13 days of Friday The 13th: A look back at Jason X

"Jason X" is a film that I constantly hear bad mouthed and am shocked by the fact that it's hated by so many fans. The reason I think a lot of people did not enjoy "Jason X" was due too the fact they took it way to seriously causing all the campy B movie humor to fly right over their heads leading them to labeling it simply as "cheese" or "too silly" missing the entire point and feel of the film entirely. In my opinion this is very sad because I for one really enjoyed "Jason X" and had a blast watching it both the first time I laid eyes on it and just earlier today as I was preparing for this article.

**Warning: Spoilers Below This Point**

Sometime after 2010 or perhaps in said year we find our masked psychopath cornered within a cryogenics unit (there's reference to the cryogenic unit being manufactured in 2010) leading to him being frozen alongside a scientist who is responsible for the successful containment of Jason Voorhees after endless attempts and methods were tried to end his life all failing.

Flash forward to the year 2455 the research faculty that housed the cryogenics lab is discovered by a team of scientists who discover the frozen bodies of the scientist and Voorhees and bring them aboard their space vessel to try and revive the scientist and perhaps sell Jason's remains for a high profit. After Jason awakens from his long slumber we are blessed with the familiar displays of pure brutality and violence that only Jason can deliver only this time around with a Sci-fi twist causing a very strange cross genre film.






 
Personally I had a lot of fun with "Jason X" honestly there's not one film in the franchise that I can say I hated though. Then again when I go into a "Friday The 13th" film I expect only a few things to be present and they are as follows.

Buckets of blood and gore
T&A (tits and ass)
Drug use
Did I mention insane amounts of blood and gore?
Premarital sex
and a body count that can only be described as a massacre

And so far all my demands have always been met causing me to walk out of many theatres or smoked filled rooms with a big smile across my face and "Kill Kill Kill" echoing through my sick and twisted head. "Jason X" would also be the last film of the series to feature my personal favorite Jason the great Kane Hodder who I still hope we will see take up the role at least once more as fan service for all the diehard Hodder fans out there who are dying to see him wearing the mask again. Come on Kane we need one last fix!








 
Another reason I really enjoyed "Jason X" was the fact it had some of the most creative and gory kills of the series not to mention the highest body count of the franchise so far with a confirmed kill count of 25 not counting misc amount of marine soldiers from the intro and the entire population of the solaris space station.

One of the best kills featured in "Jason X" in my opinion is when the girl has her faced dipped into liquid nitrogen before having it slammed down onto a counter sending frozen shards of blood and gore in every which direction, I remember the first time I saw this scene and just being blown away and excited for the rest of the film based solely off of that one kill.






 
And how can you not love "Uber Jason" a crazy Sci-Fi blend of Super Shredder, Cobra Commander, and 3000 tons of steroids. I remember when he first stepped out of the shadows and showed off his new high tech form I about shit myself due to pure Holy Fuck excitement as I knew all this new power would be used for one thing and one thing only pure violence the already unstoppable killing machine had just got a Sci-Fi upgrade.






 
When all is said and done I really like this film and do not consider it a weak link for the series in any form. "Jason X" deserves more credit than it receives and will always be responsible for many Jason memories thanks to its never ending barrage of one liners, jokes, and creative kills.

- Ted "Ritualistic" Brown

13 Days of Friday The 13th: Jason Vs The World

Are you ready for some violence! Do you want to see the shedding of blood and vital organs splattered around the steel cage!? Tonight and tonight only, The Liberal Dead brings to you a moment in sports entertainment that will never be forgotten! Fresh from his battle with the once infamous Freddy Krueger, Hailing from Camp Crystal Lake we bring to you blood thirsty fans, the one, the only, the king of our ring of screams Jason Voorhees! Tonight he will defend his title against five yes you heard us correct five back to back opponents proving once and for all who the baddest mother fucker of them all really is.

