Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)

Director:

Joseph Zito

Writers:

Barney Cohen (screenplay)
Martin Kitrosser (character creator)

Release Date:

13 April 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

Three Times Before You Have Felt The Terror, Known The Madness, Lived The Horror. But This Is The One You've Been Screaming For.

Plot:

Having been revived at the hospital, Jason returns to Crystal Lake to meet more victims. However, this time has he met his match in Tommy Jarvis ?

Plot Keywords:

Crystal Lake | Murder | Cabin | Morgue | Blood

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Kimberly Beck	...	Trish Jarvis
Erich Anderson	...	Rob Dyer (as E.Erich Anderson)
Corey Feldman	...	Tommy Jarvis
Barbara Howard	...	Sara
Peter Barton	...	Doug
Lawrence Monoson	...	Ted
Joan Freeman	...	Mrs. Jarvis
Crispin Glover	...	Jimmy Mortimer
Clyde Hayes	...	Paul (as Alan Hayes)
Judie Aronson	...	Samantha
Camilla More	...	Tina
Carey More	...	Terri
Bruce Mahler	...	Axel
Lisa Freeman	...	Nurse Morgan
Wayne Grace	...	Officer Jamison

Also Known As:

Friday the 13th Part 4 (USA) (working title)
Friday the 13th: Last Chapter (Philippines: English title)
Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter - Part 4 (UK) (DVD box title)
Friday the Thirteenth: The Final Chapter (USA) (trailer title)

Runtime:

90 min | USA:97 min (uncut version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

West Germany:18 (Banned) (cut) | New Zealand:R16 | Singapore:PG (heavily cut) | Canada:18+ (Quebec) | South Korea:18 | Netherlands:16 | Brazil:14 | Denmark:15 | Spain:18 | Ireland:18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:R | Canada:R | France:-12 | Norway:18 (video premiere) | Sweden:15 (cut) (Banned, 1984) | UK:18 | USA:R (certificate #27378) | Italy:VM14 | Mexico:C | Finland:K-18

Filming Locations:

Lake Minnewashta, Chanhassen, Minnesota, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

After Jason actor Ted White finished his scenes for this film he went right on to film the movie, Starman (1984). While on set for the nights filming a bunch of reporters were waiting to interview Jeff Bridges but he was unavailable, so Director John Carpenter told the reporters to talk to Ted White about the film he just finished. After telling the reporters that he had just finished playing Jason in the new Friday the 13th film, the next day's article was all about him, and that night numerous fans showed up to the set to see the actor that played Jason.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Tommy first looks at the machete on the ground, the handle is on the corner of the rug, but when he picks it up, it is not on the rug at all.

Quotes:

Doug: Sara, I think I'm in heaven.
Sara: I think I'm in love.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Ritorno dalla morte (1991)

Soundtrack:

Love is a Lie

Some genuine suspense and elevated nudity levels

Joseph Zito, the director hauled in to oversee this fourth installment, previously directed the wretched "The Prowler", the wooly but entertaining "Invasion USA", and would go on to direct the shot-in-South Africa "Red Scorpion" (with Dolph Lungren). Since "The Prowler" was such a stinker, it's hard to see how Zito got the job. Maybe he was a master romancer and could talk actresses out of clothes because this episode in the "Friday" franchise has more nubile nudity and panty shots than any previous entry. It is also the goriest since the original with Savini returning as the effects adviser.

Jason is resurrected from gory pieces and returns to his old ways after a stint on a slab. He has a grudge for a particular family and must tangle with resourceful horror fan and pint-sized weirdo Tommy (Corey Feldman).

Just as the nudity and short shorts levels are elevated, so is the suspense. Using "The Prowler" as a guide on not what to do in a slasher, Zito creates some genuine unease and keeps things moving at a fast and bloody clip. The Euro version of this film, which is the one I have, is gorier than the US version and sexier, too.

The next installment proved to be one of the worst; so if you're going to subject yourself to one "Friday" sequel, choose this.