Ad Still Gallery – vintage newspaper ads for all 12 films
Easter Egg
