31 on 31 for Halloween Day 11: Jason Rising

Hello everyone, welcome back to 31 on 31 for Halloween. Today, I wanted to talk about camp. There have been a good chunk of movies based around summer camps. The most notorious however is locked up because of a legal battle. Personally, it's a damn shame because there still untapped potential for this franchise. The awesome thing though is that the fans have taken it into their own hands. They have been pushing out new content and spreading the legend of Jason Voorhees and Camp Crystal Lake. 

The most recent well known has been Womp Stomp Films and their amazing Never Hike series. 

However, there are a few that have entered what I'd like to call The Lawsuit Era. This past Friday the 13th, a new film debuted. Its name was Jason Rising. And it's our special special boy. 

Jason Rising was made by James Sweet, Robert Blanche, Maurice J Cardwell and Vincente DiSanti. James Sweet also directed the film. It stars Kyle Vahan, Anna Campbell and Dan Kyle as the infamous Jason Voorhees. 

After three female fugitives escape from the Wessex County Corrections Farm, A local Sheriff and his deputy team up with two US Marshal's to track them down, following them into the hallowed grounds of Camp Crystal Lake years after it has been condemned only to find out they are the ones being hunted by the masked killer Jason Voorhees.

Jason Rising is definitely a different beast than other fan films. It's a beautifully told story. It also carves out a new branch of the Friday lore. That's definitely something that I'm enjoying out of The Lawsuit Era of this franchise. Everybody is taking their shot and taking things into their own hands to tell stories that they want to see.

The film opens with a prologue of the Sheriff and his deputies burying Jason - who is enclosed in a wooden crate. One of the deputies mentions Tommy Jarvis and how he's got to be messed up after finding his mother in a tub. This is definitely one of my favorite callbacks in the franchise. It's so nice seeing a deleted scene or ending receive a shout-out. Now, to me, it's become head canon for what happened. 

After this, the film follows a familiar path. Police and FBI pursuing escaped convicts. This is something that we have seen before and in another film - it wouldn't feel fresh. But setting this in a Friday setting definitely spices things up. It also allows some pretty sweet kills. 

The thing that makes this film even more engaging is it's use of Pamela Voorhees. We don't see her in just a flashback or a vision. No, we get an undead Pamela Voorhees looking to help her son. This is something that is so cool. Especially because we see her headless as she enacts vengeance upon those who have trespassed. It just so different and so fresh to what we are used to. 

The Sheriff is also different. This kind of takes the trope of the Sheriff not knowing anything that's going on and flips it. There's actually a strong arc for him as he comes to realize what exactly is going on. And that then makes him think about his relationship with his father, who he just thought went cuckoo for cocoa puffs. 

This version of Jason is also really solid. It feels very much an evolution of the Jason from The Final Chapter. But he's not afraid to hold back. Jason is unleashed as he chases after his prey and in his weaponry - seeing Jason with a chainsaw is super cool. 

The acting in this film is great. Everyone delivers a fantastic performance. Anna Campbell is definitely a standout. She brought such a strong performance that was so likeable that I didn't want to see her meet her end by Jason. She really felt like the final girl of the film. But that isn't really true as it throws a one-two punch at us with its two wonderful cameos. Adrienne King and Amy Steel reprising their roles as Alice and Ginny. This felt like a game changer to me. It didn't overshadow the film but added so much world building to it. It also felt natural that Alice would have survived her run in before with Jason. And the fact that Ginny is her therapist is icing on the cake. Alice definitely felt like she evolved into similar fashion as Laurie Strode did in Halloween '18. And that's not a bad thing at all. 

It's taken me some time to find the right words for this film. Almost a month. But it was definitely worth it as I was able to dive into the film and just let it soak in. Jason Rising is a highly recommended in my opinion. 

Rating: 5 out of 5. 

Jason Rising can be found on Youtube.

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Welcome to Crystal Lake: Friday the 13th (2009)

Platinum Dunes. They began the remake wave that had flooded Hollywood in early 00s. They had a hand in bringing new takes on Texas Chainsaw Massacre that consisted of two films, the Amityville Horror and The Hitcher. Each one of these were largely successful. My favorite probably being The Hitcher. They took the original ideas and amped them up or reimagined them completely. At the time, it was my first experience with Texas Chainsaw Massacre. 

After a few years, Platinum Dunes announced that they'd be working with Paramount and New Line Cinema to bring us a new Friday the 13th. I was excited about it. I had seen a couple of the Friday films, but hadn't seen all of them yet. So it was interesting to see what they would do. 

Well, for one, they gave us a Friday the 13th that may be considered the best in the franchise. This is a rollercoaster of a film. It covers a lot of ground in it's runtime. Even more so if you are watching the Unrated Extended Edition of the film. To some, it could even be considered a Greatest Hits of the franchise that remixes situations and events from the first four films.

The film opens with a black and white flashback to the night in 1979. The night that is so infamous in the original film. Alice is on the run from Mrs. Voorhees. Then they come face to face and Alice decapitates Pamela. Honestly I was a bit surprised they did this. It covers the original ending so fast and swift. That before the audience has time to think, it's already over. But the thing that is different this time around is the perspective of the events. With it being in black and white, it already even sets it apart from the rest of the film. I partially believe it as if it's Jason's memory of the events. As by the end of the sequence, we do see a young Jason picking up Mama's head and machete to exit stage right. And the idea that a young Jason didn't drown and was still alive. That was a small bit of a game changer with the lore. 

Next up, we are introduced to our characters in present day. They are hiking the Crystal Lake woods. They decide that it's time for a break and set up camp. It is here we get a fun recap of the Legend of Jason. Two of the kids decide to go for a walk to just get away and some air. They happen to uncover the remains of Camp Crystal Lake. Eventually, they happen across Jason and have to make a run for it. The best part or this film is that they are not shy of saying that not everyone will make it out alive. Quickly and brutally each of our characters are dispatched. Yes, there is a new take on the sleeping bag kill. And it is pretty awesome. 

This whole opening - it is a film unto itself. It gives you a beginning, middle and end to these characters. Short, simple, effective...the fact that only one character, Whitney, made it out alive sets the tone for what is to come. 

Now, we are finally introduced to our main group of characters. This is like a half hour into the film already. By this point, I can see why some people may check out of the film. It already set up things twice to quickly subvert expectations. Well, that and allow time to just let Jason do what he does best. Back to our group of characters - Trent (our weekend host), his girlfriend Jenna, Nolan and Chelsea, Lawrence, Chewie and Bree. They run into Clay, who is looking for his sister Whitney. There are quite a few characters. And all, besides Clay, fit the horror genre stereotypes. Ya know what they are, by now. So I'm not going to rehash. They've been roughly the same for so many years now. 

Trent is a complete douche. He thinks he's untouchable and can do no wrong. His whole plan for the weekend seemed to try to woo Jenna into sleeping with him - which was the whole reason he invited their friends to his father's house for the weekend. After his plan fails because of his mastery in douchebagness, Trent ends up hooking up with Bree. The whole purpose of Bree's character in this film is to be the easy one. 

Lawrence and Chewie. They are here to party. And smoke a lot. They are our stoners. Lawrence wants to become a rapper and picked the wrong weekend to join this band of misfits. Chewie just wants to enjoy life, make peace and smoke as much as he can. 

Nolan and Chelsea. They are super simple. Probably the most simple out of the whole group. They are just there. There's not much to their characters. And thats probably for good reason as they are the first to encounter Jason.

Jenna. Trent's girlfriend. However, she just gets sick and tired of his shit. She sees that he's a douche. Especially after they treat Clay badly because he just tried asking for help to find his sister. I don't think there's much more to Clays character either. He's a nice call back to Part 4. They go look for his sister together. Clay kinda makes eyes at Jenna as well. 

