HEARTS OF DARKNESS: THE MAKING OF THE FINAL FRIDAY

***

Directed by Michael Felsher.

Starring Adam Marcus, Kane Hodder, Howard Berger.

Documentary, US, 107 minutes.

Reviewed as part of Pigeon Shrine Glasgow FrightFest 2025

Every long running franchise has its bumps in the road, an uneven or downright atrocious sequel that threatens to derail the whole saga and Friday The 13th is certainly no exception. For some reason there were multiple attempts to kill off its central bogeyman, the iconic Jason Voorhees. With part four of a, so far, ten part series being laughably subtitled THE FINAL CHAPTER, it seems that Paramount Studios and producer/original director Sean Cunningham could not wait to put the hulking hockey-masked slasher in the ground for good, despite making vast sums of money from an appreciative audience who dutifully turned up for every entry. Was it this seemingly reckless attitude to a perennial money maker that led to the hiring of an inexperienced twenty three year old to take the helm of an ambitious chapter that could finally lay Jason to rest?

Michael Felsher’s entertaining and zippy documentary examines this fact in an affectionate manner. Filmed over the course of a few years, access is granted to all manner of behind the scenes figures as well as the cast who would go on to make what is considered one of the most divisive sequels in horror history. Chief among the contributors here is Adam Marcus, who back in the early nineties somehow managed to land the prize gig of writing and directing part nine in Jason’s long running story. The fact that Adam was only twenty three years old is the subject of much incredulous commentary from his contributors, who seem even more surprised that he did such a good job and turned in such a polished product.

All  manner of behind the scenes info is shared here but unless you are a fan there really is not that much to hold the interest of any newcomers or non-fans. Despite sharing a title with another documentary about one of the hardest film shoots ever recorded this is very much a drama free story. The stories shared by cast and crew are amusing enough but at times it feels like a bog standard making-of that has somehow escaped from the extra features of a DVD boxset, of which there are already plenty.

This is made by fans for the fans. As a result it feels and often looks quite rough around the edges. Rights issues seem to be a factor in the documentary not being able to show any clips of the film it is discussing, aside from the odd shot hastily captured at cinema screenings. Also missing is any critical voice at all from the contributors and a habit of placing the film on a pedestal. Marcus’s claims that the film advanced the cause of safe sex onscreen, in the blood drenched tent massacre scene no less, and also helped further the case for gay representation as well, seems quite far fetched as well as a case of patting himself on the back.

The split reaction for the film is skimmed over, and again no real dissenting voices are on offer. While entertaining enough it plays out as little more than a detailed look at a curio and the film's detractors will find nothing on offer here to change their minds. At best it may fill the gap for new Jason product until the long in the making CRYSTAL LAKE prequel series hits the air.

Iain MacLeod