Title: Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday
Director: Adam Marcus
Writer: Jay Huguely, Dean Lorey
Release Date: August 13, 1993
Cast: John D. LeMay, Kari Keegan, Steven Williams, Steven Culp, Allison Smith, Kane “The Boss, Why Isn’t He in More of This Movie” Hodder
Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday Cliff’s Notes
After Jason is killed by the army – and since when is this an option – he’s soul pulls a The Hidden and takes over the bodies of other folks. Why you may ask? So he can possess his family and be reborn as… honestly, I’m stopping here. I don’t know who did this, but they need to be punished. No Ch-ch-ch Ah-ah-ah for them.
Lecture
So, this is a step in the wrong direction. After the mess that was Part VIII, F13th tries to get back on track with this strange offering. Problem is, this is barely a Friday the 13th movie, much less a successful part of the series. Most of this is nothing more than pieces stolen from other movies and shoe-horned into a Jason movie without Jason. Oh, that’s right, the titular character is M.I.A. for the majority of this puppy’s 88 minutes. Instead, we get random cats killing people in Jason-esque ways. If I’m checking out a Friday the 13th movie, I’d like to see some Friday the 13th shenanigans.
And what’s more, the movie they actually made isn’t any good either. It’s not just the lack of Jason or f13thiness. It’s the lack of competent story telling. Where Part V was trying to take F13th in a new direction and Part VIII suffered from terrible quality, Jason Goes to the Diner combines the worst parts of both. Sure, it’s better than either of those entries, but only slightly. Why? Because we ignore what the series is and instead replace it with a low-quality supernatural horror knock off. That’s why.
Sure, there are a few fun references to the ideas of Jason’s fandom and knowledge, loved the Jason hockey mask burgers, but it’s not enough. Even the kills – which are awesome – seem wasted on such a terrible plot. The actors and design can’t save it. It’s a pretty movie, but that doesn’t stop it from being a lackluster at best.
And also, where’s Jason?!!? You’ve got the strongest Jason around and the solution is to keep him out of the action. Come on!
Acting
This very well may be the saving grace of this entry. LeMay and Keegan are solid as our leads and provide enough substance to carry us through. Likewise, Smith and Culp give a fun, character-driven show. And Hodder is always a boss. Too bad the flick found a way to not include Jason in a Jason movie. But the highlight is Steven Williams as Creighton Duke. His performance is amazing and truly the best part of this flick. He’s a blast.
Directing
Marcus’ work is solid in the looks department. The flick has a few groovy bits, the slow motion is actually okay and the early chase is great, but most of this is just not right. It’s like Marcus was so desperate to not make a F13th movie that he tossed everything out, including the parts that actually work. Blerg.
Script
I feel like Huguely and Lorey had never seen a F13th movie before, so they just lifted buts from other movies that they had seen. We get nods to A Nightmare on Elm Street, plot devices lifted from The Hidden, and a general lack of anything else. The characters are hit or miss – though they get a few nice hits with Duke and Vikki- but the real travesty is the plot. It makes no sense, ignores all of the previous films, and is so full of holes that it can’t hold water.
Effects
At least we finally get back on track with the gore! People split in half, severed heads, broken jaws, and all kinds of organs! The film really does deliver when it comes to the red stuff.
Highlights
Anything that Creighton Duke does is gold.
Lowlights
So a coroner becomes possessed and eats Jason’s heart. Yeah. ‘Cause it looks so yummy. Laughed my ass off.
Friday the 13th-iness
The least of the entire series. We don’t have Jason for most of the flick, there’s no fun party or build up, just a bunch of folks waiting to get slaughtered and a lot of mumbo jumbo about magic and family.
Final Thoughts
Sure, it’s better than Part VIII – because let’s be honest, rubbing your face against a cheese grater is better than part eight – but that doesn’t mean that this is anywhere near what it could have been/needed to be. It’s a desperate grab to keep the series relevant by New Line. Nothing more.
Grade: C- (Duke saved the D rating)
