The eighth film in the Friday The 13th series, Jason Takes Manhattan, was released to extreme negativity on July 29, 1989. I, myself, am a fan of the film, although am still able to understand some of the criticism behind it. There's many different reasons for the disappointing critical response that the film faced. Some believe that the series was already in decline, with the release of The New Blood (1988), which also gained highly negative responses from critics. Others disliked the idea of the majority of film taking place on a ship, rather than in Manhattan, where the primary focal point of the story arc was supposed to be. Whereas others disliked the idea of taking Jason Voorhees out of Camp Crystal Lake. Having grown up a huge fan of the series, I believe in leaving Jason where he belongs: the woods of Camp Crystal Lake. But if you are able to pull off a setting change and still make a good film, well then I'm all for it. And I believe Rob Hedden successfully did that with Jason Takes Manhattan. I will admit that the film has some goofy moments, most memorably being that Jason reverts back into a child after being flooded with toxic waste. And, of course, the young Jason making systematic appearances throughout the film, including a scene where he jumps out of a mirror and attempts to strangle our heroin, Rennie (Jensen Daggett). But these are all the things that make this film so great. It's not perfect, and that's why I love it. It certainly has its problems. It's cheesy, its goofy, its stupid and its fun. I love everything about it. For me, its one of the best in the series; definitely a favorite. It has since garnered a cult following, while maintaining its fair amount of criticism from fans and critics alike with most praise going to Kane Hodder, who portrayed Jason Voorhees in the film, as well as The New Blood, Jason Goes To Hell and Jason X, making him the only actor to portray the character more than once, with no surprise; he is the living embodiment of Jason Voorhees, himself. Robert Englund is Freddy Krueger, Doug Bradley is Pinhead, Brad Dourif is Chucky, Anthony Perkins is Norman Bates and Kane Hodder is Jason Voorhees. Despite my love and admiration for Jason Takes Manhattan, I absolutely understand the criticism that it receives. But that does not and will never change my opinion of it in the least. I still view it as being a great, classic 80's horror film, and I will always love it."Aw man! This place is aching for a video!"
J. L. Pilkins
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