Never Hike In the Snow - Friday the 13th Fan Film review

 I have got to say that this one caught me off guard. I was expecting the same old fan film bullshit - Jason tied to his machete, the same hocus-pocus "appear here and appear there", "Jason does not do this or that" that Kane Hodder FORCED into the franchise.

Don't Hike In the Snow is a sort of sequel-follow up to the YouTube hit fan film "Don't Hike Alone". And a very well done follow-up, I might day. Far better than NHA.

The opening scene is brilliantly shot. I have to admit that I rolled my eyes when I saw Jason and his trusty bullshit machete. But, FUCKING A, Jason used a bow & arrow and axe in the first kill. The axe is actually the weapon that he has used most throughout the entire franchise. 

The story takes ex-deputy sheriff Rick Cologne (Vinny Guastaferro) and puts him as Sheriff of the territory and main game-caller for the investigation of the deaths in the area. With a history with Jason Voorhees he follows in the same "Jason doesn't exist" bullshit as his former Sheriff Rick Garris.

The film also uses the character of Tommy Jarvis, reprised by Thom Mathews (Return of the Living Dead 1,2 and Friday the 13th Part VI) as Tommy Jarvis and does a freaking great job. Not missing a beat from his role as Tommy from 1986. 

The story line is solid, and the acting is production-company-quality. Running at 32 minutes, its quote short but entertaining as hell. A must see for any franchise fans. I have always said that the future of the franchise lies in these fan films, and this film is evident. Far better than Platinum Dunes, New Line and Paramount could ever create this far in the game.

And you guys know - this film has to be good to pull me out of 5+ years of hibernation.

I miss all of you guys.

Rest in Peace, Steve

I know this is long overdue, but I wasn't sure what to say.
I met Steve from the Guts and Gory forums and we had a mutual interest in giving credit where it was due in regards of who played who in the Friday the 13th films.

Steve was a pretty funny, abrasive, great guy and I barely knew the real "him".

But he was still a friend. A great guy.

He will be missed.

32 Years of Terror(ble) Ratings

Needless to say, Friday the 13th: Part V - A New Beginning is probably one of my three favorite Friday the 13th films. And realistically, as a saga Parts 1-5 can't be topped by any other slasher franchise that spanned more than a few sequels.

Even with the A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise, the movies shit the bed by Part IV. Then we have the franchises like Children of the Corn, Hellraiser, Leprechaun, Halloween, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, etc, that became pure garbage after 2 or 3 sequels.

Susan Jennifer Sullivan Is NOT dead!

I just wanted to pass this word on, and hopefully those rumors that she has passed on will fizzle.

Here's a HUGE write up, with tons of research and proof that she is indeed alive and well.

Santa Clarita Wildfire Destroys Sable Ranch

I am really sad to report this, but the recent wildfire in Santa Clarita Valley, in Los Angeles County, has been destroyed.

Sable Ranch is home to many movies and TV shows, but also shooting location for many horror films such as The Devil's Rejects, Tourist Trap, Motel Hell, and Texas Chainsaw Massacre III.

Here is the news story.

Wolfie's Just fine - A New Beginning

Any A New Beginning fan will love this.

Indie rock band Wolfie's Just Fine made this music video with a true homage and remake of Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning. It also looks like the scenes were shot in the same place as the movie.

Happy Friday the 13th, Ya'll

Looks like Jason is taking a break on yet another Friday the 13th.

It seems like every thing that was in talks has yet to come to fruition. No movies, no TV series, nothing. I think that I may be okay with that, too.

So, here's a great picture of Ted White as Jason taking a break from the movie - hanging out by a nice fire along Crystal Lake and letting the campers do as they will.

And sorry that I don't update this much, I really don't have a whole lot to say about the franchise right now.

A Recent Photo of Harry Crosby

From: Zimbio

Here is a semi-recent photo of Harry Crosby from the first, original, and best Friday the 13th movies from 1980. He was speaking at an event to honor his father, Harry Bing Crosby called "Bing Crosby Rediscovered.

