Friday The 13th; The Final Chapter (1984) Horror Movie Review

by Ronnie Angel

Release: April 13, 1984 (U.S. Theatrical)
Directed by: Joseph Zito
Written by: Barney Cohen, Martin Kitrosser, Ron Kurz, Victor Miller, Bruce Hidemi Sakow and Carol Watson

Starring:
Kimberly Beck as Trish Jarvis
Peter Barton as Doug
Corey Feldman as Tommy Jarvis
E.Erich Anderson as Rob Dyer
Crispin Glover as Jimmy Mortimer

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter. See that? FINAL CHAPTER. That was the original plan, and this would have been a great place to end the Friday the 13th series actually. Unfortunately, sometimes the all mighty dollar overrides common sense, especially in the movie industry (see Saw series for additional information on taking a good thing WAY too far).

The first four films in the Friday the 13th series are actually some of my favorite horror movies... the others, not so much.

Oddly enough, the first time a young Ronnie Angel ever watched a Friday The 13th movie years ago, it was the fourth in the series. I still remember being in awe at the horror and madness unfolding in front of my young eyes. I guess you could say this would have to be one of a series of stepping stones which led to my lifelong love of horror.

Plot wise, The Final Chapter picks up right where Friday the 13th Part 3 left off; I mean exactly where it left off, in the same day. Part 3 did the same with Friday the 13th Part 2 as well, so logically, all three were in one weekend. That's a pretty big massacre! No wonder the town of Crystal Lake was so stirred up! Anyways, this picks up with a police investigation of the crime scene and Jason carted off to the Morgue along with the victims. Only one problem, Jason is not really dead (gasp!) and soon breaks out of the hospital and makes his way back to the woods for another killing spree, this time targeting a house full of teens and the family in the house next door. Basically, a lot of the same as the previous entries, only this was suppose to be the one where the tables turned on Jason. Even with the similarities and familiar formula, this film seems different than the others in the series.

Part 4 marked the return of Gore Master Tom Savini, who in turn makes The Final Chapter possibly the goriest in the series with his ghoulish effects. There are a few pretty damn cool deaths thanks to ol' Uncle Tom. Another difference is that Part 4 has more of a flat out 1980's feel than the others in the series, from the music, to the vibe, to the casting of 80's teen icons Corey Feldman as the movie’s hero Tommy Jarvis, and Crispin Glover as yet another in the long line of Jason victims. Another difference-maker is the overall theme, besides the killing of all the teens, of the struggle of the family (mainly Tommy and his sister Trish) to defend themselves from Jason's relentless attack, which is the inevitable downfall for Jason.

The Final Chapter definitely would have made a fitting end to the series. If you are new to the Friday the 13th series, I say do yourself a favor and just stop at this one.