Review of Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993) by Kendall I — 17 Mar 2011

Go to hell, Jason!

Vicky.

That's Vicki telling Jason that as she is the winner of the Bad**s Babes in slasher films. Hey, this is Sleaze Boy and just when you though Jason was dead, better watch out in Jason Goes to Hell: the Final Friday (unrated).

The 1980s were over as many trends and TV shows ended along with the death of many cheesy hair metal bands. Also gone, zombie, slasher, and other horror movies plagued out to the movie business. No, right & left wing, parents, teachers, and church groups didn't force the end of it. The source of the problem came from the audience as they began to lose interest with the genre after the decade of decadence. The first sign came from Friday the 13th Part VI- Jason Lives after it failed to break the 20 million dollar mark. The next two films were bad despite the variety given to Jason as he battled a telekinetic blond and went to New York City for 5 minutes. The two flicks didn't made a lot of money as one hoped, so Paramount gave Sean Cunningham (director of the first) the rights. Just take it Sean, run with it and die.

New Line Cinema (home of Freddy Krueger) joined with Cunningham to bring back Jason to life with vengeance. The results became Jason Goes to Hell. The film would advertised as the last film with Jason Voorhees which was certain to stay that way until Jason X was announced. The film brought Jason back to new life with new powers while forsaking the previous installments, but it wasn't like the previous flicks were great.

The flick starts off nicely as we see the ordinary slasher routine except there is only a single older woman going to Camp Crystal Lake. The visitors are usually teenagers or young adults that are group of friends. Anyways, we see her go into a cabin to undress and shower with music and camera movement signaling Jason might pop out any moment. He does at one point which begins the women in danger routine as she avoids the machete, but falls and gets hurt. Not to worry, the lady gets up and starts running with Jason in pursuit as every slasher film have done. She stops at one point and looks around just like in the formula and Jason pops out for the kill! However, light turn on facing and blinding him and "fire!" is shouted. It is an ambush for Jason Voorhees as FBI personnel pop out with shotguns, pistols, submachine guns, assault rifles, and light machine guns! They shoot Jason point blank until finishing him off with a mortar round. If this happen around these days, Jason would have been blown up with a predator drone. Jason is dead as the FBI celebrates. I am guessing the FBI got involved after Jason's rampage in New York City. The opening credits and title appear as they tell us this is the final Friday the 13th film and that Jason will be in perdition for all the murders he committed. I personally enjoyed this scene a lot since there is a lot of suspense and action as the scene was well done. It's thrilling and exciting. Or so we thought...

After the credits and death of mutated (from the toxic wasted) Jason, coroner begin examining his body as credits continue to roll until the heart starts beating. The unfortunate coroner eats the beating black heart of Jason Voorhees as soon the spirit takes his body over. What the heck? I know by now people are thinking about how this could possibly happen as Jason has the ability to jump from one body into another kills number of victims. There is no explanation given although there is a hint when one person is investigating Jason's relative house. As for the powers, a bounty hunter known as Duke provides us with the details (at painful prize) we need, so we can understand Jason. He warns that Jason will continue to jump from one body into another until he is reborn with the body of a blood relative. Anyways, Jason will be going around the film killing a number of folks who stand in his way from getting to a blood relative while taking another body after the body he has taken posses starts to show weakness or is severely damaged. The first scene he does this provides the suspense we need as the folks aren't aware of Jason's new power. We get a doctor who begins opening his mouth as coroner/Jason is looking for new weapons to use. The doctor gets it with a probe, ouch! Coroner/Jason goes out into the hall where two SWAT guards throw insults at Jason not knowing Jason's new ability which ends unfortunate for the two. The news report the aftermath as footage shows the two guards and tells the public 3 people are dead and 1 is missing. Looking at the footage of the SWAT members, they may have been killed by gun shots from an assault rifle. With this new power of Jason, what is he to do and what are the people to do?

