Full Disclosure: The “Deluxe Edition” was purchased at my own leisure and not provided by Scream Factory; the review presented is completely honest.
2020 has been filled with a ton of surprises for movie fans, and one of the better ones was the sudden introduction of the Deluxe “Friday the 13th Collection” from Scream Factory. While there have been a ton of re-releases since the initial DVD set in 2004, Scream Factory has never been prone to just re-packaging the same movies in to “new” sets, so it was no shock when the Deluxe Collection for “Friday the 13th” was announced, fans crashed Scream Factory’s site to order the set. Suffice to say, Scream Factory simply hasn’t failed horror buffs and Jason Voorhees fanatics. What began as a means of ripping off “Halloween” in 1979, Sean Cunningham and screenwriter Victor Miller’s summer camp slasher film became an iconic pop culture sensation and long running franchise.
Since legal issues have the series pinned down and preventing further sequels, this exhaustive, in-depth boxed set is a wonderful celebration of the spirit of the Voorhees legacy. I’ve been an unabashed Jason buff since I was a child, and this set completes my collection. With twelve movies, and alternate cuts for three of the included films, it assuredly promises to keep fans wrapped up for hours.
On Disc One, the still galleries contain a total of 183 on-set stills, behind-the-scenes photos, promotional stills, press materials, magazine covers, posters, original lobby cards, and newspaper clippings. There is also the original theatrical trailer, and brand new International Theatrical Trailer, TV Spots, Radio Spots, and UK Radio Spots. Disc two includes the audio commentary with Peter M. Bracke, Victor Miller, Sean Cunningham, Bill Freda, Jay Keuper, Harry Manfredini, Adrienne King, and Betsy Palmer, respectively. It’s a very informative and all-encompassing commentary, covering many aspects of the film’s production. The fourteen minutes Fresh Cuts speaks to most of the same members of the cast and crew, as well as others, telling random stories about the making of the film. The nine minutes The Man Behind the Legacy is a sit-down with Sean S. Cunningham about the making of the film and its legacy. The sixteen minutes Friday the 13th Reunion is a Q&A with the cast and crew, hosted by Michael Felsher, featuring Adrienne King, Betsy Palmer, Victor Miller, Ari Lehman, and Tom Savini. Lost Tales from Camp Blood is an ongoing seven minute series of slasher short films in the vein of Friday the 13th.
The vintage Fangoria magazine BD-ROM attachment features Friday the 13th: A Day for Terror, which is an interview about the first film with Cunningham by Bob Martin, as well as a one-page retrospective on the first film by Peter M. Bracke. Disc Three includes a new audio commentary features members of the main cast in a lively discussion of the film while watching it and answering Bracke’s questions as they go along. The second new audio commentary is also enjoyable as Bracke and Huston ask questions of Amy Steel as they all watch the film together. My Life and Ginny features a separate fourteen minutes interview with Amy Steel by Justin Beahm for The Justin Beahm Radio Hour podcast. The new Slashed Scenes, which were recently discovered on a VHS tape owned by the film’s make-up and effects technician Carl Fullerton, are an absolute treasure as the film was infamously trimmed by the MPAA before its release. Of particular interest is Alice’s death, which is slightly extended, but also Jeff and Sandra’s death scene, which is much more graphic and bloodier. Friday’s Legacy delves into the film’s impact on horror conventions.
Lost Tales from Camp Blood: Part 2 continues with another slasher short film. The still galleries contain a total of 142 on-set stills, behind-the-scenes photos, promotional stills, press materials, posters, lobby cards, and newspaper clippings. There are also new TV Spots, New Radio Spots, the original trailer, and the new Japanese Theatrical Trailer. The Fangoria magazine BD-ROM attachment features the first part of a two-part interview with Carl Fullerton about his work in the second film and beyond by James H. Burns. The audio commentary, carried over from the From Crystal Lake to Manhattan DVD set, is a discussion with the cast about their experiences making the film. In Fresh Cuts, the cast and crew talk about the making of the film and how difficult it was. Lost Tales from Camp Blood: Part 3 continues with another slasher short film. The still galleries contain a total of 145 on-set stills, behind-the-scenes photos, press materials, posters, lobby cards, memorabilia, and newspaper clippings. The Fangoria magazine BD-ROM attachment features an interview with Steve Miner about the third film by Bob Martin, and an interview with Doug White about his make-up effects work in the third film by David Everitt.
Disc Five includes the first audio commentary with Joseph Zito, writer Barney Cohen, and editor Joel Goodman. The second audio commentary with filmmakers Adam Green and Joe Lynch is a very high energy fan commentary. Lost Tales from Camp Blood: Part 4 continues with another slasher short film. The Slashed Scenes are a series of silent outtakes from the film with an introduction and audio commentary by Joseph Zito. Jason’s Unlucky Day is a great making-of piece that speaks to the cast and crew about the film. The Lost Ending features audio commentary by Joseph Zito and Kimberly Beck over the dream sequence ending that was ultimately cut from the final film. The Crystal Lake Massacres Revisited: Part I is a mockumentary series that explores the history of Crystal Lake and its citizens as if it were a real town and the events of the films actually took place (and feature some familiar horror community faces throughout). Jimmy’s Dead Dance Moves features outtakes from Crispin Glover’s infamous dance scene with comments from Joseph Zito.
