Terror Transmission

Although the official 30th anniversary of FT13 was in May (because I’m a picky bastard that way), His Name Was Jason: 30 Years of Friday the 13th spans all 12 movies and is largely comprised of interview “talking heads” of cast and crew, discussing their experiences with their respective installments of the series. I’ll be honest with you, it’s often a whole lot of static-shot interviews, a format that might be enough for some fans but others might be wanting more in terms of behind-the-scenes footage and shooting sites revisited. There’s some of that here, but not enough.

Director Daniel Farrands (who has also flirted with the Halloween franchise via writing and producing) dug up an impressive number of FT13 veterans, though sorely missing are at least a few notables: Steve Miner(!), Crispin Glover, and Corey Feldman really come to mind. Watching this doc, you can really feel their absence and can’t help but wonder either who dropped the ball on that or if there were protests from the absentees themselves. (I know that Glover’s always been a little weird about the subject of his involvement with FT13, so that might cover him. It certainly couldn’t have been those amazing dance moves of his or anything.) Some of the interview time is padded out a wee bit with individuals in and around the world of horror, such as Seth Green, the guy from Bloody Disgusting, and even the lead actress from Sleepaway Camp, a movie that really presents the ultimate WTF ending for an ’80s slasher movie. But, a few of these non-FT13 people were, shall we say, extraneous. That’s a $10 word for someone should have given them the ax. Or machete, if you’re a Friday The 13th purist.

Providing segues to break up the interview sets is Mr. Tom Savini, gore effects godfather who was responsible for FT13′s splatter work in the first and fourth chapters. Savini gives us a lot of spooky fun dialogue amidst slightly-cheesy FT13 re-enactments loosely performed by nameless folks. I like the guy a great deal and respect his work (and his interviews are often entertaining), so I’m a little forgiving on this one. We’ll call the segues high camp and move on.

Of course, the book is discussed. For those not in-the-know, Crystal Lake Memories is pretty much the authoritative tome on all things FT13 and is chocked full of incredible stories, including the dirt. A smidge of that was discussed in the doc, but the book really did capture a level of candor and controversy between cast and crew that the doc almost seems to avoid. Let’s say that quite a few of the FT13 actors were very restrained and tactful in this film when they could have been quite otherwise. If you want those details, read the book.

And, yes, the new “re-imagined” version of FT13 is also covered, which I was okay with even if the movie isn’t strictly canon. Of this material, I was especially taken with newest Jason, Derek Mears, who discusses his outsider childhood in relation to his connection to Mr. Voorhees. You get the idea that this isn’t just some random actor who couldn’t care less about the character and just wants a paycheck, but an actual fan.

The featurette of sorts (yes, more talking heads), entitled “The Men Behind The Mask” gathers all of the actors who’ve played Jason Voorhees and relays some of their experiences taking on the role of Crystal Lake’s main predator. I would very much recommend these interview clips as many of them should have been edited into the doc itself. That is to say that I do take some issue with the editing of His Name Was Jason and, if it wasn’t for the stellar content and interviewees, I would harp on the issue a heck of a lot more. Since it’s a two-disc set, just watch the whole thing and you’ll get a more complete story that way.

Despite its flaws, His Name Was Jason will be a delight to watch for the hardcore fans of Friday The 13th and its gruesome sequels, particularly getting to see and hear from so many of the franchise’s participants all in one place. Still, a little less filler and a bit more depth might have attracted more of the casual genre fans and those curious as to why this 30-year movie series is looked upon so fondly by both its fiercest devotees from decade pasts and its growing base of newer and younger fans — a simple fact that must drive Roger Ebert utterly bananas. At least, I hope so.