We know Duke is one of the good guys as he knows a lot about Jason, but no one wants to listen since Jason has been confirmed dead. The folks have to believe that it is all supernatural from that point on, but it doesn't work. It is here that we meet the characters of the film and the roles they have and their fates. We have a bragging woman with her diminutive husband Pookie. The hot waitress Vicki, Diana, and the fat guy work in the diner as number customers come in and out. Out of all them, we come to a Stephen who comes off as a loser with no job what-so-ever. He has nothing going for him except for the fact that he has a child and is told that he can still make things right with Diana's daughter Jessica. Why is this important? Duke appears and warns Diana that Jason is going arrive looking for her since she is a blood relative. She is reluctant, uncomfortable, and does nothing to heed his word since Jason is DEAD. This is good since we get a reason for the massacre to begin all over as we have a couple of campers who are dispatched in a bloody way with a few shrills that had us remembering the slasher films. Jason goes unnoticed as the only method of discovering him is through a mirror.

Once the movie is set with the characters in place, the film goes to work as we see how Jason can transfer from one body to another. We have a number of victims killed in different ways while a number of folks show resistance that's fierce and violent. We get scenes mystery and questions until the final confrontation that takes place with a very good ending even though we are to assume Jason has been sent to the Netherworld.

Despite the misleading title, Jason Goes to Hell is pretty good with the action, casting, acting, and special effects, but I'm only rewarding this flick with 3 stars. I want to give it 4 or even 3 1/2, but I can't because the film was missing suspense even though it was provided in the first 20 minutes. I admire the film for trying, but it ultimately failed to deliver although that doesn't mean I didn't have fun. I enjoyed a lot from this film. I enjoyed how Jason dispatches a number of folks despite their best efforts to fight back. I enjoyed one line that has a character shooting Jason in the head, but the shot doesn't affect Jason in anyway. The person doesn't fire, but yells "oh s**t!" There is a scene I will award someone as the Bad*ss Babe of the Film. Her name is Vicki as we see her go into action. There are lots of physical battles that are hand to hand combat that should have been thrilling, but something doesn't catch me. I blame the film's camera and cinematography because the camera and video image on TV looks like it was recorded with a cheap camera.

The acting in the film was pretty alright although certain folks may defer. I didn't find any problem with anyone, for I found everyone was well in place. The film focuses on Steven throughout the time, but switches between him and Jason Voorhees. Diana and her daughter are added as supporting characters although there is competition with Duke. He does not provide anything other than the information to anyone who wants to listen which is why I found him interesting. As for Jason, I love the body movement he does throughout the film as he looks around, stalks, and kill. I didn't have a problem that he doesn't appear in the flick although I was unsatisfied with his physical stature or the apparel. I believe the film could have shown us a little more as Jason is in hell and all that stuff. He could have made a deal with the Devil like.

Devil: Oh hey Jason Voorhees! How are you? You look like hell! (Laugh).

Jason: (having his inner child talk) you give me all the powers of hell and I'll send you all the sinners you want.

Devil: fair enough, you kill as many sinners as possible suck their flesh, and you'll get your body back.

I guess that would have done, but it's only lead into another unexplained subplot. Anyways, Jason Goes to Hell leaves us with a bloody rampage that teaches us that Jason will always come back in some nasty way. I believe the only person to cast Jason once and for all will have to be the dude from The Devil May Cry. As for us, we sit back and watch this fun film. Jason Goes to Hell: the Final Friday doesn't come off as perfect or suspenseful as I hoped for, but it's better than the most of the dull series I have seen.

Till death do us party.

Wednesday 13 could have said it better.

Other flicks Friday films.

Friday the 13th Part III- 3D.

Friday the 13th Part IV- the Final Chapter.

Friday the 13th Part V- a New Beginning.

Friday the 13th Part VI- Jason Lives.

Friday the 13th Part VII- New Blood.

Friday the 13th Part VIII- Jason Takes Manhattan.

Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday.

Jason X.

Freddy vs Jason.

Friday the 13th Part XII.