The Bottom Line
Pros
- Engaging interviews
- Lots of content
- Great insider information
- Sense of fun
- Fast pace
Cons
- Feels at times too much like a promotion for the remake
- Not accessible to newbies
Description
- Starring Seth Green, James Roday, Tom Savini, Kane Hodder, Amanda Righetti, Betsy Palmer, Adam Green, Joseph Zito
- Directed by Daniel Farrands
- Rated NR
- DVD Release Date: February 3, 2009
Guide Review - 'His Name Was Jason' DVD Review
Thirty years ago, filmmakers Steve Miner and Sean Cunningham were struggling kids' movie (!) filmmakers. Desperate for cash, they decided to make a horror movie and came up with a concept -- teens in the "adult free" location of a campground -- and a title: Friday the 13th.
His Name Was Jason chronicles the phenomenon of the Friday the 13th franchise, conveniently just as the new remake is set to hit theaters. Topics covered include: an analysis of Jason's character (sympathetic anti-hero hell-bent on revenge for his mother's death), the movies' formula (secluded teens + old man warning of danger + sex = death), the classic music (derived from the line "Kill them, Mommy"), a montage of kills, continuity issues (How can everything take place on Friday the 13th?), the origin of the first film's ending (Tom Savini's idea) and, of course, an introduction to the remake.
The documentary has a fun, vibrant tone with plenty of clips and quick cuts for the ADD generation. Although makeup legend Tom Savini hosts, most of the information is disseminated through snippets of interviews with the franchise's actors, directors and writers, plus horror movie journalists and famous fans like Felissa Rose (Sleepaway Camp), James Roday (Psych), Adam Green (Hatchet) and Seth Green. (Sadly, no Corey Feldman or Kevin Bacon.)
Fascinating behind-the-scenes tales abound, like how Judie Aronson got hypothermia from filming her bikini-clad death scene, how Lawrence Monoson was high while filming and Adrienne King's dealings with a stalker. We also find out the origin of the hockey mask and where the heck Crystal Lake is located.
His Name Was Jason is the ultimate experience for Friday the 13th fans, although I doubt viewers new to the series will get much out of it.
The DVD
Special features include behind-the-scenes featurettes, interviews and fan films.
Movie: B
DVD: B
