Jason X (2001) - Review of the 4K Ultra HD Edition

      Jason X, 2001.

      Directed by James Isaac.

      Featuring Kane Hodder, Lexa Doig, Lisa Ryder, Chuck Campbell, Peter Mensah, Jonathan Potts, David Cronenberg, Markus Parilo, Dov Tiefenbach, Melyssa Ade, Kristi Angus, Yani Gellman, Melody Johnson, and Derwin Jordan.

      SYNOPSIS:

      At the start of the 21st century, Jason Voorhees is cryogenically frozen and is later found in the 25th century, where he is taken into space. After being thawed, he starts hunting down and killing the crew members of the spaceship transporting him.

      Anyone familiar with the numerous Friday the 13th sequels knows that expectations have always been quite flexible. By the time Jason X was released in 2001, nearly ten years after the disappointing Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday, it was evident that the franchise had two paths – to conclude quietly or to go completely wild. Fortunately, it opted for the latter.

      This film marked James Isaac's second directorial project and the first for writer Todd Farmer (with contributions from Victor Miller). Jason X addresses an unasked question: what if Jason Voorhees ventured into space? The result is a ridiculous, bold, and thoroughly silly movie that embraces its absurdity with a level of self-awareness that previous installments often lacked. While it may not be a “good” film in a conventional sense, it is oddly endearing for fully acknowledging its craziness.

      In this distant future, Earth has become an uninhabitable wasteland. A group of students aboard a spacecraft discovers a cryogenically frozen Jason as well as an unfortunate scientist (Lexa Doig) from the early 21st century. Despite their better judgment, they bring both onto the ship. Predictably, Jason awakens and soon begins his bloody rampage. This follows a classic slasher storyline, albeit with futuristic weaponry, spaceships, and somewhat low-quality CGI.

      Kane Hodder reprises his role as Jason, bringing a lumbering menace to the character that almost makes you root for him. The supporting cast primarily serves as fodder, but Lisa Ryder’s performance as the ship's android, Kay-Em 14, stands out. She seems aware of the film’s tone and delivers her role with a deadpan humor that enhances the latter parts significantly. There is a peculiar thrill in watching Kay-Em, fully armed, engage Jason in a shootout reminiscent of a budget video game.

      There are genuinely inventive moments in Jason X. The notorious liquid nitrogen kill, where Jason freezes a scientist's face and smashes it against a counter, is gruesome and creative enough to solidify its place in slasher history. Similarly, the virtual reality sequence where Jason is tricked into revisiting his Camp Crystal Lake days cleverly nods to the franchise's origins, featuring classic sleeping bag mayhem.

      Visually, however, the film faces challenges. Filmed on a relatively low budget, the production design often resembles a 2005 SyFy Channel original, characterized by shiny corridors and rubber props. The special effects, particularly for Jason's transformation into the metallic “Uber Jason,” have not aged well. But was anyone really expecting otherwise?

      The greatest strength of Jason X lies in its self-awareness of its own absurdity. Unlike the serious-toned Jason Goes to Hell, which attempted to reinvent the mythology and ended up alienating fans, Jason X caters to its core audience – viewers who know exactly what they desire from a Jason film. It’s silly, it’s inexpensive, but it makes no pretense of being anything more.

      Jason X feels like a ridiculous idea tossed around among friends at a pub that somehow received a green light. It’s loud, chaotic, and undoubtedly fun. For committed fans, it’s a guilty pleasure worth revisiting, especially to experience the 4K restoration and appreciate the sheer boldness of placing Jason Voorhees in a scenario unlike any other for a slasher villain.

      The 4K restoration features an introduction by Kane Hodder himself, along with various archival materials such as audio commentary by Jim Isaac and Todd Farmer, cast interviews, and an intriguing documentary titled ‘The Many Lives of Jason Voorhees’. All of this, paired with the restored film and beautiful artwork (including a double-sided poster), makes this release one to cherish.

      SEE ALSO: Every Friday the 13th Movie Ranked From Worst to Best

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★

      Tom Atkinson – Follow me on Instagram