Freddy vs. Jason: Still a good idea?
One of the most anticipated horror films in history but would it work now? Some say it didn't work then.
Niqvist
5/2/20223 min read
Playground Debate
Freddy vs. Jason, who would win? I remember that debate often taking place on the playground long before the iconic knife glove got a hold of that hockey mask at the end of “Jason Goes to Hell.” If I weighed in, and I’m sure I did, I would’ve been faking it because I was not allowed to watch F13 or Nightmare flicks back in my playground days. I think I can credit Commander USA or Rhonda Shear with breaking that cycle. At the very least, I know it was an F13 marathon on the USA network cemented by love for Jason.
Tough Nut(s) to Crack
As has been well documented by the laboriously researched and entertaining read, Dustin McNeil’s “Slash of the Titans: The Road to Freddy vs. Jason,” Jason may have been in Hell and Freddy may have taken him there, but getting them both out and onto the big screen together was its own version of Hell altogether. Ten long years in the development process, and what we ended up with was maligned by the masses. I recently posed the question online, “Name the horror sequel or reboot that wasn’t dogged by fans that had been clamoring for its release.” There were a few good answers. “The Fly” and “The Thing,” but I stand by my original thinking that we all claim to be excited to see what they do next and then complain because it’s not what they’ve already done.
An Audience Aged Out?
That said, we’re fast approaching the twenty year anniversary of the 2003 film, and it got me to wondering if Freddy vs. Jason would work now. Not whether a reboot of the film would work, but rather if the whole concept had continued its painfully slow ascent to movie theaters for another twenty years, finally making its premiere in 2023. I don’t think the question is whether we’d watch it. I think we all know that we would. The real question is could the movie even be made now? Certainly there would be issues with that. Robert England is certainly past his wisecracking child killing prime and has said he’s donned the razor glove for the last time on the big screen. Personally, I have no doubt that Kane Hodder could and would still slip on the hockey mask, but there’s little doubt at this point that it would be two different actors portraying our beloved slashers. Surely that, though probably necessary, would be a major turn off to die hard fans. Not to mention, would younger horror fans raised on” Insidious,” “Paranormal Activity” and “The Conjuring” even care about the characters?
Both the Nightmare and Friday franchises have all but disappeared from those playground discussions. Neither Freddy nor Jason has maintains much of a presence in the current zeitgeist, at least not to the level they did in the 80s and early 90s. That’s a problem from the standpoint of studios. Not to mention, though I am, that the future of Jason Voorhees remains legally unclear.
Burning Bright Star
I’ve heard a lot fans say they will never watch FVJ because of the decision to not cast Kane Hodder. I get that, but personally feel those fans are only doing themselves a disservice. Why not watch something to know whether you like it or not? No need to dislike something on principle if you can help it, right? Maybe that’s me. Regardless, plenty of fans did see it and maintain that they don’t like it. I’m not one of them. I’d watch it for the cornfield rave stunt burn alone. That thing was dope. Like all movies, it has its weak points and strong points, but having read many of the prospective scripts for the project I can say that what ended up being made was the best of the bunch. Yet, it is still much maligned by many and because of that I feel like it’s a triumph that should be celebrated.
Love the One You're With
FVJ may very well have been made in one of the final eras where it could be successful. Fans were going to take issue with it regardless. There is no perfect movie for every person, especially when we’re dealing with two characters so different that are also so beloved. Would FVJ work today? I don’t think so. It would probably make money. I mean, most of us would go see it at least twice in theaters, and many of us would take issue and say the filmmakers/writers/producers had messed everything up. Unfortunately though, one of the biggest things we’d all hate was that it wasn’t Robert England wearing the glove and it wasn’t Kane Hodder stabbing him with it. It couldn’t be. Not now, I don’t think. So, I submit that we enjoy what we got because it was a pretty good effort that was enjoyed by a lot of people. Plus, that cornfield burn scene. Man, that is sick.