Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan

Posted by Horror Grinder on November 16, 2007

Review by the Fiend of Grue

Ah Jason Voorhees… the unstoppable killer whose sole focus in “life” is to avenge his Mother’s death on drug abusing, sex crazed teenagers. Up until this point in the very successful Friday The 13th franchise, we have witnessed Jason being stabbed, axed, cut, shot, hung, and drowned in everyway imaginable, only to rise up and kill anybody who crosses onto his turf…Camp Crystal Lake. After Friday The 13th Part VII: The New Blood which saw the weakest returns yet for the franchise, you’d think Paramount would call it a day and let the series rest in piece(s). BUT…like with any profitable horror franchise though, where there is still some money to be made, the cash cow will be milked. Because even though Part VII saw weaker returns than ever before, the Friday series did have a dedicated fan base calling out for more Jason.

It’s funny when you mention Friday The 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan to most people that are casually into horror movies, their first reaction is often times, “Oh yeah…is that the one where he’s on a boat?” (Don’t believe me, just try it for yourself.) That assessment would, for the most part, be true. For a title promising Manhattan, there sure is a lack thereof in the finished product. Budget problems plagued the filmmakers from making Part VIII more Manhattan with most of the film not only being shot on a boat, but all of the alley scenes in the film were shot in Canada. Still though, they stuck with their title and gimmicky name, but even that couldn’t save the film and it sunk fast at the box office.

The film begins with an opening montage, showing what was then a very slummy and drug riddled New York City. In the background plays an actual theme song entitled “The Darkest Side Of The Night,” replacing the standard Harry Manfredini soundtrack that we had become so accustomed to over the years. By doing these things, director Rob Hedden immediately lets it be known to the crowd that they are in for a very different Friday The 13th film. Even the famous “Cha…cha…cha…cha…ha…ha…ha…ha” sounds different this time out. (more…)

Stabbed first by Fatally Yours