Freddy vs. Jason.

Review #1285: Freddy vs. Jason.

Cast: 
Robert Englund (Freddy Krueger), Ken Kirzinger (Jason Voorhees), Monica Keena (Lori Campbell), Jason Ritter (Will Rollins), Kelly Rowland (Kia Waterson), Chris Marquette (Charlie Linderman), Lochlyn Munro (Deputy Scott Stubbs), Katharine Isabelle (Gibb Smith), Brendan Fletcher (Mark Davis), and Paula Shaw (Pamela Voorhees) Directed by Ronny Yu.

Review: 
Admittedly, the idea of two monster titans being featured together can still prove an interesting concept when done right. When it comes down to crossovers, one wonders how this compares to films like Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943), or even monster mashes like King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962). The result is something just a bit under those films, although at least it isn't a complete junk crossover like Dracula vs. Frankenstein (1970) in part because of the fact that it actually has the monsters fight in clear focus. Of course the plot isn't focused on doing anything meaningful besides the fight, as this is a movie beyond mediocre in every respect that ties right down to its bland foundations for things not named Freddy or Jason (complete with a lack of a real reason to bring back either monster). The idea of a fight between these two horror icons was teased ten years earlier at the end of Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday, with a gloved hand clawing at the mask of Jason down with the ground. Actually, the desire to make a crossover film had been discussed as early as 1987 (the same year that the third A Nightmare of Elm Street film came out), but the main thing to remember is the progression of each franchise in their films. I've only watched the first two Friday the 13th films, but one can certainly judge for themselves when it comes to the eight (!) installments that followed, with Jason X (2001) taking the character to space. It does seem fun to watch Englund return to the role for the eighth (and ultimately final) time, even if the script seems a bit less interesting for him than it was for the character in the last one, Wes Craven's New Nightmare (1994). Besides four sequels that declined in quality from the last one, the only real low point was the rising silly value for its titular character. At least Freddy vs. Jason isn't something you need total horror franchise familiarity to really go along with some basic horror scares.

Of course, the film itself is just not as interesting as it should be. I shouldn't be surprised that no cast-mates from either film franchise appear, not even to deliver plot exposition, although it should be noted that Betsy Palmer had rejected coming back to play the role of Pamela Voorhees after reading the script (she didn't like the first film's script either, but she did appreciate the pay - don't we all?). Most of the main core aren't unlikable, but they really do seem stuck in a bland high school drama more than a true horror film. Keena is okay, I suppose, in that she at least seems willing to go along with things to a point, whether that means possibly being the final girl or something else. Really the show is more fun when it goes to Englund, such as when he does a little recap in the beginning, which while not as scary as the previous film at least tries to return the character back to creepy roots. Kirzinger sure seems tall enough for such a big role, which I suppose is more than enough when it comes to a role like this. The only interesting thing to really talk about is when the two actually fight each other, complete with attempts at really getting the "action impact". It works alright for the most part, in the same way that it would've been nice to see more showdown fights between these two (or others) where the environments played a role, whether with the dreamworld or near water. Granted, the plot doesn't really do well with setting up how the main characters actually get to Crystal Lake from Springwood so fast, or how there's any sort of propane tanks of any kind at an abandoned place - but whatever. This film is the writing work of Damian Shannon and Mark Swift (at least the ones who ended up getting credit, anyway), who later went on to write the remake of Friday the 13th six years later (because every horror franchise needed a remake for the 21st century). There were numerous endings considered for the film. One of them involved one of the characters sprouting a claw like Freddy Krueger, while another involved an expansion of the dock explosion like before, with a lead-up to Pinhead (from the Hellraiser films) appearing to ask what seemed to be the problem, while another one teased that Freddy and Jason would be in a pit by the end fighting again. On the whole, if you want to see some slasher icons get together to fight, you might have a fine time with this one for the horror season. If you want just a little more from a horror film when it comes to a solid foundation, you might want to try something a bit better.

Overall, I give it 6 out of 10 stars.