JASON X is Far Better than it Gets Credit for Being: Here’s Why
Jason X has long been branded a Friday the 13th franchise dud but I would argue that classification is without merit. I mean, which other franchise entry has David Cronenberg dropping in for a cameo? Hmmmm? Moreover, the series’ tenth installment (which made its world premiere at the München Fantasy Filmfest twenty years ago in 2001) is entertaining and boasts some truly impressive kills. What more could you want from a Friday the 13th sequel?
Synopsis:
The year is 2455. The Place is Old Earth. Once the shimmering blue jewel of the galaxy, Old Earth is now a contaminated planet abandoned for centuries. Yet humans have returned to the deadly place that they once fled. Not to live, but to research the ancient rusting artifacts of the bygone civilizations that caused this environmental disaster. And little does the most recent landing party of intrepid young explorers realize the fate that awaits them.
This is the series’ tenth installment in the original cannon. Space was one of the few remaining options. And I think the flick makes the most of it. Clearly, screenwriter Todd Farmer (My Bloody Valentine 3D) understood that tongue-in-cheek was the way to go with this follow up effort. And he gets a lot right. The tone of Jason X is light, even bordering on satirical at times. But the spirit of Friday the 13th is there, even in outer space.
Jason X is a little thin in the storyline department but the Friday the 13th series has never been known for its overly complex narratives. We watch these movies to see sinful teenagers meet with the business end of a machete and this film delivers on that front.
In spite of the storyline being a little thin, Jason X has a pretty good sense of humor and good-naturedly pokes fun at itself and the series. The camp simulation scene is one of my favorite moments in the Friday franchise and it is also the perfect way to Incorporate Camp Crystal Lake, even if the film is set in outer space.
See Also: 20 Years Later: Underrated Horror Movie THIRTEEN GHOSTS Deserves a Second Look
Jason X also gets high marks for its colorful cast of characters. The key players are funny and quirky and memorable. They may not all be entirely likable but each of them is unique and has a bit of personality. And who could forget Kay-Em-14? She’s hard not to remember, thanks, in no small part to Lisa Ryder (who appears to be having so much fun brining her to life).
Another category in which the film succeeds is with the quantity and quality of kills. A horror sequel pretty much has free rein to let the arterial spray flow from the jump. No need for introductions or backstory. And Todd Farmer and late director James Isaac (Pig Hunt) clearly understand that and take full advantage. Jason X has some of the most memorable kills in the storied history of the franchise. The liquid nitrogen death is high on my list of favorite Friday the 13th series deaths for good reason.
Not surprisingly, Kane Hodder delivers another winning performance as the hockey-masked killer. Hodder plays the character as stoic and intense like in previous installments. And he slices through the opposition like he’s in his element.
On the subject of Jason, I thought Uber Jason was an enjoyable touch. Seeing the character get an upgrade that makes him immune to even the most aggressive attacks was an interesting development. Kind of gave me Terminator vibes. If you’re going to push the franchise several-hundred years into the future, why not give him a bit of an upgrade?
With all of the above going for it, I’m not sure why it has taken so long for people to come around to Jason X. I saw it theatrically when it was first released and I left the cinema smiling. Whatever the reason for its lukewarm reception in 2002, I am happy to see a few more critics and fans coming around to it as time goes by.
For people that didn’t like Jason X, I’m curious to know what you were expecting? It’s Jason Voorhees in space. The very idea is preposterous and requires suspension of disbelief. This movie is exactly what it should be for being the tenth installment in the original cannon of a slasher franchise: It’s funny, silly, and gory. It’s not trying to pass as fine art or even as something wholly original.
In parting, I should mention that I don’t mean to paint Jason X as a perfect movie or even a perfect horror sequel. it’s a little light on scares and almost completely void of any palpable tension. Not to mention, certain elements defy basic logic. However, it’s not meant to stand up to scholarly debate. It isn’t trying to outdo anything that franchise has done before. Jason X is a fun, silly, romp and I think we should appreciate it as such.
Categorized:Editorials News
