This is how the saga might have ended, not with a bang, but with a bunch of rubbery-looking gargoyles dragging our anti-hero Jason Voorhees into Hell, which seemed to bring and end to the long-running Friday the 13th franchise. The "Final Friday" promise in the title was eventually repudiated, as the franchise reared its head again years later. Meanwhile, this ninth installment is an enjoyable ride. The premise is this: Jason (Kane Hodder) gets ambushed by the FBI in a sting operation at Crystal Lake. But while his body is in tatters, his spirit overtakes the first bystander who makes himself available (in this case, a coroner who's examining Jason's remains). Then the possessed coroner makes his way back to the township of Crystal Lake, knowing that the Jason entity must be passed on from host to host until it lands upon the person who can make him reborn, and that person is.... Spill the whole movie here? No. On the "glass-is-half-empty" side, it'd have been nice if the implied backstory about the Voorhees family had been further explored. There is a richness and a great dramatic unity which could have been unveiled; alas, it didn't happen. But on the "glass-is-half-full" side, a rationale for Jason's invincibility is introduced, and a method for finally defeating him is revealed. It seems our drowned mama's boy is actually in cahoots with the folks from down under, and I don't mean Australians. Some decent characters populate this movie, beginning with protagonist Steven Freeman (John D. LeMay), a ne'er-do-well figure who finds himself fighting to save a woman who no longer loves him and a child he never knew he had. There is Diana (Erin Gray), the waitress who knows too much. She's dating Sheriff Ed Landis (Billy Green Bush), whose subordinate Deputy Josh (Andrew Bloch) is cheating on his wife. Also onhand is Deputy Randy (Kipp Marcus), a childhood friend of Steven's who must decide upon duty or instinct when his pal is put in the glue. And Robert Campbell (Steven Culp) is a wonderfully smarmy tabloid TV personality who blows into town to capitalize on the Voorhees hoopla after Jason's supposed death. Campbell's new girlfriend Jessica (Kari Keegan) was no accidental encounter. She's the daughter of waitress Diana (remember, she knows too much), which is why he's courting her. And then there's Creighton Duke (Steven Williams), an embittered bounty hunter of serial killers who knows more about the Voorhees history than anyone else. Perhaps it's because he's been researching it ever since Jason murdered his fiancee years ago, although that item was cut from the final film, dammit. How these people come together and each play a role in putting an end to Jason Voorhees' reign of terror makes for perhaps the most cleverly-written Friday the 13th to date. It's not perfect, and it's certainly not consistent with much of the previously-established backstory. But it's hard not to admire the script's ambition, something Paramount Pictures would never have entertained during their ownership of the franchise. Sean S. Cunningham, producer/director of the original Friday the 13th, produced this one, with Adam Marcus, who as a boy had run coffee for him on the set of the first film, directing this time. And since New Line Cinema, who appropriated the rights from Gulf + Western, conveniently owns the Fred Krueger franchise as well, a cameo appearance by Mr. K was in order for the film's conclusion. Presumably this was to precursor Freddy Vs. Jason, although 2002's Jason X came roaring out of hyperspace to take the saga to a whole new level. Principle Credits: Starring John D. LeMay, Kari Keegan, Kane Hodder, Steven Williams and Allison Williams Directed by Adam Marcus Produced by Sean S. Cunningham Written by Dean Lorey, Jay Huguely and Adam Marcus Music by Harry Manfredini Special Make-Up Effects by KNB Effects Group << Back