Then there's Jason. He grew up to be a bit of a woodsman. He is quick to punish those that step foot on his property. This take has a bit of smarts. He was able to create a series of underground tunnels and paths that span the entire campground. He also sets a few traps for his victims. He also is so quick and a unrelenting force. The times we see Jason run in this film are awesome. Plus he has some weapon skills - he could win an archery and axe throwing contest for sure. This is kinda what I was hoping for from a modern take on the character. 

The deaths in this film are pretty great. They definitely fit in with the other films. Some even going as far as recreating or amplifying previous deaths in the series. I would say that Jason using Lawrence to try to lure the others out, by leaving him with an axe in his back. That was pretty awesome. I think the most shocking death to me was Jenna's. I was hoping that she would make it to the end..however in the tunnels, she was unsuccessful. It was quick and unexpected. The same could be said for the Sheriff, as Jason drops down and stabs him in the head. The most fulfilling death, by far, Trent. Trent deserved it so much. He was a douche. He only cared for himself. He treated everyone like shit. When he was thrown onto the back of the tow truck, I cheered. Almost every time I cheer. 

Now, there's something that a lot of people have problems with. Jason keeping Whitney chained up and alive. Oh, but it goes against Jason's character. No..no..no. It doesn't. In Jason's mind, she reminds him of his mother. It makes sense that is why Jason would want to keep her near him. Because at this point, his mother's head had been decaying. So maybe he was beginning to forget what she looked like. Maybe with time, he was losing his mother. Losing the memories he had of her. So, with kidnapping Whitney, it reminded him of her love and of her. It kept those memories at the forefront of his mind. To me, this makes sense. 

Also, they created an awesome unmasked look for Jason. It is super creepy. They spent a lot of time on this concept it seemed. If they spent time doing it, why not show it off more. I get that we got bag mask and the hockey mask. These are both iconic looks for the character. However, the unmasked look that I have seen for this Jason. It surpasses both of those looks for me. It's a shame and a missed opportunity. Especially considering the most time we have seen this look is through photos, behind the scenes footage and the NECA figure. 

The actors and actresses all around did a fantastic job with the material. The largest standout is Derek Mears. He brings so much in his physicality and presence. He is so terrifying. It's a shame that this never received a sequel. I hope that whenever the legal battle is settled that we can see Derek return to the role. It's a character that he seems to love so much.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

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Inside 'Never Hike in the Snow': A Chat with Vincente DiSanti

Hello everyone! This past week, I had the pleasure of reviewing Never Hike in the Snow as well as looking back at one of my first interviews with Vincente DiSanti. 

Well, I had the pleasure to chat with Vincente once again about Never Hike in the Snow. 

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What are your thoughts on Jason Goes to Hell and Jason X?

Jason Goes to Hell may have been the first film I ever watched that made me angry. Granted, I was 12 years old at the time, but Jason Voorhees and Friday the 13th were a sacred part of my childhood. Watching Jason explode before my eyes in the first 5 minutes of that film broke my little horror heart (and Jason) into a million pieces. 

Many years and three films later, I’ve come to enjoy the film a little more knowing that it wasn’t actually “The Final Friday.” Despite not having Jason, it does feature a lot of strong elements like the cast, special fx, and overall production value compared to some of the previous Paramount instalments. I can also appreciate the dedicated fanbase the film has with it being such a black sheep of the franchise. 

Jason X was the first Friday the 13th film I saw in the theater. I think because expectations were so low going in, I was able to prepare myself to have more fun with that watch. I was in high school at the time and convinced a large group of friends to join me on opening day. Aside from a few other people, we were the only ones in the theater and had a great time watching the film. There were a lot of laughs and collective groans, but despite it being the Friday film no one asked for, it is still one I enjoy watching from time to time. It really is a lot of fun. 

What was the inspiration for Never Hike in the Snow? 

Fans have been calling for a winter set Friday the 13th for as long as I remember, so our team thought it would be a fun challenge to answer that call and take Jason into a frozen landscape. 

The inspiration for the film began with the opening kill sequence. The “axe to mouth” kill had been in my notes since the early days of Never Hike Alone as It was originally intended for Kyle McLeod. After we wrote Kyle’s death out of Never Hike Alone, it sat in my notes for years until evolving into the “Blood Angel” kill.

From there, rather than creating a thinly plotted series of ice-themed kill sequences, we used the opening of Never Hike in the Snow as a launching point to further explore modern day Crystal Lake, introduce a few new characters, and dive deeper into the lore of Jason Voorhees. 

The inspiration for our story came from stepping back from Friday the 13th as a “mindless slasher” and examining how this story would impact a more grounded, real world setting. Instead of focusing on how many people we could kill, we instead chose to focus on amplifying the impact of each death and the emotional toll it takes on our characters.

Don’t get me wrong, I love a classic slasher film as much as the next horror fan, but our pursuit with Never Hike Alone is to tap into areas Friday the 13th has not yet explored, and amplify abandoned plot lines with strong storytelling potential.   

What was the production like? How did it differ from Never Hike Alone?

Never Hike in the Snow was a much different and more focused production than Never Hike Alone. Having proper funding right away allowed us to prep and schedule more like a normal production rather than stretching out the filming process over a long period of time. This was also due in part to having a full ensemble cast in almost every scene rather than one actor who we could start and stop with at any time we wanted. 

Due to that demand and higher cost of production, any sort of mistake or set back on this round of filming carried a lot more pressure. I am proud of our team and our ability to make it through each weekend without succumbing to any of the challenges that were thrown in our path. 

Our biggest hurdle was the winter season of 2019-2020 in Southern California ended up as a major drought season. Big Bear, California is where we have always been shooting and it typically has a few feet of snow in late January. Even in our initial scouts, the 2018-2019 winter season was one of the best seasons on record.  

The roads were bone dry on the first day of traveling out to our shooting locations and we were actually wondering if we were going to have to change the name of the film. Our only hope was that by sheer luck there was a snowstorm in the forecast for that weekend, but nothing was guaranteed. The time and days shifted by the hour.

Luckily for us, mother nature delivered on the first morning of shooting and our crew ended up chasing pockets of storms throughout the day starting at around 4:30am. The opening sequences and Tommy’s arrest scenes were both shot during flash storms. Thom Mathews looked over at me during one of the takes and said “You know Vin, I know productions that have waited months for weather like this.” Luck was truly on our side and it was one of the biggest reliefs I had while filming. 

When the storms subsided, our crew still had to race melting snow as the Sun wiped out almost everything it touched during the day. At one point, we had production staff shoveling piles of snow into the shade so we could dress bare areas of the set. Overall we were truly blessed by nature in order to not change the name of the film, but our crew had to work hard as hell for us to earn it. 

Ghost Jason has been welcomed with open arms by the horror community. Some even consider it to be among the best representations of the character. What was it to make this Jason so different? So mythic. 

I think Ghost Jason simply stems out of what I believe to be the best qualities of the character, going back as far as his childhood and working him all the way through to modern day. 

In past films, Jason has been overlooked as a character when it comes to terms of his depth. There is even a famous quote from part 3 director Steve Miner to Richard Brooker “You don’t have a motivation; you just want to kill her!”

It is very easy to assume that Jason is an “OP” killing machine who simply marches around with only one purpose in life. However, when you start to peel back the layers of this character and this franchise, you’d be surprised to discover a lot of untapped potential. 

Our Jason is a little more evolved in terms of that he has learned from his past and takes on a similar mindset as when we first met him in Friday the 13th part 2. In the years that follow the events of that film, every time he has ventured outside of the camp has resulted in disaster in the form of his often brutal and painful demise. The true curse is that the trail of blood Jason leaves in his wake always ends up in his own.

As the harbinger who carries the responsibilities of inflicting his mother’s “death curse,” he has been doomed to repeat this task until the end of time. Now decades later, Jason's rage has subsided into a much simpler mission. “Protect home.”

