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!!!***

95. Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986) Directed by Tom McLoughlin

The Movie: Years after Tommy Jarvis (Thom Matthews) ended Jason Voorhees’ (C.J. Graham) reign of terror at Crystal Lake. Tommy, however, is still haunted by Jason and intends to end his torment forever.

Tommy and his friend Hawes (Ron Palillo) drive to the cemetery where Jason’s body has been buried. Tommy locates Jason’s grave and starts digging. As a storm rolls in, Tommy hits Jason’s coffin and opens it. Inside is Jason’s rotting corpse. Jason is indeed dead. Tommy, haunted by his past grabs a metal spike and stabs Jason’s corpse over and over. He leaves the post in Jason’s body and goes to get gasoline. Tommy’s plan is to burn Jason’s body to ash.

A lightning bolt hits the metal post and strikes Jason’s corpse. Jason’s eyes snap open. Jason Lives. Jason climbs out of his grave and walks towards Tommy. Hawes hits Jason in the head with a shovel. It does not affect the monster. Jason punches Hawes through the chest, ripping out his heart.

Tommy runs away and drives to the sheriff’s office. Tommy meets Sheriff Garris (David Kagen) and pleads with him to stop Jason. Garris doesn’t believe Tommy and has Deputy Cologne (Vincent Guastaferro) lock him in a cell.

The next morning, Tommy meets Garris’ daughter Megan (Jennifer Cooke) and her friends. They are the new camp counselors at Camp Forest Green, the new name for Camp Crystal Lake. Tommy pleads with them not to go there as Jason is most likely to return to a place he knows. They do not heed his warning.

Sheriff Garris escorts Tommy out of town. Tommy leads him on a chase through the cemetery to show him that he dug up Jason’s grave. When they get there, Jason’s grave is undisturbed. Martin, the caretaker (Bob Larkin) denies he covered Jason’s grave. Sheriff Garris tells Tommy to leave and never come back.

Jason on his way back to camp has killed a couple of counselors and a group of paintballers. He is close.

At camp, Jason’s terror begins anew. He mows through the counselors and after seeing a bloodbath of murder victims, Garris is convinced that Tommy is killing everyone to prove Jason is alive. Garris dispatches his police force to Camp Forest Green.

Jason quickly dispatches the police force and sets his eyes on Megan. Garris hiding from Jason hears his daughters scream and attempts to stop Jason. Garris is snapped in half for his effort.

As Jason attempts to kill Megan, he is called to the lake by Tommy. Jason drops Megan and heads after Tommy. Tommy has a plan. He is going to chain Jason to the bottom of Crystal Lake, making him unable to escape. Jason attacks Tommy who is able to put the chain around Jason’s neck. Jason is able to destroy Tommy’s boat and they both go under. Megan jumps into the lake to help Tommy. And is pulled down by Jason for her efforts. Megan is able to start the boat’s propeller and moves it over to Jason, where it grinds his face and snaps his neck.

Megan brings Tommy to shore and saves his life. Under the water, Jason is still there, eyes open, waiting for his chance to kill again.

Why I Love Friday the 13^th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986): My favorite Friday the 13^th movie. I love the series and Part VI is the best one of the bunch.

We get our first experience with “zombie” Jason. In the earlier installments hinted at maybe supernatural elements were at play, writer/director Tom McLoughlin leans right into it. McLoughlin is by far the best director of the franchise in the 80’s. McLoughlin fully understood the assignment. Make the teenagers fun and funny, make Jason a scary, unstoppable killing machine. The film is ahead of its time. It makes the characters well aware of the predicament they are in, in a way that Scream would perfect 10 years later.

After the train wreck that Part V was, McLoughlin proved that you can make a cool scary movie without being gratuitous with the violence and the nudity. Look, I love when Jason is mowing people down, but there has to be some restraint in the approach. It can’t just be, put the camera here and not be creative with the violence. And don’t get me wrong, there are some brutal kills in this film, see Garris folded in half.

 You can also watch Jason Lives without any real knowledge of the series, it stands on its own very well. The ending is satisfying as we both get a heroes victory and a glimpse that Jason isn’t dead after all.