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- DVD: His Name Was Jason: 30 Years of Friday the 13th
- Rating: Unrated
- Starring: Hosted by Tom Savini
- Written By: Thommy Hutson, Anthony Masi
- Directed By: Daniel Farrands
- Distributor: Anchor Bay Home Entertainment
- Original Year of Release: 2009
- Extras: See Below
- Series:
His Name was Jason: 30 Years of Friday the 13th
The documentary on the iconic character. By
Tim Janson
February 10, 2009
His Name is STILL Jason!
© Anchor Bay Home Entertainment
While I enjoy the Friday the 13th films I tend to think they’ve been pushed to a loftier position than they deserve. These were not great films in any sense of the word but they did give us an iconic character that ranks right up there with Frankenstein’s monster and Dracula—Jason Voorhees. The character transcends the films. Unlike other slasher fiends like Freddy Krueger or Michael Myers, Jason became the hero or anti-hero of the series. We cheered Jason! We wanted him to kill those dim-witted kids who so stupidly kept on trespassing on his territory.
With a new Friday the 13th film out next week, Anchor Bay has released the ultimate Friday the 13th tribute DVD. A 90 minute documentary and over four hours of additional bonus features, celebrating 30 years of creative carnage. The documentary is hosted by make-up and special effects master, Tom Savini, and is a guided tour through the entire series of films. The documentary is highlighted by comments from some 80 previous cast and crewmembers, directors, including every actor that has portrayed Jason. Cast members include Betsy Palmer, Adrienne King, Amy Steel, Lar Park Lincoln, Kane Hodder, Larry Zerner, and many, many more.
To a man, or woman, they all seemed to generally enjoy their experiences in making the films as well as their new-found stardom many years later through horror conventions. Several, including Adrienne King, mention they’d love to be in a new Friday the 13th film. The documentary also talks about some of the actors favorite kills, production problems, the fortunate few who survived Jason, and some of the films (many!) flubs and inconsistencies. It’s extremely well done it was a joy seeing so many of these actors again, many of who were lying dead when we last saw them. Alas…No Cory Feldman (Thank God!)
Extras
As good as the documentary is, Anchor Bay really went to bat for Friday the 13th fans and packed the two disc set with a load of great special features.
The Men Behind the Mask (46:39) Features interviews with all the actors who played Jason from Ari Lehman in Part 1 to Derek Mears who plays him in the remake. Ted White, from Part 4 was hilarious. He talks about how Cory Feldman was a spoiled brat and how he just wanted to grab him and give him a spanking. Kane Hodder is quite candid about being left out of Freddy Vs. Jason and thinks he would have done a beter job.
Final Cuts (1:17:00) This full length documentary includes interviews with nearly all of the directors in the series including Sean Cunningham, Joe Zito, Danny Steinmann, Tony McLaughlin, John Carl Buechler, Rob Hedden, Adam Marcus, James Isaac, and remake director Marcus Nispel. They each share their experiences and visions on the films they directed.
From Script to Screen (31:11) looks at the development of the films from early script to final product.
Dragged from the Lake (20:50) In this featurette, several cast members and fans share their favorite moments in the series, good and bad. Kane Hodder talks about being in the middle of New York in full Jason guise; Adrienne King also shares her terrifying tale of her real life stalker.
Fan Films (15:00) A short collection of Friday the 13th tribute films made by fans
Closing the Book on the Final Chapter (12:30) A look at part 4 with Director Joe Zito and actor Eric Anderson (who played Rob) as they tour the location and home where most of the film was shot.
Fox Comes Home (3:40) Gloria Charles, who played biker chick, Fox, in Part 3 returns over 25 years later to the ranch, now burned down, and the barn where she met her demise.
Friday the 13th in 4 Minutes (4:00) Adam Green, Director of “Hatchet” gives a fun history of the entire series in four minutes.
Jason Takes Comic Con (4:30) interviews with the cast of the remake from last year’s Comic Con.
Camp Crystal Lake Survival Guide (4:30) this is a hilarious short film done in the style of an old high school film as various actors and crew from the films provide safety tips about Camp Crystal lake such as: Sluts get killed first; don’t sleep in a tent; if you get in a car it won’t start; don’t go near Jason when you think he’s dead, etc…
Inside Halloween Horror Nights (7:00) A tour of Universal Studios Friday the 13th attraction
Shelly Lives! (2:20) Larry Zerner, who played prankster Shelly in part 3 returns in this phony commercial as a lawyer who tells Jason victims how they can sue for damages. Hilarious, especially as Zerner actually is a well-known entertainment lawyer these days.
And if you look hard enough, you will find and Easter egg or two!
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