Aside from building Jason as a character, it was designing his new look that was a truly fun part of the process. With help from Brett Morris at CFX Louisiana and SPFX artist Kelsey Berk, it took years of designing and redesigning Jason’s look from the ground up before I was happy with the version that appeared on camera. 

A blend of modern and old school stylistic choices, Ghost Jason is a direct representation of where I would have loved to see the character go stylistically in future official installments. 

My strategy was to scale back the bulky look to the previous costume jackets and look for something more derivative of classic looks from parts IV and VI. Returning Jason to an Earth-toned color scheme made him feel more like a part of the forest. 

With the “Ghost Hock”, I wanted to design something old and sinister. Our films retcon everything after the paramount era films continuity that all of Jason’s original masks were destroyed, so this gave us an opportunity to come up with something new.  

My theory here is that Jason returned to the camp after the “Manhattan Incident” and discovered an old mask in the equipment left behind when the camp attempted to reopen it in the 1960’s. Those attempts were always met with Pamela’s sabotage, so any and all equipment brought in those early seasons got left behind until the Christies could raise enough money to get the camp open again. We don’t think it’s too much of a reach to say the masks were either used for street hockey or possibly a winter camp.  

The pile of masks shown in Never Hike in the Snow represents where Jason found his new mask in the piles of old sports equipment. After 20 years of wearing it, it has become just as faded and aged as he is, that’s why it has no chevrons. 

How does Ghost Jason differ in this film compared to Never Hike Alone? Does he differ at all? What was it like getting to step back into the role?

One of the elements we explored in this film, and the “Disappear” music video, was “how does Jason spend his time when people are not around?” Jason was more of a background presence through a majority of Never Hike Alone, but in Snow you could make a case that not only is he a lead character, but the main character.

A recurring theme in our films is how Jason battles modern technology as it threatens to expose his existence. GoPros, Digital Cameras, and even Google Maps all pose a threat to the secret life he has been keeping for himself. Protecting his home and living in peace. 

Like Never Hike Alone, Jason only springs into action when he absolutely needs to when Kyle discovers his mother’s head. In the case of Never Hike in the Snow, it is after Jason mistakenly gets himself caught on Mark’s camera.

Unlike Kyle McLeod, Mark Hill does not get away and Jason is able to avoid proof of his existence getting out. However, Mark’s near escape draws unwanted attention and once again Jason is put in a position to defend his home or risk the outside world destroying everything he has been protecting.  

How has the response been to this second film as compared to the first? What do you think about it?

Never Hike in the Snow was mostly well received, but we would be lying to ourselves if we failed to acknowledge fans being let down by the shorter run time and cliffhanger ending.

Without a big budget marketing campaign, not everyone who tuned in realized they were watching part one of four in what was supposed to be a series of short films that we had planned to crowdfund and produce throughout 2020-21. 

With the biggest criticism being that the fans simply wanted more, it was a great sign for our future, but our hands became tied when the entire world shut down for the pandemic. 

Learning from this experience, and losing a year from the lockdowns, we have decided to scrap the mini-series idea and set our sights on raising the money for a full feature sequel simply called ‘Never Hike Alone 2.” 

After all was said and done I am really proud of Never Hike in the Snow. I think we improved our ability to execute on set and deliver quality Friday content to fans. We accomplished just about everything we wanted to with this part of the story and believe in the larger visions we have planned for this story. I think with more time fans will grow to appreciate it, especially when they see how it fits in with the rest of the completed story. 

Will we be seeing more in this series?

Yes, once we complete the crowdfunding obligations for Never Hike in the Snow, we will step right into getting the Never Hike Alone 2 project off the ground. 

Right now our plan is to launch a crowdfund campaign sometime in the Fall of 2021, shoot the film in the Spring of 2022, and release the film on October 13, 2022. 

Do you consider these films to be part of the franchise canon? What are your thoughts on head canon and canon within the franchise?

First and foremost, we are very proud to be a fan operated production working outside the studio system to make these films. We would never be brash enough to say we are canon or an official part of the franchise. Besides, having the freedom to work in this space allows us to make the films the studios honestly can’t and won’t.

It is humbling to hear when fans tell us they consider Never Hike Alone films to be as much a part of this franchise as any other entry. We never expected that when going into this journey, but it is a wonderful compliment to receive after putting in so much hard work. 

We may never be truly official, but I think one day fans will look back on this period when the die-hard franchise fans took over for a while and did some truly special things. 

How did Covid effect you? Womp Stomp Films? The covid-19 pandemic was a major factor in several set backs we faced over the last 15 months.

We were lucky enough to finish production just one week before the nationwide lockdown, but this left us with no options when it came to picking up bonus material and additional scenes like we had originally planned.

The only scene we were unable to film was a mid-credit bonus scene with Tommy being dropped off at his Jeep after being bailed out the following morning. Back at the camp gate, Tommy discovers Deputy Mabry’s abandoned cruiser, recovers a machete from the back of his Jeep, and marches into the camp as we drone above the trees in similar fashion to the ending of Never Hike Alone. 

Shortly after lockdown began, our editor Mike Api lost his father to Covid-19 after he battled the virus for over a month in the hospital. Due to this, we shut down post-production for two to three months in order to give Mike the proper time he needed to grieve and spend time with his family.

As dates slid back, so did our release and plans to start the next installment. We were also unable to host a live, in person premiere of the film and were forced to cancel events all over the country and even a few overseas.

On the crowdfunding front, pandemic lockdowns and material shortages delayed our ability to produce our home video blu rays. We were left waiting until June 2, 2021 before our vendor could complete our order and we could start shipping.

Where did the idea for The Ghost Cut come from? What makes it so unique? 

The Ghost Cut came from the idea of doing something special on Friday the 13th for the fans and helped clear up some of the confusion about how the Never Hike Alone timeline is constructed. Not only in relation to each of our films, but also the rest of the franchise in general. 

Personally, Thom’s voice over of the Disappear music video is my personal favorite part of the Ghost Cut as it sets the tone for everything we are working to set up. Having a chance to add Adam Marcus, Ron Sloan, Cindy Kania, Deb Voorhees, and Tracie Savage was another cool set of easter eggs we thought fans would appreciate. 

Adding the press conference scene to Never Hike in the Snow was also our way of helping fans understand what happened after Deputy Mabry’s death and show that Jason was able to escape leaving no evidence behind. 

We also made sure to include a little sneak preview of Never Hike Alone 2 at the end so fans knew more story was coming. 

Overall, this production went from wrapping up everything we had planned in Spring of 2020 to finally getting to the finish line in August of 2021. It has been a very long 2 years since the start of this part of the project and I can't wait to move forward onto the next stage of this journey. 

For someone coming fresh to the story, what do you think is the best way to experience this story?

I think it is best for people just to start with Never Hike Alone and sort of follow the same journey we have taken. Watch the films in order by release and then finish with ghost cut to better catch things they missed and better spot the new pieces included in that entry. Don’t forget to like and subscribe for updates on new materials as we drop it over the coming year. 

What are your thoughts on the legal battle? Do you think it'll be settled soon?

Unfortunately, I think the rights battle is going to continue for many years to come. From what I have come to understand, neither party has any plans to back down from appeals and will pursue this lawsuit until all options are exhausted. There is most likely a few more years before we see another Friday, which is sad now that it looks like a slasher revival is on the horizon. 

From a fan standpoint, it is sad to see two people you have a lot of respect for unable to come together for the common good of the fanbase who supported them for decades. Both Sean and Victor owe a lot to each other when it comes to their collective effort on birthing this franchise. As fans, we owe a lot to them for figuring out how to get that film from a print ad in Variety to the most successful horror film franchise in the world.   

