One of the most frequent questions I am always asked being the host of the greatest movie podcast ever (opinions may vary) is “What’s your favorite movie?” That answer has been the same since I was 11 years old. But it also isn’t as easy to explain why I love some movies more than others.
As an art form, movies are by their nature interpretative. Some people will point to a film’s box office total as a barometer for a film’s quality, this might not be true again because although it might be popular to the masses it might not appeal to you. I am looking at you Avatar, which is not one of my favorite films, not by a longshot.
Also, if the film wins an Academy Award for Best Picture, that hardly means it’s one of my favorite films, looking at you The English Patient, in fact I hardly agree with the Academy. Having said that, I am sure that some people love Avatar and The English Patient. And that’s what makes movies so great.
I, also am not a professional critic. I love film. I try and find merit in all film. As a host of a podcast that attempts to give every movie a chance, I believe that is the best way to approach movies, let the lights go out and try and enjoy yourself. You might find a “diamond in the rough.”
When thinking of my favorite movies to share with you, my loyal listeners, I thought 100 wasn’t going to be enough. So, I am proud to present my 150 Favorite Films, right now. These will change, I know they will.
See you at the movies!
***Spoilers Ahead!***
142: Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984) (Directed by Joseph Zito)
The Movie: After Chris (Dana Kimmel) axed Jason (Ted White) in the head, first responders arrive on scene. The collect evidence, bodies of the victims and also Jason’s body, he’s “dead” too.
Jason arrives at the hospital and is taken to the morgue. The doctor examining him, Axel (Bruce Mahler) teases his girlfriend Nurse Morgan (Lisa Freeman). She leaves him to his aerobics on TV and Jason rises, and saws his head off. Jason makes his way to Morgan, kills her and heads back to Crystal Lake.
At Crystal Lake we meet the Jarvis’. Mrs. Jarvis (Joan Freeman), her daughter Trish (Kimberly Beck) and her son Tommy (Corey Feldman). It seems that Mrs. Jarvis (I can’t remember if she’s ever given a first name…Wikipedia says Tracy, but she’s credited on IMDB as Mrs. Jarvis and I don’t think they ever say her name in the film) has recently separated from her husband and she has relocated to Crystal Lake with her family.
The house next door has been rented by a group of partying teenagers, Jimmy (Crispin Glover), Samantha (Judie Aronson), Doug (Peter Barton) Paul (Clyde Hayes) Sara (Barbra Howard) and Ted (Lawerence Monoson). They are up for a weekend of partying. After they refuse to pick up a hitchhiker, who Jason kills, they arrive at the cabin and decide to go to the lake.
On the way to the lake they meet twins, Tina (Camilla More) and Terri (Carey More), skinny dip and try to prove to them that Jimmy is not a “dead fuck”.
Tommy and Trish go to meet the teenagers at the lake but Trish decides they are too overdressed. On the way home their car breaks down, Tommy attempts to fix it and meets Rob (Erich Anderson) who after helping them, give him a ride. Rob tells them he is hunting bears, which Tommy thinks is impossible, there are no bears at Crystal Lake.
Rob meets Mrs. Jarvis, Tommy shows him his room where he builds masks and other monsters. Rob eventually leaves and the party is on next door.
Jason shows up and crashes the party. Jason smashes skulls, stabs, throws people out a window and helps Jimmy find the “goddamn corkscrew!”
Trish goes looking for Rob and finds his empty tent. Inside his tent Trish finds newspaper clippings about Jason and his killing spree. Rob returns and confesses to Trish that he isn’t hunting bear, but Jason. Jason killed his sister Sandra (see part 2!) and he wants revenge. At first Trish doesn’t believe him, but Rob tells her that his body is missing from the morgue and so too is hospital workers! Trish and Rob rush back to Trish’s home and tell Tommy to stay inside. Trish asks Tommy where their mother is and he replies running (she didn’t make it).
Rob and Trish head next door and discover Jason’s handiwork. They enter the basement and Rob is killed. Trish runs home and locks the door. Jason crashes through the window and then the door. Chases the Jarvis’ up the stairs and gets a TV to the head. Trish lures Jason away from Tommy and back to the neighbor’s home. Trish manages to escape Jason and returns home. Tommy was supposed to leave but he instead changes his appearance to look like Jason did when he drowned.
Jason gets a machete to the side of the head and dies. Or does he? His hand twitches and Tommy repeatedly stabs Jason as Trish looks on in horror. Jason is dead…for now.
Why I Love Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter: To me, this is the ultimate Friday the 13th film. I do like one a little more but if I were to show someone a Friday the 13th who had never seen one, I would pick The Final Chapter.
It has everything a fan of these films would want. Jason. Check. High body count. Check. Nudity. Check. It also moves really quickly, from the opening shot, the film never really lets up. The ominous threat of Jason gives the film a driving force as he makes his way back to Crystal Lake.
Speaking of Jason, Ted White a truly legendary stunt man dons the hockey mask, uncredited because he treated the film just as a job. But it’s more than that on screen. His Jason is brutal, quick and mean.
Joesph Zito who had directed the underrated slasher The Prowler three years prior shows he is capable of building suspense in the well established formula of Friday the 13th. Also returning to the series is gore/special effects legend Tom Savini, who jumped at the chance to kill Jason, even though he didn’t stay dead long.
All the actors are great too. Which is a testament to everyone being onboard with the film. The party kids next door are all believable and funny, especially Crispin Glover who steals the show with his dancing and winning line delivery. Kimberly Beck is a standout “final girl” as well. She’s confident, smart and tough. She doesn’t back down from Jason, she fights him and wins. Corey Feldman shines as well. Count me as one of the fans who would love to see him again as Tommy, taking on Jason.
The Final Chapter was far from the last time Jason would terrorize movie screens, but it stands as one of the bloodiest, most unrelentingly entries into the series.