Round 1: Jason Vs Michael Myers

*The lights go out as the all too familiar Halloween theme kicks into full gear*

Jason turns quickly to see Michael standing behind him large knife in hand as the sound of steel on steel echoes throughout the arena locking them inside until only one is left standing. Without hesitation Michael takes his first swing underestimating the sheer power of Voorhees, grabbing onto Michael's arm you can see the tide quickly turn as the loud crunch sound of Myer's bone ripping through his flesh is heard in vivid surround sound. Before Michael even gets a chance to react it's all over as Jason uses Myer's own broken arm to shove his trade mark knife through his throat sawing until it falls bouncing about the cage floor.

Round 2: Jason Vs Jigsaw

Do you believe you've lived a good life? Asks the sickly old man standing in front of the monster. Jason tilting his head for a moment plunges his bare fist through the chest cavity of the old man, removing much of his ribcage and insides with one swift pull, looking down as the empty shell of a man collapses to the floor.

Round 3: Jason Vs Pinhead

Before the blood of Jigsaw has time to soak into the mat a barrage of hooked chains rip through the holes of the cage attaching themselves to the arms and legs of Jason. Quickly they all tighten pulling Voorhees off the ground holding him suspended by his very own skin. Pinhead walks towards the helpless madman with a look of sadistic glee across his pale white skin basking in the orgasmic vibes being sent to him by the beautiful display of pain. As Pinhead turns his back to celebrate a slow and painful victory the sound of flesh being torn from bone can be heard followed by a loud thud of boots hitting the ground. Jason impales his hands on the needles that cover Pinheads face pulling as his head become severed shooting a fountain of blood in all directions, his disembodied head still laughing as Jason frees one hand from the bed of needles reaching down and picking up the box, pushing in one of the many panels the click echoes before it is shoved down the throat of Pinhead exploding into a bright light that engulfs his body sucking him once again into his small prison.

Round 4: Jason Vs Ash

A shotgun blast sends Jason against the steel cage as the distant roar of a chainsaw can be heard approaching quickly. Ash sends his chainsaw tearing through the left leg of Voorhees before he has time to even react severing it like a knife through butter. Jason tries to grab for Ash while balancing himself on his remaining leg but the saw is already half way through his right leg causing him fall to the floor. Ash moves in for the kill rushing towards Voorhees not expecting to be caught by his massive hands one grasping his chainsaw arm the other gripping the arm holding his famous boom stick, screams start to escape Ash's lungs as he feels Jason slowly pulling his arms from his body causing a stream of blood to gush from his torso covering the floor with a pool of gore as he bleeds to death in front of the sold out arena.

Round 5: Jason Vs Edward

Wandering into the door way of the cage stands a small sparkly young man with a look of horror and fear across his face. Jason looking up throws Ash's chainsaw arm across the cage impaling it into Edwards chest, using his arms he crawls towards the twitching body of the glimmering metro sexual undead and looks into his eyes for a moment before twisting the blade and tearing it from his chest quickly find it a new home securely through his throat sawing down his torso until his insides are exposed for all to see.



If you made it to the end of this, there is a very good chance that you are just as stoned as I was when this came to be. And for that I commend you and give you a big thumbs up followed by a drawn out alright man.

Lesson to be learned here, truth be told ONLY Jason can love you forever machete trumps sparkles every time.






- Ted "Ritualistic" Brown

13 Days of Friday The 13th: What F13 means to The Liberal Dead

"Friday The 13th" is one of those series that not only sticks with you but also becomes a part of who you are for those who transfer from realm of casual horror fan to hardcore dedicated horror obsessed borderline weirdo. Once this change takes place you'll notice hockey masks becoming common choice for decor and each time the 13th lands on a Friday you can be sure the date will be marked with a red x insuring you don't let this beautiful holiday get pass you unnoticed often leading to a major marathon of teenagers getting maimed and butchered by the one, the only, the king of the high body counts, Jason Voorhees also known as the man behind the mask.

On a personal level Jason Voorhees is a very important part of my own horror education and after being exposed to the maestro of blood splatters and severed limbs quickly I would find myself hooked and craving more. Unlike the other big named killers (Michael & Freddy) Jason was always a bit of an anti hero targeting only the irresponsible those who dare to do drugs or have sex out of wedlock after all such behavior is what lead to his untimely death as a child. He does not kill out of pure joy, although I'm sure there's a deformed smile underneath that infamous mask each time he slices through a topless teen with zero effort painting the environment around him in crimson.