I also think there is something to be said about the filmmakers who carried this franchise past the first film in a time when both Sean and Victor seemed more than happy to move on in their careers. Contributors like Steve Miner, Joe Zito, Tom McGloughlin, Tom Savini, Jon Carl-Buechler, Kane Hodder, the Mancuso family, and Carl Fullerton all had definitive impact on how Friday the 13th was shaped in our popular culture outside of Sean and Victor’s original influence. 

On paper those names may not be owed a piece of the rights the Sean and Victor are fighting for, but they are the ones who made those rights worth fighting for. Filmmaking is the task of not a few, but of many. For two men to be fighting for credit on something it has taken an entire village working decades to craft seems childish. Like two dads fighting over credit for a child that was raised in the houses of families. 

My only hope is that no matter how long it takes, something is eventually done that allows Jason to return to the big screen. Until that happens, I’m just going to keep making my own Friday the 13th films to pass the time. 

Do you think we will see a return to the big screen for Jason Voorhees?

One day yes, but unfortunately not any time soon. In the meantime, I would encourage fans to seek out screenings of the Friday the 13th films (and Fan Films) across the country at special events, film festivals, and horror conventions. This is a great way to connect with other fans to help keep the franchise alive. 

I would also ask die hard Friday the 13th fans to consider giving fan films a chance as well as their support. Fan films can do what the rights owners and studios no longer seem interested in doing and explore storylines the fans have always wanted to see.

It may come in various forms of production and story values, but if anything Fan Films are all wildly entertaining in their own right and worthy of fan consideration when looking for some new life to Friday the 13th.

With the Friday the 13th Killer Puzzle, how does it feel seeing Ghost Jason in the game? Do you think we could have gotten a Ghost Jason in the Friday the 13th Game if it hadn't shut down due to the legal battle? 

Being in the puzzle game is awesome and the fact that Blue Wizard was kind enough to include us has been a highlight of this post Never Hike Alone experience. Playing as Ghost is surreal and I have a lot of fun killing Kyle whenever he appears on the board.

Getting into Friday the 13th The Game is a different story. I had a nice chat with Ronnie Hobbs about it at the Friday the 13th Game release party. Without diving into too much detail, all I can say is adding Ghost Jason to the game was almost impossible, even before the lawsuit.

As a consolation, I did get to design the “Free Kick” kill with Ronnie and Kane which was a great experience. That kill ended up being one of the last things added into the game. As a backer who contributed to the funding that launched the game, it means a lot to me that I now get to say I was a small part of it.  

What's next for you? What's next for Womp Stomp Films? 

Despite the pandemic lull, Womp Stomp Films has been very busy. We are actively working on a few original Womp Stomp Films productions as well as co-productions with other filmmakers around the country. 

Here is a list of what we have in the pipeline: 

I am attached to direct the horror / comedy “The Kindness of Strangers” through Schemer’s Entertainment based on a script by Ian Busch. Never Hike Alone co-writer Nate McLeod and I recently completed a new horror feature script called “The Beginning of the End.” 

One of my favorite projects in the works is Womp Stomp Films first animated short film “Ghost Chicken”about a vegan restaurant that is haunted by the ghost of chicken and the one girl determined to figure out why. This will be my first animated film as a director and we are currently set to enter the animation phase over the winter of 2021-22 and submit to the festival circuit in 2022. 

Co-Producing / Co-Writing “Jason Rising” a Friday the 13th Fan FIlm which releases on August 13, 2021 on the Red Crow Films YouTube page. The red carpet premiere of the film is scheduled for the same night at the Hollywood Theater in Portland, OR. 

Co-Producing / Co-Writing an original short horror film “Judy” which will be launching a crowdfunding campaign in early August to help finish the film. Our plan is to complete and submit to the festival circuit sometime this fall. It is directed by Rene Rivas who is best known for “The Spirit of Hadonnfield” and “The Tent.” It is co-produced by Rene Rivas Productions, Left Lane Labs, and Womp Stomp Films. 

Co-Producing “Dylan’s New Nightmare” a Nightmare on Elm Street Fan FIlm with The Horror Show’s Cecil Laird. The film picks up 25 years after the events of Wes Craven’s a New Nightmare and welcomes back Miko Hughes in the role of “Dylan Porter.” The film is currently crowdfunding on Indiegogo and we are scheduled to shoot this fall and release sometime in 2022 on the The Horror Show YouTube channel. 

Lastly, but certainly the one fans are most anticipating, once we complete the Never Hike in the Snow Indiegogo fulfillments, we are preparing to launch a new crowdfund campaign for “Never Hike Alone 2” with plans to shoot in spring 2022 and release on October 13, 2022.

What can fans expect with Never Hike Alone 2?

Flat out, Never Hike Alone 2 is the Friday the 13th film that I have always wanted to make and fans have been dying to see. It involves the direct continuation of the Tommy Jarvis saga with fan favorite Thom Mathews signed on to once again reprise his role as Jason’s arch enemy. 

Set 25 years after Jason Voorhees was supposedly returned to the depths of Crystal Lake, longtime nemesis Tommy Jarvis still lives with the fear that the undying, homicidal maniac still stalks the forests of Wessex County. 

Working as a part time EMT, Tommy has struggled to prove his theory that Jason is still alive, until the fateful day he and his team are called out to recover an injured hiker, Kyle McLeod, who was found bloody and unconscious at the edge of the Wessex County Wildlife Preserve. 

Shortly after Tommy arrives to the aid of Kyle, Jason emerges from the forest and attacks Tommy and his team in ultimate pursuit of the injured hiker who bested him in the events of Never Hike Alone. 

After narrowly escaping Jason, Tommy and Kyle return to the Wessex Country Medical Center to recover from their wounds, but Jason is not far behind and hell bent on putting an end to Kyle and Tommy once and for all. 

Our entire team truly believes that not only will Never Hike Alone 2 give fans the Tommy vs. Jason film they have been waiting to see, but also deliver the definitive, bloody, and emotional ending to the Friday the 13th saga we all deserve.  

Fans may remember that we originally planned to split the film into 3 episodes to make each part of the production more affordable. After the pandemic delay and overwhelming crowdfunding support for Never Hike in the Snow, we feel confident we can raise the proper funding to do a Friday the 13th Fan Feature the proper way

Now, more than ever, we will need the collective support of the entire Friday the 13th franchise fandom. With their support, we are confident we can give the fans the film the studios never could.

The music is it's own character in the film. Its very distinct. Especially the first time that we hear the Ki-Ki-Ki and Ma-Ma-Ma. What was it like getting to remix Jason's iconic theme? 

All the credit to our music goes to the film’s composer Ryan Perez-Daple. We have been working together on every project I have made since Never Hike Alone and I consider him a vital member of my core Womp Stomp Films team. 

Music is very important in filmmaking. Our post team works very hard to incorporate the right tone and mood even before we shoot and edit. When preparing for a film I will often collect a series of tracks from different scores and listen to them over and over again while visualizing how certain scenes will be shot in relation to the music. I share that music with my crew and we all know what rhythm and pace we need to be on when shooting the scene.  

When the bow and arrow sequence goes into slow motion, we knew we needed something dynamic and exciting to go along with the action. We took some inspiration from the “Baskin” soundtrack to ratchet up the excitement. Ryan then worked within elements of our own original score and put his own spin on it while incorporating the Ki’s and Ma’s from our film’s sound library.  

What was it like getting to bring back Vincent Guastaferro? Did Thom have a hand in bringing him in?

Working and getting to know Vinny has been such a great experience. Thom was the one who introduced Vinny to Never Hike Alone and arranged for us to meet. As a couple of Italian paisanos with the same name, we hit it off immediately. 

Vinny loves acting. It was inspiring to work together with him to bring the character of Rick Cologne back to the screen. Rick and Tommy’s rivalry is a big part of the film so having these two is such a key element to making our version of this story feel like a true extension of the franchise. 

