Jason is dead. Long live Jason.
Fans were none too happy about the reveal in Friday the 13th: A New Beginning that “Jason Voorhees” was actually Roy Burns, a vengeful paramedic who was unmasked and killed at the very of the franchise’s fifth installment. How did Paramount respond? Of course, they brought Jason back to life in the following year’s Friday the 13th: Jason Lives, which is notable for marking the start of Jason’s run as an undead monster.
Tom McLoughlin wrote and directed Jason Lives, a fun sequel that has proven to be a real fan favorite. Way ahead of its time, McLoughlin brought meta humor into his Friday the 13th film long before Scream came along, taking the franchise into a new direction that was incredibly refreshing back in 1986. When you consider that it’d be 10 years before Wes Craven made meta horror into a bona fide sub-genre of its own, it’s pretty incredible that McLoughlin played around with similar ideas a full decade prior.
In any event, the latest installment of weekly YouTube series “Kill Count” just hit the net (it is Friday, after all), and it shines the spotlight on all the carnage on display in Jason Lives. As host James A. Janisse points out, many of the kill scenes are lacking in the graphic gore department, but the film still managed to deliver memorable brutality.
What’s the film’s best kill? You’ll find James’ pick below and we’d love to hear yours!
