Title: Jason Goes To Hell
Region: One
Genre: Horror
Stars: John D. LeMay, Kari Keegan, Erin
Gray, Allison Smith, Steven Kulp, Steven Williams, and Kane Hodder
Writers: Dean Lorey and Jay Huguely
Based On A Story By: Jay Huguely and
Adam Marcus
Directed By Adam Marcus
Languages: English DTS Digital 5.1
Theatrical Surround Sound, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, and Dolby Surround
Sound
Extras: Filmmaker Commentary on Unrated
Version, Alternate TV Scenes, Trailer
Subtitles: English Captions and Closed
Captions
Sound: DTS Digital 5.1 Theatrical
Surround Sound, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, and Dolby Surround Sound
Theatrical Distributor: New Line Cinema
Home Video Distributor: New Line Home
Entertainment
MPAA Rating: R & Unrated
Reviewer: Mark A. Rivera
In the past twenty years since the
murderous rampage associated with Jason Voorhees began at Camp Crystal Lake, 83
people have been slaughtered, but after an all out assault by a SWAT team armed
to the teeth, it appears that Jason is finally dead. However, the evil heart of
Jason lives on moving from one body to the next with a lone bounty hunter on the
prowl and only he knows how to truly kill him.
After eight films were produced and
released through Paramount Pictures, New Line Cinema resurrected the franchise
with a premise similar to the their cult sci-fi action film, "The
Hidden." Fan favorite Kane Hodder is Jason and the film is gory, but at
that same time is a bit tongue in cheek too.
"Jason Goes To Hell” " is
presented with a clear anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1) aspect ratio for both the
unrated and R rated versions. However the feature length audio commentary with
Dean Lorey and Director Adam Marcus is only available to those who watch the
unrated version. The commentary is pretty standard in terms that the film was
directed by fans for fans so they don’t have any problems with poking holes at
the numerous inconsistencies and plot holes that plague the series as a whole.
Equally clear and aggressive English DTS Digital 5.1 and Dolby Digital 5.1
Surround Soundtracks are provided as listening options along with an English
Dolby Surround Soundtrack and English Captions and Closed Captions for the
hearing impaired.
Nine alternate (1.33:1) scenes shot for
the TV version are also included and can be watched individually or as one 12
minute and 33 second reel. The scenes feature English Stereo Sound. The
theatrical trailer is included as well.
I cannot comment on the packaging for
this title because New Line only provided “Test Discs” for review, which was
a shame since both “Jason Goes To Hell” and “Jason X: New Line Platinum
Series” had technical problems attached. On “Jason Goes To Hell” I
found that the sound on the main menu did not feed through to the home theater
sound equipment. I usually use a Pioneer DV-414 DVD-Video Player to screen discs
and this is the first time I have ever encountered problems of this nature. I then screened both films on my
alternate player, a newer, but low budget Daewoo DVG 3000N. On this player both
test discs worked fine without any problems. So I called New Line to ask if they
were aware of possible incompatibility problems with older players on these
discs. To their credit they sent me overnight final product versions so I could
verify if this was a glitch or something else.
Unfortunately the package arrived empty
and opened while I was out to lunch so the person who accepted the package for
me on my behalf, my own father, did not notice the package had been opened and
the contents stolen because he is legally blind and cannot make very quick
distinctions like this visually. The courier was completely ineffectual with
locating the missing merchandise and I hope the thief gets justice Jason style for putting me in this embarrassing
situation.
New Line thankfully sent me final versions for both "Jason Goes To Hell" and "Jason X" again, which arrived this morning. I tested both. There were no problems with "Jason Goes To Hell" on the final product version, but the problem I encountered on "Jason X" still existed. I believe it is more or less a firmware problem related to my Pioneer player and not a software problem because it worked fine on my other player. So if anyone has an old DVD player they might want to rent "Jason X" first, but otherwise I think this is overall a great entry in the series and the best DVD of a Jason film to be released yet, save the possible firmware issue of course. "Jason Goes To Hell" looks, sounds, and works just fine. Both "Jason Goes To Hell" and "Jason X: New Line Platinum Series" will debut on DVD-Video on Tuesday, October 8, 2002 from New Line Home Entertainment.
© Copyright 2002 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
Read The DVD Review Of "Friday The Thirteenth Part VII: The New Blood"
Read The DVD Review Of "Friday The Thirteenth Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan"
Read The DVD Review Of "Jason X: New Line Platinum Series."