I think one thing that surprised Vinny was to see how the character of Rick has evolved from his first appearance in Jason Lives. Without breaking canon, we continue with the notion that because Rick has never seen Jason with his own eyes, he is not truly convinced that he exists. 

Rick is no longer the brash young deputy we last saw locked in a cage by Tommy and Megan, but a seasoned Sheriff who is a bit more cunning and manipulative in his elder years. That said, Tommy does have a way of bringing out the old fire inside of him. 

To Rick, Jason is the Jaws of Wessex County and the last thing he wants is for someone to start telling all the citizens of Crystal Lake that there is a hockey-masked shark in the water. 

Rick hides information from his Deputy and Anna because he knows that any information about a “Jason” sighting getting out is potential for public panic and scrutiny. He also know that where “Jason” goes, an appearance by Tommy is not far behind. 

The scene with Jason and his mother. Where did that come from? It's a very touching look into Jason's mindstate. Does Jason view himself still as that little boy?

This is a scene that I had in my notes for a long time. The original idea came from an animated Friday the 13thmusic video I wanted to put together based on the synth track “These Streets” by Lazerhawk. 

I wrote out a whole sequence of Jason rising from the lake and returning to his mother’s altar with the first victim he claims in the video. As her blood seeps into the wood around the altar, Pamela’s Ghost appears, and Jason returns to childlike form after Pamela removes his mask. 

Part of the overall idea eventually became the “Disappear” music video, but we didn’t have room for the transformation dream to take place. The film also became more about Jason’s loneliness of being stuck in an endless cycle of death with no end in sight.  

In Never Hike in the Snow, the idea came back into the fold only a few months before we were supposed to start shooting. Examining ways to expand the story, I once again found myself in the mindset of Jason and what would be going through his head in the moments after his kill. Then I remembered this scene and found a way to weave it into the narrative. 

Once again testing the boundaries of the Friday the 13th narrative, I wanted to show the first ever signs of Jason having guilt or having second thoughts for his actions. After all, Mark was just an innocent 17-year-old boy who was killed because of Jason’s stupidity of getting caught on camera. He didn’t need to die, but Jason was left without a choice.

Pamela appearing is a way for Jason to continue to justify his actions. Pamela’s spirit is simply just there to comfort her child. As long as she still loves him, everything else will be OK. 

Although I do not believe Pamela or Jason to be inherently evil people, they are now supernaturally trapped as a form of punishment for Pamela’s actions in 1979 and doomed to eternally inflict the pain they once felt onto the people of Crystal Lake. 

The body camera for the Deputy. What was the inspiration for that sequence? It felt very grounded in Never Hike Alone's found footage tone. It also reminded me slightly of the sequence from Texas Chainsaw 3D with the cop investigating the house and coming across Leatherface.

The bodycam sequence was a return to the roots of the found footage approach we used to create tension in Never Hike Alone. Our goal was to show off a little more of the camp through a new character’s eyes, sprinkle in an easter egg or two, and then have the film go out on an intense scare. 

Unlike the found footage scenes in Never Hike Alone with Kyle McLeod’s search leading to a confrontation with Jason, the end result of Deputy Mabry’s journey leads to a brutal death. We wanted this to be the found footage kill sequence people have been waiting for and I think Jason getting the Deputy to blow his own head off with a shotgun was a pretty gnarly way to cap it off. 

Jason stomping out the camera at the end was a direct nod to Never Hike Alone. Showing that technology is at Jason’s doorstep and Kyle was not the first person with a camera to put Jason’s existence in peril. If anything, we wanted Jason’s ability to take brutal actions on both his victims in this film and amplify how much of a survivor Kyle is in Never Hike Alone.  

The TCM remake is a good reference, but I would say the inspiration came more from the ending of the original Blair Witch. I think horror fans will all agree that the character standing in the corner of the room at the end of that film was deeply unnerving. It may be even more disturbing knowing that we never get to understand what happens because the film ends so abruptly without any answers. 

In our similarly inspired situation, we wanted to take this concept to the next level, instill a lot more carnage, and introduce more supernatural elements to the camp. There was also a goal to grow Deputy Mabry as a character who will follow his instincts in the spirit of doing the right thing. 

I find it very poetic in stories when characters follow good natured instincts that ultimately lead to their demise. Like the young boy Mark, we wanted Alan’s death to hurt the audience emotionally and supplant the theme that death in our films is real and the audience should be very afraid of it instead of mindlessly cheering it. 

With Jason lost in his trance and vulnerable to attack, the scene gives Deputy Mabry a moment of contentment thinking he may have solved the case. Sensing Jason is under attack, we see how the camp can supernaturally assist Jason with gaining an upper hand. 

Originally planned to be done with fans, the wind that passed through the attic and blew out the candles in the scene naturally happened and required no on-set special FX. We refer to happy accidents and odd occurrences in the story and on set as “The Spirit of Pamela.” This moment in the film is Pamela supernaturally protecting her son.    

The other dramatic nature of this situation is that if Tommy wasn’t stopped by Rick and Mabry, a lot of lives could have been saved not only in this film but also events to come. 

I love / hate the fact that Tommy gets so close to proving everyone wrong in Never Hike in the Snow, but I also know how much more satisfying it will be when it happens in Never Hike Alone 2. 

Deputy Mabry’s curiosity is sparked by Tommy’s wild theories and Rick withholding information. Due to this, he wanders into a situation he is not equipped to handle on his own and pays the ultimate price. In my head, Tommy and Rick share just as much responsibility for his death and that guilt will carry through with them into the next film. 

Part of why we see Tommy so sullen in Never Hike Alone is that aside from his failure to produce any proof of Jason’s existence, the guilt of Deputy Mabry’s death has pushed Tommy toward giving up on his pursuit of ever finding Jason at all.  

A lot of fans saw this scene as an abrupt ending without any meaning, but if you look closer you will see a much bigger story with deep roots in character and emotion. Never Hike in the Snow is only the beginning of a much bigger story. 

Will we find more about the boy at the beginning that comes across Jason? It seemed like there was more going on with his mother. Or is this one of those instances where we just see it as a casualty of tragic events? 

The story of Mark Hill continues to play a factor in Never Hike Alone 2 through his mother, Diana, who I consider to be the sleeping giant of the film. Never Hike in the Snow was only an introduction to her character, and she has a lot more to contribute to the emotional arc as the story continues.  

Three months after the unexplained disappearance of her son, Diana Hill is conflicted about what to do with her life now that he is gone. Leaving Crystal Lake without answers about what happened to Mark gives her an awful sense of abandoning him and all hope of knowing his true fate. Then again, each day that passes in town is a haunting reminder of what she lost. 

Diana is a resident physician who works at Wessex County Medical Center with Tommy. When Tommy returns with Kyle after their encounter with Jason on Cunningham Road, he may have the answers Diana needs to find out what happened to her son. 

The conflict will be whether Diana believes what Tommy has to say about Jason attacking the ambulance or if she will be swayed by Rick’s theory that Jason is a myth and Tommy is staging an elaborate hoax fueled by his life-long psychosis.

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Thank you so much Vin for taking this time! Cannot wait to chat again soon. 

What have we learned everybody? Well, it's been announced that we will be getting a full length Never Hike Alone 2. I know I am super excited about hearing that news. 

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Winner Kills All: Revisiting Freddy vs. Jason

After doing retrospectives on Jason Goes to Hell and Jason X, it hit me that I was unintentionally covering the New Line Cinema era of the Friday the 13th franchise. When that hit me, I realized what that meant and where all roads lead to - Freddy Vs. Jason. 

