After “Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday” ended with Freddy Kruger’s hand grabbing Jason’s hockey mask, fans were eager to see a crossover with two iconic villains going head to head. Due to development problems formulating a script for “Freddy vs. Jason,” plans were delayed before a script was green-lit. So, fans of “Friday the 13th” and “A Nightmare on Elm Street” got “Jason X” instead.
Jason X officially premiered in 2001 in Spain and eventually given a wide release in 2002. The tenth installment of the Friday the 13th series earned negative reviews from critics and flopped at the box office. One Year Later, Freddy vs. Jason became a reality. A TV series titled, “Crystal Lake” is currently in development. As of 2023, no release date has been announced.
Anyway, it’s Halloween Month. Throughout October, I’m watching and reviewing several Horror films. Which ones should I post? Please leave a comment and I’ll reply back.
I don’t care if SPOILERS are listed. Jason X isn’t good.
Polished & Rusty Aspects
Polished: Kane Hodder did an excellent job for his performance as Jason.
Lexa Doig (Talia Al Ghul from Green Arrow) did a decent job for her performance.
Jason kills a coroner by freezing her head with liquid nitrogen and bashes her on the table. It totally earns Bonus Points as the best kill scene. As if Sun-Zero (from Mortal Kombat) can defeat an opponent with a fatality. I call it, “Snow Cone.”
Say what you will about Jason’s upgrade from nanites. It’s friggin’ awesome.
Cinematography didn’t succumb to technical issues.
The beanbag kill with Jason beating two holographic girls, is a callback to “Friday the 13th Part VII: “The New Blood.” It was also recreated in the 2017 video game.
A Space Crew learn a woman was frozen many years ago. Wait a minute? That’s Faye Valentine from “Cowboy Bebop” My all-time favorite anime aired in 2001 on Cartoon Network/Adult Swim.
The movie predicted Skype with two people talking on a computer.
The Space Crew mentioned they have a BFG. A reference to Doom Slayer’s powerful weapon from the “Doom” series. Doom Slayer would’ve beat Jason’s butt less thirty seconds.
A crew member says, “Don’t get cocky.” Han Solo’s line from “A New Hope.”
The space station’s called, “Solaris.” Back in 2001, Steven Soderbergh was working on an American remake of Solaris with George Clooney.
Remember the “THIS IS MADNESS” guy from “300?” He plays one of the crew members.
David Cronenberg (The Fly 1986, Videodrome, A History of Violence) makes a cameo appearance. He’s a fan of Friday the 13th.
Rusty: I didn’t get scared at all. My spine never tingled. Not a single moment gave me the heebie jeebies.
A few Death Scenes cut to Jason killing his prey offscreen.
Inside the freezing chamber, how the heck is Jason’s machete capable of going through a metal door? Doesn’t make any gosh darn sense. It’s scientifically possible impossible. He’s not wielding a lightsaber.
Visual Effects resemble a PS2 game. It was the early 2000s. Back when C.G.I. was slowly improving.
A flashback never shows us how the army capture Jason.
The Space Crew are completely forgettable. I don’t remember their names. I didn’t care about every single one. Every single one’s a carbon copy of stock characters from previous movies.
Before Rowan heads to the shuttle base, a girl warns her not to wet her pants. Who the hell says that?!
A big battle with Jason and a crew member wearing a red spacesuit was cut short.
The Final Verdict: D-
Jason X’s a miscalculation. I’m happy Freddy vs. Jason made a dream fight come true. Do me a favor and watch Freddy & Jason instead. You’ll get a kick out of it.
Nickthemoviecritic.com 