Jason Voorhees Speed Art and Film Ranking
Friday the 13th may be the biggest slasher franchise ever, with over 12 films, multiple video game series and countless comics and merchandise.
When I did my original animation, the Evolution of Jason Voorhees, I had no idea it would ever get to over 10 million views. In fact, after I first uploaded it I was in a pretty dark place and wasn't sure what direction to take my main channel. After it took off and I had some requests come in, “The Evolution Of” has become my bread and butter ever since.
I think most of the Friday films themselves are pretty mediocre, starting out as a cheap rip-off of the Halloween series, it finds it’s footing later on. But there’s something that makes these films infinitely re-watchable. It may be the simplicity, or the little caveman inside of me that loves watching people slash and dash. With that said let’s jump into this slasher series and rank them worst to first!
warning: spoilers ahead!
12. Friday the 13th Part 8: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989)
Starting with the biggest stinker in the series and coming in at number 12 is Friday the 13th Part 8: Jason Takes Manhattan. Released in 1989, long after the rose had fallen off this franchise, Jason Takes Manhattan shows exactly what can go wrong when a series relies on doing the same thing over and over again. Even if they changed the location, the un-inventiveness of this entry is easy to smell from a mile away. The movie seems to be edited rather sloppily, even by Friday standards, and spends most of it’s time wasting time on a boat with uninspired kills before finally landing in Vancouver - oops, I mean New York - where he gets into a few shenanigans worth watching, like the boxing match. But for the most part it doesn’t live up to it’s premise of Jason Taking Manhattan, and is really more like Jason Briefly Visits Manhattan.
11. Jason X (2001)
On to number 11, and probably the weirdest entry in the franchise: Jason X. It goes without saying when a franchise takes it’s non-sci-fi related protagonist to space it’s most-odds jumped the shark - they’ve launched Leprechaun, James Bond and Pinhead into space and with this film Jason Voorhees joins their ranks. At this point in the series Jason Voorhees’ typical slasher fair was no longer playing at the box office, and the only way they thought to renew interest was by putting out either cross-over films or weird sci-fi mash ups, and this falls into the latter. The film isn’t a complete disaster, because with the new location in space we get some of the most interesting kills to date and the new look that Jason upgrades too is at least something new. But like many flicks that tried to cross-genres before, this film falls flat as both a sci-fi film and a slasher flick.
10. Jason Goes To Hell: The Final Friday (1993)
Falling in line at number 10 is Jason Goes To Hell: The Final Friday, released in 1993. Much like Freddy’s Dead the Final Nightmare came out at a time when the Slasher genre was at an all-time low critically and finacially. This is probably the first film since Part 2 that tried to add anything new to the lore of Jason Voorhees, adding in a family element. But this added family tie comes a little too late in the franchise to really jive with the other films, and it feelsas a weird step-child to the previous 8 films. It also doesn’t help that Jason is hardly in this film, at least in a physical form, as he apparently gains the ability in this film only to possess other peoples bodies and continue his kill-spree. The very ending fight when Jason comes back in full-form is probably the most exciting part of the movie, but after nearly an hour and a half of family drama and people acting woodenly pretending to be our slasher hero, it isn’t enough to save this film from falling flat. While I appreciate they tried something new, for the most part it fails to bring anything of interest to the franchise.
9. Friday the 13th (2009)
Coming in at number 9 is the Friday the 13th Remake... which is really only a remake for the first 5 minutes, and then becomes just like any other Jason sequel. Jason in this film is absolutely brutal and ruthless, and he really looks like he could slice and dice you without much effort. This is the first film to have a person looking for a family member who was possibly killed by Jason. But where this film falls apart for myself is turning Jason into not just a mindless killer, but into a cunning killer who kidnaps some of his victims for months on end and digs out tunnels under Camp Crystal Lake to travel, which doesn’t quite work with my view of Jason. As a killer who’s just senselessly killing for revenge that makes sense, but to have him torturing someone for seemingly no reason just doesn’t quite add up.
8. Friday the 13th (1980)
Coming in just under the Remake at number 8 is the original Friday the 13th. I know a lot of people appreciate this film because it created the origins of Jason, but for the most part it's pretty boring and clinical. While on first view it’s kind of fun trying to figure out who the killer is, on re-watch you really feel the slow-pace. What makes this film more interesting than the previous films on this list is simply Betsy Palmers performance as Pamela Voorhees, who is revealed to be the killer at the end of the third act. Because of this twist we have to assume that a near elderly lady has the strength to toss full-grown bodies through windows, but putting that aside her acting is second to none and makes this film worth watching.
7. Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)
And at number 7, just a little bit better than the first in my opinion, is Friday the 13th Part 2. Jason may not look how we know him, sporting a bag over his head and hill-billy attire, but he’s still the same killer that we would come to recognize in later films. Apparently seeking revenge for his mothers death, Jason lets loose and starts to give us the kills the franchise would become known for. While the MPAA made them make some cuts, the film still manages to pack a brutal punch and add more to the series while giving us our first non-dream sequence Jason. The reason why he is alive is kept pretty vague, but if you don’t think too much and just watch it for what it is there’s a lot of fun to be had with Part 2.
6. Friday the 13th Part 3-D (1982)
Continuing on with the list and staying in order is Friday the 13th 3-D, landing at number 6. This is the first film to give Jason his iconic hockey mask and his more hulking appearance. It was shot to cash in on the 3D craze that boomed in the early 80s, and there’s a few shots that just don’t look right when watching on home video, but with that aside it did open them up to getting more inventive with the kills - the harpoon gun being one of my favourites. The plot of the movie is much like the previous ones, where Jason is just picking off more guests at Camp Crystal Lake, but I feel like it’s more competently and tightly shot this time around. For all intents and purposes this was supposed to be the final film in the series, as they basically killed Jason off at the end.
5. Freddy Vs. Jason (2003)
At number 5 on my list is the cross-over flick Freddy Vs. Jason. While I consider this to be more of a Freddy film than a Friday film, the movie does manage to give Jason the larger body count. It weaves together the two killers without too much disbelief, as Freddy wakes up Jason in hell to do his bidding. As expected Jason has a ball of a time, this time killing outside of Camp Crystal Lake, Jason is able to let loose on whichever teenager he sees fit. But when he starts having too much fun, Freddy steps in to take down the hockey mask moot. This movie sounds pretty dumb, but it’s well put together so I tend to forgive some of the weaker elements, like the acting or lack of Freddy kills.
4. Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)
Picking up the number 4 spot is Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter. This may be the most complete Friday film. Even through Jason was supposedly dead at the end of Chapter 3, he’s easily brought back and now slashing a new batch of teenagers. What makes this one different than the last few films is the teenagers are written stronger and we get our most interesting protagonist Tommy Jarvis, who’s story would continue in the next two films. Jason is also given a more monster-like appearance thanks to Tom Savini, who had worked make-up on the first film, coming back to close off Jason’s story. It also helps that because going into this film they knew it was supposed to be the last so they truly give it a finite feeling.
These next three films on my list may not be better than Part 4, but I personally just enjoy watching them more...
3. Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985)
At number 3 on the list is the fifth entry in the series, Friday the 13th: A New Beginning. I think a lot of the hate this film gets is truly misplaced. Jason was officially on record killed at the end of Part 4, so the killer in this film remains a mystery. Is it Tommy Jarvis, or is it someone else? Eventually it gets revealed to be an angry ambulance driver seeking revenge for his portly sons death. While the premise is a little weak this film probably packs some of the most brutal and interesting kills of the franchise, with one of the highest kill counts in the series. The pace moves along quick while keeping the viewer guessing who this killer is, the first film since the original Friday to achieve this. I know since Jason doesn’t officially appear a lot of people get mad at this entry, but viewed on it's own I think this film has a lot to offer.
2. Friday the 13th Part 7: The New Blood (1988)
I’m probably going to make even more heads roll with my next entry, which is Friday the 13th Part 7: The New Blood. While it’s probably one of the weirdest ideas in the series –pitting Jason against a psychokinetic young girl – but she makes a very formidable foe, giving Jason his toughest match at this point in the series, and probably the toughest match until Freddy Vs. Jason years later. While I know this film isn’t perfect (it sometimes comes across as a little slapped together, especially the ending where the girl summons her dead, but not rotted, father to drag Jason back to the bottom of the lake) I still get a lot of enjoyment out of it.
1. Friday the 13th Part 6: Jason Lives (1986)
Coming in at number one in my rankings is the sixth entry of the Friday films, Friday the 13th Part 6: Jason Lives. Not taking itself seriously while still crafting a competent film that manages to bring back Jason Voorhees from the dead in a throw back to monster films from the 1930s, it immediately cuts to a parody of a James Bond style openings, which should basically be everything that you need to know to understand this film in the franchise. Upon release the movie was met with negative reactions, but looking at it as a send up of the tropes from earlier entries this film has much to offer. From the cheesy 80s songs to the tongue in cheek referential dialogue this film comes across more as a pre-cursor to the now overdone self-referential horror films that boomed after the original Scream film than a tired sixth entry in a horror franchise. This is the first film in the series that I go to when I’m ready for a re-watch and it’s mainly because of how much fun I have watching it. If you’re looking for the perfect Friday film to watch with a group of your friends, look no further than Part 6.
Well that’s my ranking for the Friday films. What do you think of my order? Good, bad, ugly? Let me know over on Instagram @tellitanimated!
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