Freddy vs. Jason was an epic concept. I mean we hadn't really had anything like that yet. It was something that took forever to get made. There were numerous and I mean numerous different scripts that were written. But there was always something wrong with them. Whether it was too meta, too different or didn't show respect to what these two Titans of horror were. 

Somehow, New Line Cinema had finally found something that worked. It was directed by Ronny Yu and written by Mark Swift and Damian Shannon. This version of the film was able to balance between feeling like an Elm Street movie and a Friday the 13th film. Some people will probably say that it fails in both regards. However, I think it does a decent job of it. 

I remember how big of a deal this film was. It was a huge event for New Line Cinema. The trailers and tv spots were everywhere (I remember seeing one on ESPN). Hell, they have a weigh in event for it. (If you haven't seen it, you can see it on YouTube I'm sure.) 

It was August in 2003 when the film was released. I remember it was during a time where there were blackouts happening because of the heat. My Dad and I drove to a town over to go see it. We arrived at the theater to find that the power had just turned on as we got there. 

Sitting in the theater, the lights dimmed and the previews began. I honestly couldn't tell you what they were. Then the film began....hearing the Elm Street theme turn into the Ki-Ki-Ki Ma-Ma. It put a smile on my face. This was the first time I was able to see either an Elm Street or Friday film in the theater. 

Seeing the recap of the previous Elm Street movies and Freddy's origin. It is so good. To this day, this part of the film brings a huge smile to my face. A large part of that has to be Robert Englund's performance. 

I understand that there are a lot of people don't like Jason in this film. The main reason being that New Line didn't bring Kane Hodder back. I get and understand that argument. However, Ken Kirzinger does deliver a solid performance. He brings a different approach to Jason. Some have said very Frankenstein approach. And that's okay. I mean Kane wasn't the only actor to play Jason before. I realize that my thoughts on this may upset some. But it's been 18 years now as of this writing. 

Then we have the teenagers - Lori (Monica Keena), Kia (Kelly Rowland), Gibb (Katherine Isabelle), Will (Jason Ritter), Mark (Brendan Fletcher), Linderman (Chris Marquette) and Freeburg (Kyle Labine). There's also Trey (Jesse Hutch) and Blake (David Kopp) but they aren't around long. They do a decent job with Trey as a complete douchebag and Blake as a semi-douche. The main group of teenagers all do a solid job with the material. They understand completely what film they are in and it's definitely not Henry V. It actually feels like a nice blending of Elm Street and F13th casts. Yeah, there's a loose string of motivation for Lori to be against Freddy. It's not one of the film's finer points. 

The manipulation that Freddy uses with Jason. I think it's pretty great. It's interesting that Jason would live out a Friday the 13th film in like four minutes. It's actually a cool way of bringing Jason into the story. Then appearing as Mrs. Voorhees to get Jason fired up. This was something I  applaud. It makes the most sense that is what would make Jason come back. Plus the actress that plays Mrs. Voorhees delivers a great performance. 

I also enjoyed the Jason dream sequences. The only point I'd dock is the pinball gag. That's definitely into camp territory and felt like one step too far. Other than that, it's interesting getting to see what's going on with Jason. Even if it results in images of Jason forever taking care of everyone that comes to Camp Crystal Lake. Now that I think about it, it's Jason's purgatory. Towards the end of the film, we see a dream flashback to Jason's time at Crystal Lake to his drowning. Again, this felt like a natural extension on what could have happened. Well except for Counselor Krueger spending quality time with another counselor. 

Another aspect I really like was the idea that to think about Freddy is to spread the fear.  That honestly was pulling from the end of the original Elm Street. Because that's how Nancy defeats Freddy by taking away that fear. It's all the small details and references to the other films that are nice to see. They show a respect to the source material. Well, in this case, I would say a respect to the first Elm Street and the first two Friday the 13ths. 

Robert Englund delivers another great Freddy performance. He knows what works and what doesn't by now. The makeup design in this film is one of my absolute favorite looks. It's perfect in my opinion. And I even enjoy the Dream Demon that we see when Freddy gets really pissed off. 

The film is good. It may not be the greatest. But I feel like it's the best we could have gotten at the time. Do I think we could get a better one at some point? One could hope. But this film is a nice comfort horror movie. It's fun. It doesn't overstay it's welcome. It knows exactly what it wants to be. And it doesn't apologize for it. I recommend it. 

Rating: 3.5 out of 5. 

And if you do end up getting it on blu ray, listen to the commentary with Englund, Kirzinger and Yu. They have a blast talking about the film. 

NEVER HIKE IN THE SNOW: A Fan Film Review (Spoilers)

*THERE WILL BE SPOILERS*

In 2017, Vincente DiSanti and Womp Stomp Films changed the way fan films were seen. With their release of Never Hike Alone, they established a strong iconic take on Jason Voorhees that has been dubbed 'Ghost Jason'. And it successfully showed that a found footage take on the franchise could work. They understood everything perfectly on what works and can work within the franchise. With its closing moments, I was ready for more. 

This last December, the next chapter in this saga was released - Never Hike In The Snow. It safely placed itself three months before the previous entry. For me, I was unsure of how that would work. I wanted to know more of what was to happen after Never Hike Alone's ending. 

But Vincente DiSanti and Womp Stomp Films happily showed me that it was okay to be wrong and to be patient.

The film opens with Mark Hill (Courtlan Gordon) fleeing from Jason. This sequence is very iconic as we witness Jason in a new environment - the snow. It quickly establishes the tense breakneck pace. Jason's weapons of choice being the bow and arrow and an axe. I was excited to see Jason standing with the bow and arrow while snow fell slowly around him. 

Suffice to say, Mark's attempt to escape fails. While this may feel like a small ending, it's actually the beginning of the film. Quickly we are reintroduced to now Sheriff Rick (Vincent Guastaferro) from Jason Lives. He is quickly trying to close the case and cover up what happened. The question I kept asking myself is Why? Why is he trying so hard to keep any information regarding Jason secret? I'm hoping that in a next installment it's something that may be answered. 

Sheriff Rick and his deputy (I think it's his deputy) encounter Tommy Jarvis (Thom Matthews). He's been trying to do whatever it takes to get back to the campgrounds. Tommy knows what's going and still trying to end Jason. 

Sheriff Rick takes Tommy back to the station and goes to inform Diana Hill of her son's disappearance. After going through Mark's things, Rick informs her that he will keep looking and if she hears anything to get hold of him directly. 

What is going on with him? Why is he acting very suspicious? These are questions that after this rewatch that continue to be asked.

Finally, the Deputy is working to close up the crime scene. He gets a glimpse of something and goes to investigate. This sequence is another highlight for me. The way that the body cam is used to cause so much tension, it's fantastic. It kept me on edge the entire time. 

There is another great bit of lore that we uncover in this film regarding Jason and his mother. Vincente brilliantly crafted a sequence where we are given a glimpse into Jason's mindset. And it's there we are able to see Pamela and the little boy from the end of the first film. It's a very powerful moving moment. 

The pacing in the film is great. It never feels like it stutters or stalls. Everything is used for a reason. What those reasons may be? Who knows? May find out in another installment. But it all works together beautifully to create an Act 1 now to Never Hike Alone's Act 2 feeling. 

There is some gore on display. It's never too much and used pretty tastefully. But it's never too in your face with anything. There was a moment where I did find myself cheering. I'll let you guys figure out what it was when you watch it. 

The music. When we think of this franchise, the music is very prominent. It helps establish the tone and feeling. Here, it's been elevated to another level entirely. The first time I heard Ki-Ki-Ki Ma-Ma-Ma it left me with my jaw dropped. It's a character unto itself. Almost an extension of Jason himself with its brutality. 

Overall, I love this film. It took what was established in Never Hike Alone and raises the bar more. It never outstayed it's welcome. And the best part is it left me wanting more. The bits of lore that are established are all welcome additions to this franchise. 

