In October 2017, a Friday the 13th fan film called Never Hike Alone was released. There was a lot of hype behind the film and expectations were incredibly high. It did not disappoint.
Never Hike Alone premiered at the Telluride Horror Show, an honor uncommon for a fan film. It won “Best Feature” at the Idaho Film Festival and “Best Special Effects” at the Horror Hound Film Festival. Currently the film has over eight hundred thousand views on YouTube.
Taking on a beloved horror franchise is never an easy task for a filmmaker, as fans are incredibly vocal when they dislike a director’s vision. Conversely, as the case with Never Hike Alone, when one is well executed, the fans will rally behind it. The fifty-four-minute film has already gained a cult following with some calling it “the best fan film of all time”.
The film’s success is a direct result of the dedication to production quality and the fresh, high-tension take director Vincente DiSanti had on the iconic story. DiSanti shared his plans for a continuation of the Never Hike Alone story on an episode of The Barnshow Podcast.
“There are direct plans and it grows every single day,” DiSanti stated. “I had a version of Never Hike Alone 2 when I finished Never Hike Alone 1.”
Confirming a future for his popular version of the hockey-masked killer, Ghost Jason, DiSanti says he plans to “open up the world”. Though, as with all indie films, production costs have been a constant hurdle. “The biggest issue right now is just funding.”
However, in true indie, problem-solving fashion, DiSanti and his Womp Stomp Films has found a way to make it happen.
“I realized maybe I shouldn’t make a feature film, maybe I should make episodes,” he stated. “Answer the big question that everybody wants to know which is: how did Tommy find Kyle?”
Further exploration of the already established narrative will be a welcomed addition to all the fans whose only complaint was that they wanted more. A series will be a great way to consistently deliver content while operating within the confines of smaller budgets.
Diehard fans of the original franchise know there is a notable series-within-a-series: Friday the 13ths parts four, five, and six — The Tommy Jarvis Trilogy. Upon the release of NHA, they were pleasantly surprised to see not only a cameo by the actor, but a reprisal of the fan-favorite version of the titular character, Tommy Jarvis (Thom Mathews). Any of those fans left wanting more can expect to see Tommy in the coming episodes of the new series.
DiSanti states that he plans to make “another episode about what happens after Tommy saves Kyle.” He intends to flesh out the story, clarifying what many fans have been speculating on already.
“What happens after Tommy saves Kyle and they get to know each other and figure out that Jason’s coming after them and what are they gonna do to defeat him?”
In the coming installments, DiSanti is going delve into the mythos surrounding the Tommy Jarvis character and give fans a long-awaited glimpse into the life of the most popular, if not only memorable, protagonist of the Friday the 13th franchise.
“What happened before Tommy ever met Kyle?” DiSanti posed.
Fans can also expect to find out more about the lead character from NHA, Kyle McLeod, as well as everyone’s favorite momma’s boy, Jason Voorhees himself.
“What happened before Kyle ever found Crystal Lake?” he asks. “What has Jason been doing?”
With the rights to the Friday franchise still tied up in litigation, it will be a while before a studio film can be expected. With that in mind, Womp Stomp Films is giving fans a well-deserved, and incredibly well done, alternative to the frustration of waiting on that resolution.
“Let’s make this a legitimate Friday the 13th piece,” DiSanti says optimistically. “But obviously the rights issues are very much in the way of us having any real conversations with anyone so we’re just kind of doing it on our own.”
As if the idea of a Friday the 13th series was not exciting and intriguing enough already, the promise of having Womp Stomp Films produce it is something to eagerly anticipate. They have proven they have what it takes, and fans have responded positively.
“If fans were impressed with Never Hike Alone one, what we have in store coming up, I think, is really gonna show the world what fans can do.”
Vin DiSanti and Womp Stomp Films are giving the fans a lot to look forward to and doing so at a level not seen before in fan films. This is genuinely next level indie filmmaking. The attention to detail is remarkable and the quality is unmatched in this category.
It has been a decade since a studio Friday the 13th fan film has been released. Legal issues take a long time to settle and that is understandable. However, that understanding does not make it any less frustrating for fans waiting to see their favorite slasher in action again. The Never Hike Alone series is offering exactly that with an unparalleled commitment to fan service. There is a long list of surprises and new takes on classic elements of the franchise still to come, according to DiSanti.
Womp Stomp Films plans to make an official announcement about the coming series and other Never Hike Alone and Friday the 13th content in the coming months. There is an active Indiegogo campaign raising money for the second edition home video release of Never Hike Alone. The film is also currently streaming on YouTube.