I remember the scene where he enters a cabin full of children and for a moment you say to yourself "Oh man those kids are fucked" only to realize that Jason has zero interest in them, a moment that really causes him to stand out from the crowd, the madman who still houses a glimmer of mercy, a very intriguing concept and one of my favorite things about Voorhees.

Lets face it when it comes to kills no one and I repeat no one does it better or with more style than Jason he will kill screaming teens with anything he can get his hands on and make it into such an elaborate and gory ordeal you will be left with your jaw on the ground and a repeating "Holy shit" echoing through your mind until the next kill takes place and you can bet it will be even more mind blowing than the last.

Sequel after Sequel "Friday the 13th" is a rare franchise that delivers each time never straying from the comfortable slasher zone we all have grown to love and expect when we see a movie poster featuring a hockey mask. And this is the big reason that when it came to start getting iconic horror symbols forever inked into my skin I started with Jason's unforgettable hockey mask forever making his legacy apart of my own.

It really doesn't matter if you're a casual fan or a hardcore fan you know the mask you know the name and I don't see that changing anytime soon now that the series has been given a reboot I just hope that it inspires the next generation of fans to go back and watch the original series and that it captivates them as much as it did my generation. "Friday the 13th" will always be a big part of who I am and will remain on my top 10 most important horror franchises for as long as I exist.

- Ted "Ritualistic" Brown









As I've mentioned before, Friday the 13th is single-handedly responsible for my life-long obsession with the horror genre. The sense of excitement that filled my body as the “teenagers” in the film were stalked and killed one by one was unexplainable at such a young age, but I knew it made me feel good enough to want to experience it again, and again. I would develop obsessions with various horror franchises , included Nightmare on Elm Street, Hellraiser, Halloween, etc. etc., but Friday the 13th will always be credited as my first real exposure to the horror genre, and for that I will always hold a special place in my heart for the series.

As the sequels poured in, they became sillier and sillier, but that never bothered me, I enjoyed seeing Jason on screen regardless of how terrible the film actually was in the eyes of others. Some of the series' weakest films are some of my favorites. Jason X, and Jason Goes To Hell have taken the most amount of shit, as has the “reboot” but I personally feel like these films at least delivered what they promised. And that is actually saying something, because a lot of movies these days can't even accomplish that simple task.

I watch Friday the 13th films to see gratuitous violence and nudity, so the day that an F13 film doesn't deliver that, is the day that I will be disappointed in that particular entry into the series. I'll grant you that the reboot was definitely not void of issues, but I question what people were actually expecting when they went to the theater. It was basically one big homage to the entire franchise, in some cases borrowing both the set-up, and pay-off of specific kills. People were angry that Jason seemed to be running, though he can be seen in several of the sequels running. They were also upset that he was using a crossbow, which is also lifted directly from one of the sequels. I went to the theater to see this film expecting to see titties and gore, and that is what it delivered.

The same can be said of both Jason X, and Jason Goes To Hell, which also catch a lot of undeserved shit. Are these films silly? Of course they are, point out to me, with the exception of maybe the first two films in the series, an entry that isn't silly. Another favorite of mine is Jason Takes Manhattan. A completely ridiculous concept, but such a blast to watch. Who doesn't love seeing the iconic Jason Voorhees murdering cliché 80s punk rockers in the middle of Time Square?

The series has had its ups and downs, but for me, it's never disappointed, and it's most definitely never been boring. A lot of the set pieces created by Friday the 13th are still used in slasher films today. Whether you love it or hate it, it's impossible to deny it's influence on our culture. Jason's mother would get the ball rolling, but the last scene of the movie would create an international icon, and a heaping pile of beautiful dead teenagers.