It's sad that while we may never get another theatrical film for a while. But it's okay because Womp Stomp have shown us that fans can create great content too. To the extent where some will consider them to be official additions to this franchise. I cannot wait to see what they do next with this franchise. 

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Inside Never Hike Alone: A Chat with Vincente DiSanti

Hello everyone, a new home means bringing over some of the old content. Here we are with an interview that was published back on September 10, 2018. It was a fun chat with Vincente DiSanti of Womp Stomp Films. 

Today, I had the pleasure of talking with the Writer/Director of Never Hike Alone, Vincente DiSanti.

Matthew: Hi Vincente, thank you for taking the time.

Vincente: Hello, thank you for reaching out.

Matthew: How did Womp Stomp Films begin?

Vincente: Womp Stomp Films began in 2016 as an avenue for me to create my own live-action productions under an official banner. Having an LLC is a great asset to have when tackling live-action productions, especially when dealing with items such as production invoicing and insurance. 

Up until that time I had been using “Womp Stomp” as a personal name on social media accounts that were tied to my film projects. Creating a company based on that name seemed to be the next logical step.

The name actually derives from an old N64 Star Wars game password “wompastompa,” which allowed a player to take control and wreak havoc as one of the Wampa creatures on the Hoth level.

Matthew: What is the origin of Never Hike Alone?

Vincente: I have always been a big fan of Friday the 13th and growing up it was a dream of mine to one day work on a Friday the 13th film.

One day while location scouting in Big Bear California, I happened to stumble upon a set of cabins that gave me the initial idea of a person accidentally discovering the long-lost Crystal Lake and subsequently having to escape from Jason Voorhees.

That idea rattled around in my brain for a few years before I started pursuing it and it wasn’t until we discovered an actual abandoned camp that the project really took off.

Matthew: Did you have to worry about Never Hike Alone being shut down? Even after the campaign on indiegogo. Or was it completely embraced.

Vincente: So far we have been fortunate enough to avoid any issues with the rights holders. I believe that is the case because we have always been very transparent about our intentions, our disconnection to the actual franchise, and how the money was spent to create the project.

When it comes to fan films, especially ones that are crowdfunded, the number one rule in avoiding getting shut down is to run a non-profit production. That means producers cannot use the film to create any sort of revenue or even pay themselves for services rendered for the project. That said, not all properties are alike and other license holders for other films may not be so forgiving.

Even though we have not heard from the license holders, we have heard from several Friday the 13th alumni who have had nothing but kind words to say about the film.

Matthew: How did it feel to be able to bring a new piece of Friday the 13th to the fans when it was much needed?

Vincente: As a fan myself, I was certainly feeling the lack of Friday the 13th in my life.

After following the cancelation of several Friday projects over the years, I knew that Never Hike Alone could at least serve as a valiant effort by our team to somewhat alleviate that drought. The response to the film was a lot more impactful than we originally intended. And it certainly made my team and I proud to know that our efforts were so well received by the fans.

Matthew: Where did the design for Ghost Jason originate? Any inspiration for the physicality of Ghost Jason?

Vincente: We explored several options for this project, but ultimately came to the decision that it was time to try something new. 

From a continuity standpoint, I wanted a Jason that felt like could exist in any timeline of Friday the 13th.

When designing a mask, I went with the theory that all of Jason’s previous masks were destroyed and that he would need to pick a new one from the leftover equipment at the camp. Being that most of the equipment left over would most likely be from the late 50’s / early 60’s.

We wanted a mask that reflected that era and style with the design we all know and love. The decision to lose the chevrons came during the paint process where we decided that a blank look would be the proper style for our film.

The rest of Jason was put together as a hybrid of old and new. Although I have never truly been a fan of any of the previous jacket style designs, I did think that the look could work if given a more simplified look on par with the simple sears work shirt and pants combo from the original films.

When it came to the face, VFX artist Kelsey Berk and I worked together for quite a few months designed a new undead look for Jason. There we wanted to present something in a similar style to part 6 where enough of the face is shown to give the audience an idea of what Jason looks like, while still leaving partial sections of the face draped in shadow to let them fill in the blanks on their own.

The performance of Jason also came out of a hybrid of old and new. To me, Jason is and always has been undead, just with varying levels of decomposition. As his body has taken damage and decomposed over time, it has taken a toll on his agility and speed but certainly not on his mindset. Even though Jason can no longer run, I wanted a bring across the idea of an undead Jason that could still move swiftly when he needed to.

During scenes with more isolated environments and fighting, we wanted to show that Jason still has a very human thought process when it comes to tracking down and attacking his victims.

Matthew: How was it getting to play Jason?

Vincente: Playing Jason was both a dream come true and a major challenge. For most of my life, I have always wanted to put together a serious Jason Voorhees cosplay that felt like it could be out of the films.

However, what I learned from tackling the roll in the film is that the character of Jason is much more than a hockey mask and some tattered clothes. Any time someone takes on the task of performing as a character on screen, even silent ones, a lot of thought has to go into how that character is portrayed.

As a fan of Friday, I have always had my theories on the character of Jason and much of that went into the portrayal I tried to bring to the screen. With that came a lot of time getting into a mental state of the character, understanding his physical strengths and limitations, and then putting all of that into action through a lot of practice and repetition.

Once I felt I had a firm grasp of the character, putting on the costume and getting into character became a transformative experience.

Matthew: How long was production? What was the best day of filming? The worst?

Vincente: Starting with pre-production, Never Hike Alone took about almost 18 months to produce. We started with simple trailers in the spring of 2016 and then moved into production of the film in the fall after we spent the summer set designing our abandoned camp.

After taking a pause for the 2016/2017, we resumed production in April of 2017 and completed principle photography in July 2017.

The worst night on set was in early May of 2017 when temperatures dropped to 27 degrees during the filming of the final confrontation of Kyle and Jason on the front porch of the main cabin. Everyone was freezing cold and we were all pushed to our limits that evening.

The best day of filming was a few weeks later filming the head crush scene in Flagstaff, Arizona. We had a crew of about 8 that drove out to Arizona in a passenger van and we simply had a blast creating that scene. It was one of the few days where everything seemed to work out for us and we were very happy with the final results.

Matthew: How did Thom Mathews become involved?

Vincente: Thom Mathews became involved after he was introduced to our Executive Producer Barry Jay by a mutual friend of theirs. Barry showed Thom our first trailer and asked if he would be interested in a cameo appearance. Thom said yes and met with me a few weeks later to discuss the details.

After pitching the entire film and showing him some new footage, Thom agreed to jump on board and we worked together on how best to bring Tommy Jarvis back into the world of Friday the 13th.

Matthew: How has it been seeing all the positive response to the film? Especially considering some fans have adapted Never Hike Alone into the Friday canon.

Vincente: When approaching the making of a fan film, it’s sort of the default expectation that your project will not be taken very seriously. So, it’s pretty wild and humbling to see some of the responses from fans, especially when the subject of canon comes up. We definitely went into making Never Hike Alone with a tremendous amount of respect for the franchise, the alumni, and its fans. I believe it was that approach that inspired us to exceed the expectations of what a fan film could be.

The most rewarding part of all of this is hearing from fans old and new about how excited they are about the franchise again.

If anything, we hope this shows the studios that Friday the 13th and Jason Voorhees are still very viable in today’s horror market as long as the characters and lore are treated with the proper amount of attention to detail and respect for the fanbase.

Matthew: What was your response to Ghost Jason being in the Killer Puzzle Game?

Vincente: It is very surreal to see Ghost Jason and Kyle McLeod in an officially licensed game. As of today they are still using Ghost Jason as their default avatar for game walk throughs and advertising and it still amazes me every time I see it.

