PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Ah! Remember the good old days, when the Friday the 13th franchise was in creative (and I’m using that term loosely) limbo? Paramount had the rights to the name and the fictional location, but New Line had aquired the name, so they, naturally, attempted to cash in on name only recognition of the beloved hockey masked psycho and released the “Jason” films of the franchise. Whether they scored a decent return on their investment or not, is debateable. Goes To Jason Hell and Jason X, while weak entries in the grand scheme of things, still have their admirers, and now they can wallow in some gory goodness as Arrow Video has released both films in deluxe limited editions as only they can!
If you haven’t seen, or don’t already own a copy of, either of these films, turn in your “horror card” immediately, you poser! I shant bore you by recapping the plots of either, so instead, I’ll look at what these two editions have to offer.
Jason Goes To Hell
Okay, okay, I know some of you probably love it, but Jason Goes To Hell, in my not-so-humble opinion, is the worst of the lot. Set in the tabloid TV climate of the early 90’s, after an absurd SWAT team shoot-out, and an equally absurd morgue sequence, where Richard Gant (Rocky V) munches on Mr. Voorhees’ still beating heart, it settles into a body jumping Jason (Kane Hodder; Hatchet) pursued by a “legendary” bounty hunter named Creighton Duke (Steven Williams; 22 Jump Street) one of the most obnoxious characters in the entire franchise (and that’s saying something!). He needs to morph with his half-sister (Erin Grey; Six Pack) or her daughter (Kari Keegan; Mind Games) and her kid, to be re-born, with her husband (John D. LeMay; Friday the 13th: The Series) trying to protect them or some nonsense.
This type of plot was cribbed heavily a few years later by Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers and it didn’t work any better there either. The largest saving grace of this film is the exceptional effects work by Robert Kurtzman (Wishmaster) and KNB, which is bright spot in a supposed troubled production: a script that was written piecemeal, clashes between Sean Cunningham and director Adam Marcus, and a refusal to do an agreed upon nude scene by Keegan.
The film, presented in both rated and unrated cuts, looks much better than it has any right to. Not a particularly “slick” looking film, production wise, the 2160p transfer looks stellar and offers a noticeable upgrade from the 2020 Scream Factory release. With two discs, this release is packed with extras, some new, some archival. New interviews with everyone from Kurtzman, to Harry Manfredini (composer of the iconic theme music) compliment the older stuff featuring Marcus and Hodder.
There’s also new commentary tracks, additional TV footage, galleries and trailers. A hilarious, brief introduction by Marcus thanking you for buying what is probably the 4th version of this film (let’s see: VHS, DVD, Blu-ray, and now 4K, yes, he is correct…) will definitely bring a smile to your face, as it’s pretty obvious he doesn’t have too many fond memories of this project. Allegedly, the package includes a heavy box, reversible sleeve, with new art, a mini poster and a collector’s booklet (Arrow doesn’t provide commercial copies for review). All in all, a nice presentation of a mediocre film.
Jason X
Jason X works, for me at least, because it never takes itself too seriously. Far removed, by time, from the rest of the franchise, coming 8 years after Jason Goes To Hell, Jason X introduced a lot of new fans to the mama’s boy from Crystal Lake. Although Pinhead technically got to space quicker (part 4!), Jason in space is oddly satisfying. While not a “horror comedy” in the same vein as say, Return of the Living Dead, the filmmakers here injected a ton of intentional humor, and that what makes Jason X such an endearing little flick.
Directed by Jim Isaac (Pig Hunt and protegee of David Cronenberg, who cameos here as Dr. Wimmer) and written by genre journeyman Todd Farmer (My Bloody Valentine, and who also has a cameo role), Jason X features some of the most iconic kills in the franchise: who can forget poor Adrienne (Kristi Angus; White Chicks) getting her frozen face shattered, or the holographic hotties turned sleeping bag pinatas? There’s a cast of memorable characters as well, the spunky Rowan (Lexa Doig; Andromeda), the love struck Tsunaron (Chuck Campbell; Stargate Atlantis) and his decapitated, android paramour KM-14 (Lisa Ryder; Forever Knight) pitted against a nano-tech created cyborg Jason (Hodder).
This is cheesy flavor at it’s best!
With a slick and futuristic look from the get-go, Jason X looks fabulous in 4K! With an intro by Kane Hodder and a boatload of extras ported over from previous releases, the Arrow set also has new commentaries by genre writers Michael Felsher and Steve Barton. All of the many featurettes about the making you’ve ever seen are included here, with, the again alleged, booklet, reversible art, mini poster and the other goodies you’d expect from the guys at Arrow Video.
As a completist nerd of a collector, I’ll eventually add these both to the Arrow portion of my shelf, the artwork is themed the same as Arrow’s box of the 2009 Nispel re-boot, so they should look right at home next to it. And if these releases are the same type, the packaging and artwork will be just as stellar, despite my griping above. With one miss, and on hit, (in my opinion) the New Line Cinema entries into this, my favorite, horror franchise are well represented, and are a welcome upgrade from previous releases. Arrow Video is peerless when it comes to great limited releases, Jason Goes To Hell and Jason X are no exceptions! Worth a double-dip!
Arrow Video’s limited edition 4K sets of Jason Goes To Hell and Jason X are available now from fine retailers.