-Shawn “napalmfuzz” Savage

13 Days of Friday the 13th: From boogeyman, to drinking buddy.

The year 1980 unleashed one of the worlds most prolific mass murderers. Though not an integral aspect of the first film, Friday the 13th introduced the world to Jason Voorhees. If you were to ask anyone in their late 40s, or early 50s what was one of the most scariest movie moments for them, they are likely to say when Jason jumps out of the water at the end of the first Friday the 13th. I have my aunt to thank for exposing me to this iconic killer. Being a teenager when she babysat me at the age of 4 or 5, what better way to pass the time than to watch a horror flick? I remember vividly, my aunt jumping out of her seat, and screaming at the top of her lungs, as a young, deformed Jason popped out of the water during the dream sequence at the end of the film. While I more than likely shat in my underoos as well, I can remember the sense of exhilaration that filled my entire body. I was hooked, and from that point on, the video store was my home away from home.

Much like my own reaction, it seemed the entire world was about to become obsessed with the masked murderer as well. Shortly after the unexpected success of the first film, a sequel was released. This time, Jason actually steps up to the plate. Pissed off that that his mother was beheaded, Jason embarks on an endless killing spree, slaughtering anyone that crosses his path. If you were to watch all of the Friday films, back to back, you would notice an evolution in attitude. The first two movies, released while the slasher sub genre was still in it's infancy, were obviously created in order to terrify the viewer. As the series continues, it slowly becomes a parody of it's self. No longer made to terrify audiences, Jason became a pop culture icon. Originally intended to make young teenagers think twice before they engaged in promiscuous unwed sexual activity, and the recreational use of drugs and alcohol, Jason slowly became a household name. People would flock to the cinema to cheer him on, rather than to fear for the teenagers in peril.

The late 80s and early 90s were Jason's heyday. It would be hard to travel anywhere in the world without running into some representation of the icon. From dolls, to Halloween costumes, and even an appearance on the Arsenio Hall show on Fox TV. Sure, Jason had kicked our door in, but at least he wiped his feet, right?

As each film passed they started to become more and more ridiculous, but fans like myself flocked to every one of them. The bigger the body count became, the louder the cheers would be. Jason was no longer the boogeyman he was intended to be, but had became something much larger than anyone anticipated. Some may even consider him a role model, asking themselves “What would Jason do” before making any tough decisions.

Whatever your opinion, Jason was here to stay. Every time we thought they had put him to rest for the last time, he'd get back up, dust himself off, and start dropping bodies again. Even with the complete dismemberment of his body in Jason Goes To Hell, he managed to find his way back into our homes, and into our hearts.

Audiences may be split on the recent reboot of the franchise, but one thing that is for sure, Jason is back, and he'll probably be sticking around for a number of years to come. I wonder, after the dramatic shift of public perception that has occurred within the 30 years of his reign, what the Jason films will be like another 30 years from now. Will they dip further into ridiculousness? Or will they pull a complete 180 and become terrifying once again. Either way, it's been a hell of a ride thus far, and I look forward to the bloody future of the franchise.

13 Days of Friday The 13th: The Men Behind The Mask

Friday The 13th - Ari Lehman

Friday The 13th part 2 - Warrington Gillette

Friday The 13th part 3 - Richard Brooker

 
























Friday the 13th part 04 : The Final Chapter - Ari Lehman (archive footage),Richard Brooker (archive footage), Steve Dash (archive footage)(uncredited)(picture 01), Ted White (uncredited)(picture 02)(Jason below)



































 
Friday the 13th part 05 : New Beginning - No real Jason









Friday the 13th part 06 : Jason Lives - C.J. Graham

















































 
Friday The 13th part 7 : The New Blood
Friday The 13th part 8 : Jason takes Manhattan
Friday The 13th part 9 : Jason goes to hell
Jason X


Kane Hodder
























































Freddy Vs. Jason - Ken Kirzinger



























Friday The 13th (2009) - Derek Mears

Hard Ride To Hell (2010) Review

“Hard Ride To Hell” is a little bit of a hodge-podge. It mixes elements from several classic films, most notably, “The Hills Have Eyes”, while maintaining to be marginally unique. The story follows a group of friends, traveling in an RV across the wide open nothing, in order to reach a secluded camp-site for some much needed R&R. Once they arrive, they meet a traveling knife salesman, who we'll be introduced to a little more fully later in the film. Dirk, played impressively by Brandon Jay Mclaren, whom is a tabloid journalist, stumbles upon what appears to be a motorcycle gang, preparing to rape a large group of women. Of course, Dirk takes it upon himself to begin recording the act. Gone missing from the camp for quite a while, Dirk's concerned friend Danny tries to reach him via walkie-talkie, which of course alerts the bikers, and the madness begins.