To me, Never Hike Alone was just supposed to be my personal letter to the franchise and the fans and I was just happy to get a chance to make it. It is easy to see that the team over Blue Wizard are huge fans themselves and they did such a great job securing the rights to make a truly wonderful game.

For them to turn around and find a way to include us in something that took them great effort to develop means a lot to me and the entire team. We couldn’t be more proud and humbled.

Matthew: Do you think you’ll return to Crystal Lake with another film?

Vincente: That’s a no brainer. We’re surely going to need Crystal Lake if we’re going to make Never Hike Alone 2.

Matthew: What comes next?

Vincente: There is a lot to look forward too from Womp Stop Films. This coming October 1st we will be releasing a Halloween inspired fan film directed by Rene Rivas titled “The Spirit of Haddonfield” in which I had the honor of playing Michael Myers. We have also been working on several original project that we are hoping to announce very soon.

As far as Never Hike Alone 2 goes, what I can say is that Thom, Andrew, and myself are all on board to continue the story. There are a lot of big obstacles in the way, but we are quietly working behind the scene to chip away things that need to be done in order to make the film a reality.

Check out Never Hike Alone on YouTube! And stay tuned for another chat with Vincente about Never Hike In The Snow and The Ghost Cut!

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Venturing Into The Unknown: Jason X turns 20!

After Jason took Manhattan, the Friday the 13th franchise was sent over to New Line Cinema. It was there that Jason went to hell at the end of the previous film. But there were still room in the gas tank if you were.

Sean Cunningham was working hard on trying to develop the infamous Freddy vs Jason. But he knew that New Line needed to make a film to keep Jason relevant and in the public’s mind. He had a meeting asking for different pitches with Noel Cunningham, Jim Isaacs and Todd Farmer. (Yes, the same Todd Farmer from My Bloody Valentine 3D, Drive Angry and TRICK)

They had discussed every incarnation on what the next film should be. Jason in Antarctica was mentioned along with Jason in the snow. (How cool is idea of Jason in the Snow? That idea would eventually come to fruition in Womp Stomp’s Never Hike In The Snow) Ultimately, they decided upon Jason in Space.

It seems like a natural evolution on where to throw the character as he had been on a boat and to hell by now. Plus he was literally stuck in hell. Setting in the future would free up how to explain that. (Also Freddy Vs Jason does a good job of explaining that.)

By now, there have been a few other franchises that had taken their characters to space. We had seen Leprechaun and Pinhead in Space. Looking upon those films, it feels unnatural for them to ever being taken to space. But then again, Leprechaun is a very bombastic character that can go anywhere. But ultimately both these had left the horror community thinking that this where horror goes to jump the shark.

With their idea ready to go, filming had commenced and completed in 2000. The film was in the can. It was ready to go. However, with the changing of the head of NEW LINE CINEMA, the project would sit in stasis for a year. The irony isn’t loss as Jason experiences the same thing.

When it was released, Jason X took a lot of hits from the community. A lot. ‘How could you send him to space?’ ‘This goes against everything in a Friday film.’ It also had been pirated a lot on the internet. It was a difficult time for our favorite Camp Slasher.

I first discovered Jason X when it was released on DVD. My family had just gotten a DVD player and I had seen it sitting on the shelf at the local Walmart. I purchased it with my monthly allowance that I had saved up. This would be my first experience with a Jason film.

I loved the film. It was different from what I had heard about the other films. I was also very intrigued with how it was made. CGI then was still something that was in it’s infancy. (Though, it would start coming into it’s own more with Lord of the Rings later in 2001.) But it was cool seeing the spaceships. Yes, the acting in the film is on a cheese scale. But that’s the point. Jim Isaacs and Todd Farmer knew exactly what they were creating – it’s a fun experience. Plus, Kane Hodder delivers two great performances in the film – Jason and Uber Jason.

Uber Jason is something that is always a hard topic to talk about. Some fans had felt that it went too far. It had taken their great slasher and moved into a place they couldn’t go. I think that idea of Uber Jason is great. His design is a bit sleek as well with his mask. The rest of the costume could have been a little sleeker. But ultimately he still is a threat.

One of the standout sequences in the film to me is the virtual reality return to Crystal Lake. This sequence is a lot of fun. It amplifies the cheese and presents a play on what fans expected. Especially because Uber Jason is presented with the two counselors. The best part is we get to see Kane revisit the sleeping bag kill – using both counselors to kill each other.

I love Jason X. It’s a unique entry in the series. That’s something I can also say for Jason Goes to Hell. That’s probably why I love it. It doesn’t take itself seriously. It wants to deliver a fun ride, which it does in spades. I think it holds up very well 20 years later. The only thing I wish would have happened is if we could have seen where the story would have gone next. Instead, we went back to the camp with Freddy Vs Jason and Friday the 13th (2009).

Rating: 4 out of 5. Fun ride.

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A Whole New Hell: Revisiting Jason Goes to Hell

When New Line Cinema acquired Jason in 1993, they were told they couldn’t use the title Friday the 13th. That’s a weird concept to think considering that they are synonymous with one another. And easily one that could happen once again depending on the outcome of the legal battle.

Without the title of Friday of the 13th, Sean Cunningham enlisted Adam Marcus, Jay Hughuely and Dean Lorey to figure out where the story could go. I must say where they took the story led it to be one of my favorites of the franchise.

They decided that it was time to unshackle the story from all of the previous tropes. Quickly within the opening of the film, the tropes are shown then shattered. This resulted in everything feeling fresh. Boom! Jason is exploded and ultimately killed. And this was within the first ten minutes of the film.

Quickly, Marcus establishes that there’s more going on with our Jason. Throughout the film, we uncover the secrets behind the Voorhees legacy as it is a beautiful explanation to Jason’s continuous resurrections in the series. Pamela Voorhees had sought out the Necronomicon and Kandarian Dagger to bring her son back. I. E. – Jason is a deadite.

This realization forever changed how I felt about the franchise. It changed my outlook on everything. The more I thought about it I appreciated everything that this film and Adam Marcus was setting up. This beautifully tied and introduced Evil Dead to a NEW LINE CINEMA verse that was being established. (Later on, I even discovered that those are the actual props from Army of Darkness.)

Now, there are many that are quick to say Jason isn’t in the film. Yes, he is. He’s just not in the way everyone was expecting. This allowed a huge tension as now Jason could possess different characters. So, he could be anywhere. Could be anyone. This was so terrifying a thought.

But you know what – Pamela Voorhees would go to whatever lengths she had to if she could bring her son back. That is 100 percent accurate to the character. So it is a wonderful progression.

Another fantastic character that was introduced is Creighton Duke (played by Steven Williams). Duke is to Jason what Dr. Loomis is to Michael Myers. It makes sense that someone would eventually come after Jason. No better a choice than introducing a bounty hunter. And Williams performance is unforgettable. He gleefully plays the character and adds so much to Duke. (Best part is that Williams would go on to play a hunter in Supernatural.)

We are also given a more human story with Steven Freeman (John D. LeMay) wanting to protect his ex girlfriend Jessica Kimble (Kari Keegan) and child from Jason. This is something that is different than the usual camp fare of the other films. But there is depth and relatability to it.

Ultimately, this results in an amazing journey and fantastic ending. Steven has to go toe to toe with the reborn Jason. And results in Jason being dragged to hell – leaving his mask on the dirt.

I know this is a very cliff notes version of a sypnosis. But it’s all the non spoiler parts. This film is great. It always leaves me discovering something new. It’s full of action, has some creepy moments, and is tense when necessary. But it’s a fun ride. Give this film a shot. Watch with an open mind. You may end up enjoying it.

Plus you get to see Freddy’s glove as it pulls Jason’s mask down into the depths of hell. How cool is that?

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Update: This article has been approved by Adam Marcus. The positive response was something more than I ever could have imagined. He also had some wonderful words to say about it.

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