Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993)

Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday is a 1993 American supernatural slasher film directed by Adam Marcus, written by Jay Huguely and Dean Lorey, and produced by Sean S. Cunningham. It is the ninth installment of the Friday the 13th franchise, and stars John D. LeMay, Kari Keegan, Steven Williams, and Kane Hodder as Jason Voorhees; the latter reprising his role from the previous two films.

It is the first film in the series to be distributed by New Line Cinema. Set after the events of Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan, the film follows Jason’s spirit as it possesses various people to continue his killings after his death. In order to resurrect himself, Jason must find and possess a member of his bloodline, but he can also be permanently killed by one of his surviving relatives using a magical dagger.

The film was conceived by co-writer and director Marcus under Cunningham, producer and director of the first film. After the low box-office returns of Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan, Paramount Pictures sold the character rights of Jason Voorhees to New Line. Jason Goes to Hell was theatrically released on August 13, 1993, and grossed $15.9 million at the box office on a budget of $3 million, becoming the second-worst performing film in the series, after Jason Takes Manhattan. The film was panned by critics and fans alike, criticizing its supernatural elements and elimination of Jason Voorhees as a physical character.

The next installment in the series, Jason X, was released in 2001, and a narrative sequel/crossover, Freddy vs. Jason, was released in 2003.