Film Review: Jason X (2001)

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(source: tmdb.org)

The Friday the 13th film series stands as one of the most iconic Hollywood products of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, ingraining itself in popular culture and amassing a dedicated fan base despite facing criticism from many film critics who viewed it as formulaic and derivative of superior horror films. While attempts were made in the series to deviate from the established formula, none went as far as the tenth instalment, the 2001 film Jason X.

The plot takes begins in (then future) 2010, when Jason Voorhes (played by Kane Hodder) is held captive by US government in secret lab and subjected to all kinds of experiments by scientists interested in his invulnerability. His latest killing spree is stopped when mortally wounded scientist Rowan LaFontaine (played by Lexa Doig) has both of them cryogenically frozen. 400 years later group of students and scientists from Earth II come to polluted and abandoned Earth for a field trip and unwittingly awaken both Jason and Rownan from their frozen slumber, which would lead to carnage on their spaceship.

Produced by New Line Cinema during a period when the studio was striving to create a crossover between the Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street franchises (ultimately resulting in Freddy vs. Jason), Jason X was often viewed as a stop-gap measure and filler by the most devoted fans of the series. Director James Isaacs and scriptwriter Todd Farmer took a daring approach by sending the main character into space and setting the plot in a distant future, providing an opportunity to veer the film in a different direction and emphasize campiness, thus turning the film into a parody of the franchise.

Despite the potential for a fresh take on the series, the film falls short due to its limited budget, cheesy special effects, cringe-worthy dialogue, and lacklustre characters. Filmed entirely in Canada, the film features a predominantly local cast, including future star Lexa Doig of ?Andromeda fame and a brief cameo by renowned director David Cronenberg as a doomed scientist.

While Jason X does offer glimpses of creativity and some interesting ideas, such as a victim's death that later inspired an episode of Mythbusters, the recreation of the original film setting as a holographic projection, and an ironic finale, these moments are not enough to salvage the overall impression of the film. Jason X ranks as one of the least successful entries in the franchise, failing to fully capitalise on its potential for campy science fiction fun. While it may provide some entertainment value, the film is likely to disappoint both die-hard fans of the series and those seeking a more generic sci-fi horror experience.

RATING: 4/10 (+)

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1 comments
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Jason X is one of those movies that you don't think it's part of that franchise.

I think it's a parody, that's the only explanation for the making of that film; it's a clear example that there are no ideas and that they needed to do something with this franchise, but what's done is very bad even though it's also funny.