Goodbye, Deadpit.com

I know that I neglect this blog greatly, sometimes. I do try and update when I can. But with the awful fate of the Friday the 13th franchise, and horror movies being just complete shit of late, it's really hard to be inspired to write anything.

WTF Warrington

Is anyone else getting this spam from Warrington? My spam folder is full of it. Looks like he's a realtor now, which I guess is fitting for a conman. 

It's sort of sad that he's spamming people from his fake Bloody Social donation list. I don't want your homes, I want my Bloody Social investment back! Only been 15 years.

Ernerst Goes To Camp Crystal Lake

I love all of these fan creations for the franchise that seem to never stop - even after three decades. Needless to say, the franchise is as popular as it ever was, still going strong. The only problem is that we can't seem to get a new movie!

Well, here's something that may hold you over created by Candy Claw! Check out the fan-edit trailer here, too.

A Band Named Death Curse...

 

There's apparently a band out of Missouri called Death Curse. The album art of their self-titled release depicts an unmasked Jason Voorhees hunting a would-be victim. It's obviously heavily Friday the 13th influenced, but not the gimmick rock of Ari Lehman's First Jason. In fact, this album rips ass and is pretty heavy shit. 

It's released on Razorback Records, and here's a teaser for the album. 

Part VII Final Man on Talk Radio Show!

Here's a great interview with Kevin Spirtas on the TRadioV.com radio show Soap Box.  Kevin still looks great after all these years, and as always is a very good talker!

Goodbye, Wes.

 

Even though Wes Craven has made some really bad movies, he still stands way up there with some of the greatest horror flicks of the 70s and 80s. He will always be one of my heros - rest in peace, Wes Craven.

Kimberly Beck in Zuma Beach (1978)

Zuma Beach is a made for TV movie, starring Rosanna Arquette, P.J. Soles and Suzanne Somers. Not a bad flick at all, and you get to see Kim in a bikini! It was surprisingly entertaining, with a lot of 70s era beach antics.

Jason headed to the CW?

Rumors floating around from Deadline.com has hinted that there may be a Friday the 13th TV series in the works on the CW. While I really don't care much for a TV series based around Jason, this one seems to be a tad more interesting as it is said to be "grounded in reality." I can get behind that!

"I hear that in the series reimagines the masked Jason with a stronger feel of grounded reality. Described as a sophisticated, horror/crime thriller, the potential Friday The 13^th series is about the ongoing quest of a detective’s search for his missing brother that is somehow tied to Jason Voorhees, a long thought dead serial killer who has now returned to wreak havoc in the new Crystal Lake." Read the rest

Franchise Loses Another Actor

Irwin Keyes, known for being such a sweetheart guy passed away today at age 63. While he did not have a large role in Friday the 13th (1980), he was very well known at franchise gatherings and conventions - and known for his role in the Rob Zombie shit flick House of 1,000 Corpses.

Rest in peace, Irwin.

Keyes died of acromegaly, a rare pituitary gland disorder, his manager Phil Brock confirmed to EW. He had been in a rehabilitation center for the past few months. - Entertainment Weekly

The Hitcher (1986): Filming Locations

This is definitely not a definitive locations guide to the 1986 film The Hitcher, nor does it cover all of the filming locations. However, when I do make it to the other locations, I will certainly update this. Here are the locations from the Death Valley, Shoshone, and Tecopa, California areas used in the film.

Rest in Peace, Betsy!

I just wanted to take a minute and send my condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Betsy Palmer - a woman who all of us Friday the 13th fans had looked up to as "mommy" for over thirty years. You will be missed, and you will always be Mrs. Voorhees to us. 

Rest In Piece, Richard

Something compelled me to look up Richard Brooker today and I noticed that not long ago - April 8 - he passed away. I have to say that it was a sad day for myself, being a huge fan of the Jason Voorhees character that he pretty much invented in Part III.

Brooker was pretty much forced to invent Jason himself, when director Steve Miner told Brooker that Jason had no motivation. 

Here's a really old photo of Brooker and his horse.