Friday the 13th [Film Series]

Since the original Friday the 13th film in 1980, the series has seen its anti-hero, Jason Voorhees, machete his way through Camp Crystal Lake, Manhattan, outer space, Hell, and even Elm Street, the cinematic home of the only other horror icon to rival Jason's popularity in the '80s, Freddy Krueger. Donning his trademark hockey mask, the silent and menacing killer has hacked up dozens of unsuspecting and scantily clad teenagers over the course of more than ten movies. And just like Jason, the franchise seems unable to be killed off, even despite the fourth film being called Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter and the ninth film assuming the title Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday. Over the years, an array of hulking actors have stepped into the role, from Ari Lehman to Ken Kirzinger, but the fan favorite is probably stuntman Kane Hodder. The only person to play the role more than once, Hodder starred as Jason in four consecutive films, from 1988's Friday the 13th, Part VII: The New Blood through 2002's Jason X. After a mostly steady stream of sequels throughout the '80s, Jason Goes to Hell appeared after a four-year break, and the lackluster box-office performance of Friday the 13th, Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan lead many to think it was perhaps the actual close of the series. But nearly a decade later, with Jason X, it was resurrected and once again shows no signs of closing the book on Jason Voorhees. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi