Freddy vs. Jason
Review by Clint Morris
Click
here for an interview with the
movie's director, Ronnie Yu
 Near 10 years since it was
initially announced, the horror genre's definitive celebrity deathmatch
- Freddy Krueger of A Nightmare on Elm Street
versus Jason Voorhees of Friday the 13th - arrives
on screens.
And the good news? Horror buffs won't be
sinking dissatisfaction tears into their cup of Joe after viewing. In
fact, they'll be thanking the Almighty One for getting it right.
"They tried to forget their fear. Lock me
away like a dirty secret," says razor-nailed Freddy Krueger, opening
the film. "But I found someone. Someone that will make them remember".
Freddy Krueger [the irreplaceable Robert
Englund] is stuck in hell. Quite simply, everyone's forgotten about
him. No longer are the kids of Elm St, Springwood, worried about going
to sleep just in case the "Bastard son of a thousand maniacs" comes to
kill them in their dreams. It just isn't an option.
And the few that Freddy might still want,
have all been locked away in a mental institution - drugged with
anti-dreaming pills. Seems Freddy is all but a distant memory...
Until the man himself hatches a grand plan
that'll ignite a reshow.
Freddy resurrects Jason Voorhees [Ken
Kirzinger stepping in for the apparently replaceable Kane Hodder], the
madman from Camp Crystal Lake, pointing him in the direction of Elm
Street. Suddenly the kids are scared again, and their fear gives Freddy
a window of opportunity to make a comeback.
Not surprisingly, Jason's having a blast
chopping up the neighbourhood kids, and isn't interested in stepping
aside for Freddy now that he's back - so the two titans of terror stare
each other in the eye, wilfully signalling the first round in a
knockout showdown.
It wouldn't have been an easy task teaming
two horror icons and making the movie flow but skilled horror director
Ronny Yu [Bride of Chucky], a team of endowed SFX
workers, a handful of writers and a resolute producer have made sure
this long-planned teaming isn't half-cocked.
Some liberties have been taken in changing
some of both characters back stories, as well as their looks [Krueger
looks slightly discoloured - possibly eviler, whilst Jason Vorrhees
suddenly sprouts hair, something he's never had before], but for the
most part, fans of both series and characters won't be whining. This is
as good as it could probably get and any tweak is compensated for with
the knockout thrill factor.
 Englund's Krueger has the
film's best moments [and best lines], but Kirzinger, the towering new
actor behind Jason's hockey-mask, also plays his part able-bodied.
This is probably to many fan's surprise I
imagine, considering many Friday fans complained
when Kane Hodder, the man usually playing Jason, wasn't asked back.
If it's busty, dim and young kids you desire
for dinner - then Monica Keena [ex-"Dawson's Creek"], singer Kelly
Rowland and Katharine Isabelle are more than appetizing, though the
film does start out rather so-so.
But once both Freddy and Jason come face to
face and ultimately start beating each other up, the film kicks into
overdrive and the fun begins.
What follows is an onslaught of fierce
slayings, bashings, and ass-whipping in general. All of a sudden the
calamitous dialogue [what do you expect - it ain't 'Hamlet']
takes a back seat to one heck of a horror film.
Slick, polished and about the closest thing
we've seen to the original Freddy and Jason movies in some time -
especially in terms of look, feel and pacing. Yep, and that includes
the booby shots, rumpy-pumpy and spew-inducing carry out.
Something the last few Elm St
[not including the brilliant Wes Craven's New Nightmare]
and Friday films were sorely missing was a great
script - and mercifully there's a corker here. Hammy, yeah, but the way
our two leads team, and the reason they're back has been handled
delicately and loyally.
Hold on for the most fantastical time you'll
have at the movies this year... It just doesn't get any more
entertaining or exhilarating.
4 out of 5
Freddy vs. Jason
Australian release: Thursday October 23th
Cast: Robert Englund, Ken Kirzinger, Monica Keena, Jason Ritter, Kelly
Rowland, Katharine Isabelle .
Director: Ronny Yu.
Website: Click Here
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