Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday – Film Review

Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday is the ninth installment in the Friday the 13th franchise, directed by Adam Marcus and released in 1993. The film attempts to take the series in a new direction, both in terms of narrative and style, but unfortunately, it ends up being one of the weaker entries in the franchise. Despite some interesting ideas and a few standout moments, the film is ultimately hampered by a convoluted plot, lackluster execution, and a departure from the core elements that made the series popular in the first place.

The film opens with a seemingly routine setup: a young woman is alone at Crystal Lake, where she becomes the target of the notorious Jason Voorhees. However, the narrative quickly takes a sharp turn when Jason is ambushed by a group of FBI agents who blow him to pieces. This shocking moment sets the stage for a radically different type of Friday the 13th movie, one that deviates from the traditional slasher formula.

Following Jason’s explosive demise, it is revealed that his malevolent spirit can transfer between bodies, allowing him to continue his killing spree even in different forms. The story then focuses on a hunt to stop Jason once and for all, as he attempts to possess a member of his bloodline to be reborn in his original form. The film introduces a new set of characters, including a bounty hunter named Creighton Duke, who claims to know the secret to destroying Jason forever.

One of the most significant aspects of Jason Goes to Hell is its departure from the traditional Friday the 13th formula. Gone is the familiar setting of Camp Crystal Lake, the teenage camp counselors, and the masked killer stalking his victims with a machete. Instead, the film introduces a supernatural element that feels out of place within the established lore of the series. The idea of Jason’s spirit possessing others and hopping between bodies could have been an intriguing concept, but it is executed in a way that feels more like a gimmick than a well-thought-out evolution of the character.

The decision to stray so far from the franchise’s roots alienated many fans. The iconic image of Jason Voorhees, with his hockey mask and relentless pursuit of his victims, is largely absent from the film. Instead, audiences are presented with various characters acting under Jason’s influence, which dilutes the sense of terror and tension that the series was known for. While previous installments often thrived on their simplicity and effective use of atmosphere, Jason Goes to Hell complicates the narrative unnecessarily, resulting in a movie that feels confused about its identity.

The characters in Jason Goes to Hell are largely forgettable, with the exception of a few notable performances. John D. LeMay portrays Steven Freeman, the film’s protagonist, who becomes embroiled in the battle against Jason after discovering his ex-girlfriend Jessica (Kari Keegan) is related to the Voorhees bloodline. While LeMay gives a serviceable performance, the character of Steven lacks depth and development, making it difficult for audiences to invest in his journey.

Kari Keegan as Jessica is similarly underwhelming, with her character primarily serving as a plot device rather than a fully fleshed-out individual. Steven Williams, however, stands out as Creighton Duke, the mysterious bounty hunter with a vendetta against Jason. Williams brings a level of gravitas and intensity to the role that elevates his scenes, even when the dialogue and script do not fully support the character’s motivations or backstory.

Unfortunately, the rest of the cast is largely forgettable, with many characters serving as little more than cannon fodder for Jason’s rampage. The lack of memorable characters is a significant drawback, as the best Friday the 13th films often feature a mix of likable and interesting individuals who help to anchor the chaos around them.

One area where Jason Goes to Hell does succeed is in its special effects and gore. The film boasts some of the most graphic and inventive kills in the series, which will likely satisfy fans of the franchise’s more gruesome side. From body melts to heads being crushed, the film doesn’t shy away from showcasing the carnage, and the practical effects are impressively done for the time.

However, even the gore feels somewhat gratuitous in the context of the film’s larger narrative. While previous Friday the 13th films often used violence to build suspense or underscore the horror of Jason’s presence, Jason Goes to Hell seems to revel in the bloodshed for its own sake, which can come across as excessive and unnecessary. The balance between shock value and storytelling is uneven, leaving the film feeling more like a splatter-fest than a coherent horror movie.

Adam Marcus, in his directorial debut, makes some bold choices with Jason Goes to Hell, but his inexperience shows in the film’s uneven pacing and tone. The movie struggles to find a consistent rhythm, oscillating between moments of horror, camp, and outright absurdity. While the Friday the 13th series has always had an element of camp to it, Jason Goes to Hell leans too heavily into this without maintaining the necessary tension to make the horror effective.

The film’s tone is further muddled by the inclusion of unnecessary subplots and characters that distract from the central narrative. There is an evident attempt to expand the Friday the 13th mythology, but these efforts feel forced and poorly integrated. The introduction of Jason’s family and the idea of a bloodline curse, for example, are interesting concepts that could have added depth to the story, but they are handled in a way that feels rushed and superficial.

Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday is a film that had potential but ultimately fails to deliver on its promises. While it is commendable that the filmmakers attempted to take the series in a new direction, the execution falls short, resulting in a movie that feels disjointed and unfocused. The departure from the franchise’s core elements, combined with a convoluted plot and lack of memorable characters, makes this one of the weaker entries in the Friday the 13th series.