Jason Goes to Hell Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray release of "Jason Goes to Hell" delivers a competent yet ultimately underwhelming 1080p and newly struck 2K transfer. While the resolution increment adds sharpness, the image quality remains problematic in several aspects. The grain structure holds steady, offering a functional yet uninspiring look. Close-up scenes benefit from the modern scan, bringing out textural detail such as makeup effects with precision. Unfortunately, the clarity fades significantly in darker scenes, where black crush issues prevail, leading to a loss of detail and depth.

Color accuracy suffers considerably in this release. Flesh tones unnaturally skew towards red, causing an overblown glow, especially noticeable in campfire scenes. This mishandling of color saturation deteriorates the overall visual fidelity, resulting in blown-out primaries and intrusive noise. Despite retaining core textures like clothing and facial details stably, the overall aesthetic remains flat and lifeless. The movie’s subdued palette fails to deliver any visual excitement or robustness, offering a drab viewing experience that lacks tonal vibrancy.

In essence, while the transfer succeeds in certain technical feats like grain stability and close-up detailing, it struggles significantly with color mastering and black levels. The overall visual presentation suffers from a lack of depth, dull textures, and unappealing color tones, marking it as one of the less engaging Blu-ray transfers in the franchise.

The audio presentation of "Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday" features both DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks. The 5.1 track demonstrates a more thorough balance and an enhanced sense of immersion, though it still has areas of improvement. The stereo option, while aggressive and loud, tends to struggle with sound element clarity, especially noticeable during critical moments like the heart-thumping autopsy scene at the beginning of the film. By contrast, the 5.1 track offers fuller stage engagement, with music feeling smoother and richer, though both tracks have issues with dialogue sometimes sounding shallow and poorly imaged.

Despite these differences, the stereo option might unexpectedly be your preferred choice due to the overemphasized, puffy bass in the 5.1 track, which becomes more of a distraction than a feature, impacting every sound effect, from footsteps to stabbings, with an exaggerated impact. Dialogue clarity seems compromised in both tracks, exhibiting a worn and scratchy quality akin to someone speaking in the early stages of a cold. While neither audio option excels universally, the 5.1 track does provide a superior overall presentation with better sound detail and engagement nuances. However, listeners might find themselves adjusting their preferences depending on the specific scenes and their audio sensitivity.

The Blu-ray release of "Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday" stands out with its impressive array of extras, primarily featuring contributions from director Adam Marcus. Both the theatrical and unrated versions are provided, each on its own disc. Highlights include multiple director introductions, two new audio commentaries, and interviews offering deep insights into the film's production and legacy. Kane Hodder's segment provides a detailed recount of his experience playing Jason. Visual supplements like TV spots, still galleries, and props tour enhance the offering, though some segments feel too brief. This rich collection of features makes this Blu-ray a definitive edition for fans and collectors.

Extras included in this disc:

• Director Introduction: Adam Marcus thanks fans for their support.
• Theatrical Trailer
• TV Spots: Includes upscaled sequences.
• Still Gallery: Auto-advancing images.
• Posters and Behind-the-Scenes Gallery: Global ads for the film.
• Friday the 13th Props: Brief visual tour of masks and books.
• Audio Commentary: Director Adam Marcus with Peter M. Bracke.
• Audio Commentary: Director Adam Marcus with Dean Lorey.
• The Gates of Hell: Extensive interview with Adam Marcus.
• Über-Jason: Kane Hodder discusses his iconic role.
• Jason vs. Terminator: Adam Marcus on his history with the franchise.
• Additional TV Footage: Includes optional commentary by Adam Marcus.

"Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday," released on Blu-ray by Scream Factory via Shout! Factory, showcases the 1993 installment of the iconic horror franchise with a meticulous 1080p transfer along with two lossless soundtrack options. This release is part of the limited Friday the 13th Collection, featuring all 12 films of the series and additional bonus content. The unrated cut presented here includes missing footage, previously absent in earlier releases, making it a significant edition for collectors.

The film begins with Jason Voorhees (Kane Hodder) being blown to bits by an FBI squad, only for his soul to possess various hosts as he continues his murderous spree. The narrative shifts focus to bounty hunter Creighton Duke (Steven Williams), who uncovers the lore that only a Voorhees wielding a special dagger can permanently kill Jason. This new storyline injects fresh elements into the series but, along with its shift to a 'body snatcher' trope, it also faces criticism for its convoluted plot points and underdeveloped concepts, including a newly introduced sister for Jason, which appears rather convenient given the legacy of prior films.

While "Jason Goes to Hell" attempts to break free from the series' formulaic slasher roots, it struggles with its ambitious plot, introducing numerous new elements—such as mythological undertones and a plethora of secondary characters—that fail to cohesively bind. Despite its flaws, the film contains notable sequences like the thrilling FBI sting operation and a finale teasing a crossover with Freddy Krueger, indicative of its attempt to engage with deeper genre lore. Though these efforts may not suffice to please traditionalists, they undeniably offer moments of genuine excitement and foreshadow future genre mash-ups that resonate with fans of horror geek culture.

Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday Blu-ray is a polarizing installment that diverges sharply from the established formula of the franchise. Director Adam Marcus infuses more lore into this film than most other entries in the series, providing new dimensions to Jason's character and backstory. While this approach has understandably split the fanbase, it's commendable for attempting something novel. This installment's narrative strays significantly, making it a contentious departure point for many fans. However, those interested in fresh ideas within the horror genre will find merit here.

On the technical front, the video quality of the Blu-ray is serviceable but lacks distinction. It captures the film’s visuals adequately without enhancing the viewing experience to any notable degree. The audio track similarly falls short, failing to deliver the immersive sound quality sometimes expected from high-definition releases. Despite these shortcomings, Shout! Factory has assembled a commendable selection of extras across the two-disc set. Particularly noteworthy are the segments featuring director Adam Marcus, which provide invaluable insights and make for compelling content.

In conclusion, Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday is an ambitious but divisive entry in the franchise that will appeal to those open to deviations from tradition. The Blu-ray's technical specifications are competent but not exemplary. However, the rich selection of extras, particularly those featuring Marcus, adds significant value to the package. For dedicated fans and those interested in a unique take on the iconic character, this release is recommended.