The Cold Open: Is Awkward Silence the New Warmth?
So they watch the whole show. Stick around for the LFC—long-form content, usually a non sequitur. I don’t even know what that means! Everyone’s throwing around fancy terms like they’re the latest trends on TikTok. Does it mean what led to it is not what came before it? I’m just going to stare at the camera in awkward silence and let the microphone stack the recording.
Home Video Headlines
Now onto some home video headlines. Netflix is developing an animated series titled In Case of Emergency, set in a British hospital. Sounds like it could be a fantastic live-action British comedy, right?
And in the world of cancellations, Billy the Kid is getting renewed for a third and final season at MGM. I didn’t even know MGM was producing a Billy the Kid series! Anyone familiar with this show? Let’s have a quick chat about the legendary outlaw himself:
How about Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid?
Billy the Kid vs. Dracula?
Young Guns?
Or Billy the Kid making an appearance in Bill & Ted?
Those are your best bets if you’re not tuning in to the show that’s getting the ax!
Trivia Time
Alright, it’s time for trivia, formerly known as Savage Stats. Tonight, we’re talking about Jason Lives—Friday the 13th Part VI—to round off our Halloween movie lineup. Tommy Jarvis returns! He digs up Jason Voorhees’ body, intending to cremate it, but oops! He inadvertently resurrects him, and now, Jason's back for revenge.
Aside from Alice’s minor roles in the first two films, Tommy Jarvis is the only recurring protagonist in the series—played by three different actors, no less! Years after this film, Kelly and Kevin Williamson shared that it hugely influenced them while writing Scream.
Interesting tidbit: Jason’s father paid for his burial in Tombstone! Tom Matthews, who plays Tommy here, is also beloved by genre fans for his role as Freddy in Return of the Living Dead. The director wanted to use lightning to reanimate Jason, channeling that gothic horror vibe with graveyards and fog.
Did you catch the nod to the iconic James Bond openings? Instead of a gunshot, we get a swift machete slice to the camera. It’s fun and kitschy, embracing the self-awareness that Friday the 13th is known for.
The director also noted that this film is surprisingly devoid of nudity and has minimal sex. The studio wanted more kills to secure that coveted R rating, so they ordered reshoots for additional gore.
Favorite Bits from Jason Lives
After these messages, we’ll get back to my favorite bits from Jason Lives. If you’re a horror movie fan or just enjoy good value, consider trying Paramount Plus. They have a ton of shows and a horror lineup for the spooky season. You can sign up for seven days free through our affiliate link.
Alright, back to it! The way Jason returns in this movie is, in my opinion, one of the best—lightning strikes and BAM! He’s reanimated. The title sequence is fantastic, with exploding hockey masks and everything going up in flames. The film's reflexivity—being self-aware—is a fascinating technique that some viewers may love or hate.
Every kill in this movie feels like a mini short film; you actually care about the characters before they meet their grim fate. That’s crucial for a horror film, and not all can achieve that.
Oh, and let's not forget: Jason always puts the mask back on. Even in death, he’s still a little vain!
Ratings: Binge Now, Binge Later, or Binge Never
Now, how do we rate this? Binge now, binge later, or binge never?
Binge now: Watch it immediately!
Binge later: Get around to it when you can.
Binge never: Save yourself the 90 minutes of your life.
You can guess what I’d say about Jason Lives—definitely a binge now! It’s my favorite of the Friday the 13th films, and it was the first one I saw on TV as a kid.
What Are Fans Saying?
Fans chiming in? Atlas Obscura gave me a shoutout! They wanted to share the full 4000-year history of Halloween after I talked about its origins. Getting recognition from a brand like that feels pretty special, don’t you think?
Movie Recommendation of the Week
Now, if you’re feeling burnt out on Jason, check out They Live. I’ve seen it four times now! It’s a John Carpenter classic, and the fight scenes are real, thanks to Roddy Piper's wrestling background.
The concept of the sunglasses revealing the truth is particularly relevant in our current media landscape. It’s fascinating to think about artificial consciousness controlling our perceptions. Piper famously said, “I’m here to kick ass and chew bubblegum, and I’m all out of bubblegum.”
One scene that stood out was when an alien is buying an "obey" newspaper. Why does an alien need subliminal messaging? It begs the question of whether they are trapped in an artificial layer of reality, too.
Wrapping It Up
This episode might be short, but we covered a lot! Remember, if you’re tired of the slasher flicks, consider diving into the wacky adventures of Jason in outer space in Jason X—it’s like fan fulfillment on steroids!
I’m taking a little break now and will return for the feel-good movie season. For now, enjoy the horror vibes of October.
You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here. So stay up late and watch a bunch of horror movies!
Catch you next time!
