“Friday the thirteenth” followers have been ready a protracted, very long time to see Jason Voorhees make his triumphant, bloody return. The collective prayers of slasher lovers everywhere in the world had been answered lately — kind of — when a brand new official quick movie titled “Candy Revenge” made its debut on YouTube. Directed by Mike P. Nelson (“Unsuitable Flip”), it is roughly 13 minutes of what we have come to anticipate from the franchise, but it surely additionally seems like a little bit of a tease greater than the rest.
The final time Jason had a correct cinematic outing was when the 2009 “Friday the thirteenth” remake hit theaters. After that, issues bought sophisticated. We’ll get extra into that in a second, however for the final 16 years, slasher followers reminiscent of myself have been trying to have that Jason Voorhees itch scratched. “Candy Revenge” cannot fill a void that huge. Thankfully, there’s something else on the market that simply would possibly give viewers that candy, bloody horror taste they have been craving.
Starting in 2017, the parents at Womp Stomp Movies started releasing a collection of “Friday the thirteenth” fan movies titled “By no means Hike Alone.” Admittedly, “fan movie” comes with a sure connotation. This stuff can fluctuate wildly in high quality. And after they get too huge, it attracts the unsuitable type of consideration. The “Star Trek” fan movie “Axanar” was even the topic of a significant lawsuit. That stated, what director Vincente Disanti did with these fan movies is cream of the crop stuff. Embracing the previous and looking out in direction of the long run, they hit the spot.
By no means Hike Alone bought across the Friday the thirteenth pink tape
“By no means Hike Alone” is a collection of fan movies that features two full-length installments and a prequel titled “By no means Hike within the Snow,” to not point out a music video referred to as “Disappear.” The primary movie, launched in 2017, follows an journey blogger, Kyle McLeod (Andrew Leighty), who uncovers the lengthy misplaced stays of Camp Crystal Lake on a backpacking journey. Naturally, he quickly crosses paths with Jason.
What units the primary movie aside immediately is that Disanti supplied up one thing totally different, providing parts of discovered footage and focusing extra on one sufferer, fairly than exhibiting Jason rip by way of a bunch of camp counselors one after the other. It is miles above the standard of most fan movies one will discover on YouTube (all due respect). It additionally takes some liberties with the canon, however, as far as franchises go, “Friday the thirteenth” has all the time been a bit wonky in relation to continuity and whatnot. Most significantly? It seems like a meat and potatoes meal that may fulfill your starvation, whereas “Candy Revenge” seems like an all-too-small appetizer.
Somewhat crucially, “By no means Hike Alone” additionally happened as the “Friday the thirteenth” authorized dispute was getting underway, which held up the franchise for years. Whereas we can’t get into the nitty gritty of all of it right here, that lawsuit primarily put a cease to all actions involving Jason Voorhees for fairly some time. Fortunately, Womp Stomp Movies was in a position to efficiently navigate round the entire pink tape by simply doing its personal factor, with no studio’s permission, and never for revenue. It labored.
As for the opposite entries, “By no means Hike within the Snow” delivers one thing followers have needed to see for ages: Jason Voorhees within the snow! It is the shortest of the bunch, however maybe essentially the most worthwhile. The truth is, there have been truly plans to do a “Friday the thirteenth” sequel within the snow at one level, however these fell by way of when the lawsuit kicked in. Disanti delivered what Hollywood couldn’t.
As we anticipate an official Friday the thirteenth film, By no means Hike Alone can fill the void
Since I think about many individuals studying this have not watched the movies, I will not spoil the place issues go in “By no means Hike Alone 2,” however let’s simply say it is a deal with for longtime followers. Disanti and his crew clearly have numerous love for the franchise, and it exhibits. Are the boundaries of those movies’ budgets and lack of assets apparent at instances? In fact, however they nonetheless faucet into one thing “Friday the thirteenth” followers have really been lacking in a significant, honest manner.
Initially, the gang at Womp Stomp Movies had plans for much more. Its web site alone has remedy posters for “By no means Hike Alone III: Jason Takes Crystal Lake” and “By no means Hike Alone IV: The Ultimate Hike.” As of proper now, although, these tasks have not materialized. Within the meantime, the Womp Stomp Movies staff is at present readying “By no means Hike Alone: The Ultimate Minimize,” which “weaves collectively the whole ‘By no means Hike Alone’ storyline right into a single, steady narrative, with enhanced visible results, improved sound design, and unique new scenes.”
With the authorized mud settling, the “Friday the thirteenth” franchise is slowly coming again to life. Peacock is in manufacturing on the “Crystal Lake” TV collection, which can function a prequel to the unique film. The Jason Universe was additionally launched final yr as a strategy to get extra Jason-centric media out into the world, reminiscent of “Candy Revenge.” The minds behind the property have additionally promised a brand new film and a brand new online game, however particulars stay elusive on that entrance. So, till that adjustments, these fan movies can assist bridge the hole.
You may watch the “By no means Hike Alone” movies on YouTube proper now.