“Hard Ride” isn't a bad film, it's just so infested with elements of other films that every frame feels like you've seen it before. As mentioned before, it borrows a tremendous amount of it's setup from “The Hills Have Eyes” , group of people in a recreational vehicle, being stalked and killed by madmen. The difference being, the madmen in “Hard Ride” are not cannibals, nor are they mutants. They're more like a zombie/demon motorcycle gang from hell with the gift of immortality.





As the flick begins, it's set in old western times, of course, before the invention of the motorcycle, so our gang of demonic flesh eaters are on horseback. Funnily enough, they already have their “gang patch” on the back of their dusters. The story it's self is sort of a jumbled mess. Jefe, played by the awesome Miguel Ferrer, is some sort of pastor, who is banished from his congregation when he tries to suggest to them that consuming human flesh grants the gift of eternal life. Jefe forms his own posse, and starts rounding up hot women, both for the purpose of consuming their flesh, and searching for a special woman who is able to bear his child without miscarrying. Also thrown into the mix, is the grandson of a man murdered by Jefe, who carries a mysterious amulet, that apparently has the power to stop the evil, but it must be used by someone else that is evil before it will serve it's purpose. What a mouthful.

The acting in the film is well above par, with great performances in particular from Miguel Ferrer, Brandon Jay Mclaren, and the beautiful Katharine Isabelle, whom you will remember from both Ginger Snaps, and Freddy Vs. Jason. There were no real problems with the performance of the supporting cast, but the three people mentioned are the real bread and butter of the movie. I know films are ruined for some people if cheesy acting is involved, but there's none of that here, so there's nothing to worry about on that front.





The overall look and feel is visually appealing. It's clear from the marketing, and the cover art that they were aiming to pay homage to drive-in exploitation, but it's really a little too polished to be considered as such. A lot of the time, low budget flicks are hampered by the budget, in the form of the often times visually unappealing DIY look and feel. Despite the many problems with “Hard Ride” it definitely looks like most of the money went into the the camera/lighting.

I suppose there is a little bit of blood and gore, nothing to write home about though. There's a limb severing, and several dozen scenes where flesh is torn from peoples skin via teeth, but nothing over the top or brutal. Personally I wish they would have scaled back the pretty editing and poured a little more cash into the special FX. Don't get me wrong, what we see is practical, and it looks good, there's just not very much of it, and what is present lacks variety.




The third act of the film re-introduces us to the traveling knife sales men mentioned earlier. Though, now he's pissed off, and as was hinted at earlier by a tattoo on his arm, he has some form of special forces training. With an endless repertoire of various knives, he battles the evil demonic zombies, in an attempt to save the lives of our campers. I find it a little hard to believe, special forces training or not, that one can take on a horde of immortal demon bikers with a set of knives. Granted, he lacks the ability to actually kill them, but he sure fucks them up for a good while. Have these zombie/demons survived all this time, having never encountered a a tussle? Nevertheless, it's quite nonsensical, but it does add a bit of action to the films finale.

Speaking of the finale, what a terrible ending. If anything damned this film to low score hell, it was that ending. I'm not going to spoil anything, but suffice it to say, after sitting through what seems like 40 minutes of Chuck Norris' cousin knife fighting a horde of demons, saying the ending is anti-climactic would be a complete understatement. After all is said and done, “Hard Ride To Hell” has more aspiration than it can deliver. It looks great, has a great cast, but ultimately fails due to a paper thin plot that dwindles into complete nonsense by the end of the film. It's certainly a better movie than you would find on SyFy late at night, but that isn't exactly high praise. I don't regret watching it, I just wish that the writers would have been on a different type of drugs when they wrote the script.



5/10