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Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan
Rob Hedden
1989
Jason Takes....his time getting to Manhattan.
It may be the done thing to take a giant **** on this movie, but I'm not about to do that. It's not flawless, far from it, but it's a hell of a lot of fun, especially if you're a Jason fan. Right from the opening titles (in which the movie title fades to a reveal a Batman logo, center screen *fangirl screams*), we're treated to a fantastic theme song, complete with an apt lyric line as we see youths leading wasted lives, running around the alleyways of New York mugging decent, umbrella carrying citizens. This would be the last one for the 80's and boy, they sure wrote themselves a TUNE (I'm listening to it right now as I write this), and throughout it, we see locations that we'll see again later, this time with added Jason. The darkest side of the night.
And then instant nudity.
Hot.
Once again, Jason is accidentally resurrected and this time, ends up on a fancy boat full of graduate students called the SS Lazarus (heh) on their way to New York. Killing ensues. Fun, satisfying kills. There's a girl on board, Rennie, who sees visions of Jason as a young boy. Why? We don't really know. Maybe she's a bit psychic, maybe it's because she But we know she's going to be there in the end.
First, the things I didn't like: I'm not the biggest fan of the young Jason thing. And I kind of hated the While I love the heavy breathing thing that Kane Hodder seems to do with his whole body, it's kind of breathtaking, I didn't like the Darth Vader-style effect. That was a big nope. Thankfully it was used very sparingly. The psychic flashes. Ugh, why. Jason's unmasked face - wasn't a fan of the snapping turtle look. Not sure why his mask had the axe marks, unless urban legend had already given way to merchandising. Also wasn't a fan of the ending, but it wasn't too bad.
Now for the things I loved. Might as well put it all in spoiler tags as it's going up in one long flow of word-vomit.
*deep breath*
Yeah, I loved this. And it didn't feel too brutally hacked by the censors.
Overall, I had a great time watching this movie and my rating has to reflect that, despite the plot holes, not much of this taking place in New York, and Jason's scream.
Underappreciated gem in the series.
Go ahead. Take your best shot, mother****er!
Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan
Rob Hedden
1989
Jason Takes....his time getting to Manhattan.
It may be the done thing to take a giant **** on this movie, but I'm not about to do that. It's not flawless, far from it, but it's a hell of a lot of fun, especially if you're a Jason fan. Right from the opening titles (in which the movie title fades to a reveal a Batman logo, center screen *fangirl screams*), we're treated to a fantastic theme song, complete with an apt lyric line as we see youths leading wasted lives, running around the alleyways of New York mugging decent, umbrella carrying citizens. This would be the last one for the 80's and boy, they sure wrote themselves a TUNE (I'm listening to it right now as I write this), and throughout it, we see locations that we'll see again later, this time with added Jason. The darkest side of the night.
And then instant nudity.
Hot.
Once again, Jason is accidentally resurrected and this time, ends up on a fancy boat full of graduate students called the SS Lazarus (heh) on their way to New York. Killing ensues. Fun, satisfying kills. There's a girl on board, Rennie, who sees visions of Jason as a young boy. Why? We don't really know. Maybe she's a bit psychic, maybe it's because she
WARNING: spoilers below
got pushed into the lake by her father, swimmning lessons, you understand, and young aquatic Jason almost dragged her to her death...
First, the things I didn't like: I'm not the biggest fan of the young Jason thing. And I kind of hated the
Now for the things I loved. Might as well put it all in spoiler tags as it's going up in one long flow of word-vomit.
*deep breath*
WARNING: spoilers below
The way CRYST was the first thing visible in the delapidated Camp Crystal Lake sign. Kane Hodder injecting even more personality into Jason (GODS he's great!) . Jason toying a bit with a couple of his victims. The sauna rock kill. THE GUITAR KILL. The amazingly useless dog not even barking with wet, decayed Jason right outside.How Jason does some things slow and others super fast. This sets you up for the teleporting later. Yes, I said teleporting. Each time he comes back, he comes back meaner and with an extra superpower. The pick-up-and-strangle kill with the disco ball hanging like a ****ed up sun, and the way he threw her body on the floor. The way Jason kicks **** around, so aggressive. The accidental buddy kill. 
Jason's eye ooze. Wow, that was awesome. OMG HIS HEAD TILT WHEN HE SEES THE BILLBOARD WITH THE HOCKEY MASK 
. The kids yelling "You're dead" at Jason when he kicks their stuff as he walks by, only to have him turn around and show them his face. The way he allowed Julius to take as many hits as he liked while he just stood there, taking small steps backwards, pretend-stumbling a bit. You know he's playing. And then he REALLY played, with what I consider the best kill of the film: THE SINGLE PUNCH DECAPITATION, and that head just goes flying straight into a dumpster. Which closes. 
Big fan of Jason on the subway: the way he just punts the blonde lady to one side in his relentless quest to get to his target, yet doesn't have his subway legs. The shadow kill with the lashing of blood on the wall was a nice touch.
Jason's eye ooze. Wow, that was awesome. OMG HIS HEAD TILT WHEN HE SEES THE BILLBOARD WITH THE HOCKEY MASK . The kids yelling "You're dead" at Jason when he kicks their stuff as he walks by, only to have him turn around and show them his face. The way he allowed Julius to take as many hits as he liked while he just stood there, taking small steps backwards, pretend-stumbling a bit. You know he's playing. And then he REALLY played, with what I consider the best kill of the film: THE SINGLE PUNCH DECAPITATION, and that head just goes flying straight into a dumpster. Which closes. Big fan of Jason on the subway: the way he just punts the blonde lady to one side in his relentless quest to get to his target, yet doesn't have his subway legs. The shadow kill with the lashing of blood on the wall was a nice touch. Yeah, I loved this. And it didn't feel too brutally hacked by the censors.
Overall, I had a great time watching this movie and my rating has to reflect that, despite the plot holes, not much of this taking place in New York, and Jason's scream.
Underappreciated gem in the series.
Go ahead. Take your best shot, mother****er!