The still galleries contain a total of 145 on-set stills, behind-the-scenes photos, press materials, posters, lobby cards, memorabilia, and newspaper clippings. The Fangoria magazine BD-ROM attachment features the article The Six Faces of Jason: Part Two by Marc Shapiro. Disc Six includes a new audio commentary, featuring three of the women from the main cast, and is mostly a Q&A session with Peter M. Bracke as they all watch the film together remotely. The second audio commentary is a patched-in by phone appearance by producer and fan Michael Felsher. The third audio commentary with Adam Green and Joe Lynch is another fan commentary, this time taken from a podcast recorded in 2018. Lost Tales from Camp Blood: Part 5 continues with another slasher short film. The Crystal Lake Massacres Revisited: Part II continues the mockumentary series from the previous disc.
New Beginnings is a brief but excellent featurette about the genesis and making of the film with some of the main cast and crew. The still galleries contain a total of 98 on-set stills, behind-the-scenes photos, press materials, posters, lobby cards, memorabilia, and newspaper clippings. The Fangoria magazine BD-ROM attachment features the article The Six Faces of Jason: Part One by Marc Shapiro. Disc Seven includes an audio commentary features most of the main cast, including the elusive Kerry Noonan. The second is a solo audio commentary with Tom McLoughlin. The third audio commentary features Tom McLoughlin, Bruce Green, and Vincent Guastaferro, the fourth and final audio commentary with Adam Green and Joe Lynch is another fan commentary, but this time with Tom McLoughlin taking part as well. Lost Tales from Camp Blood: Part 6 is the last of the slasher short films, while The Crystal Lake Massacres Revisited: Part III is the last of the mockumentary series. Jason Lives is an excellent, brief, making-of that speaks to members of the cast and crew.
Meeting Mr. Voorhees is a storyboard recreation of the film’s alternate ending, with an introduction by Tom McLoughlin. The still gallery contains a total of 72 on-set stills, behind-the-scenes photos, press materials, posters, lobby cards, and script pages. The Fangoria magazine BD-ROM attachment features the article Jason Lives: Friday the 13th Part VI by Marc Shapiro. Disc Eight includes two audio commentaries, one with John Carl Buechler and Kane Hodder (also finally carried over from the From Crystal Lake to Manhattan DVD set) and another with Hodder and Beuchler, but joined by Lar Park Lincoln. Jason’s Destroyer talks to some of the cast and crew about many of the cuts made by the MPAA, as well as a couple of deleted and alternate scenes. Mind Over Matter speaks to psychic experts about telekinesis and other psychic phenomena. Makeover by Maddy features Elizabeth Kaitan and Diana Barrows having modern-day makeovers. The still galleries contain a total of 90 on-set stills, behind-the-scenes photos, press materials, posters, and lobby cards.
The Fangoria magazine BD-ROM attachment features the article Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood – Jason Gets Metaphysical by Chas Balun. Disc Nine includes two audio commentaries, one with a solo track by Rob Hedden who goes over the making of the film. The second features Jensen Daggett and Scott Reeves with Kane Hodder once again phoning in. New York Has a New Problem speaks to most of the main cast and crew about the making of the film. The still galleries contain a total of 105 on-set stills, promotional photos, behind-the-scenes photos, press materials, posters, lobby cards, and newspaper clippings. Disc Ten includes still galleries with a total of 154 on-set stills, promotional photos, behind-the-scenes photos, posters, lobby cards, and newspaper clippings. Friday the 13th Props takes a brief look at a coffee table book dedicated to various props from the series. Disc Eleven includes a new audio commentary with Adam Marcus and Peter M. Bracke.
The original audio commentary with Marcus and Dean Lorey is included. In The Gates of Hell, Adam Marcus talks about his background, how he got involved with the project, and many of the other topics that he also brings up in the commentaries. In Jason vs. Terminator, Marcus talks about growing up with the Cunninghams and learning about filmmaking from Sean S. Cunningham. In Uber-Jason, Kane Hodder speaks about playing Jason and everything outside of the films that comes with it. Disc Twelve includes a new audio commentary with Peter M. Bracke and Todd Farmer. The vintage audio commentary with Jim Isaac, Todd Farmer, and Noel Cunningham is a rapid-fire commentary. Outta Space speaks to Noel Cunningham, Todd Farmer, Sean S. Cunningham, and Kane Hodder about the making of the film from beginning to end. In Space No One Can Hear You Scream interviews Todd Farmer about his career and his eventual involvement with the series. In Kristi Is a Headbanger, Kristi Angus talks about her exposure to the series and how she got involved with it. Jason Rebooted interviews Sean S. Cunningham who talks about how New Line bought the film rights to Friday the 13th from Paramount and the films that they made afterwards.
The Many Lives of Jason Voorhees is a vintage documentary that talks about the history of the franchise. By Any Means Necessary is a vintage making-of that was produced for the film’s original DVD release. Club Reel is a semi-music video that highlights moments from the film. The Vintage Interviews feature the majority of the main cast and some crew, while the Behind-the-Scenes Footage offers a fly-on-the-wall look at the making of the film in progress. The Electronic Press Kit features B-Roll footage and selected interview soundbites. The still galleries contain a total of 163 on-set stills, promotional photos, behind-the-scenes photos, posters, lobby cards, and a press kit. Disc Thirteen includes The audio commentary with Yu, Englund, and Ken Kirzinger. Genesis: Development Hell discusses how the film came into being. Starz On the Set (listed as On Location: Springwood Revisited in the menu) is a TV special with tongue-in-cheek elements, including an interview with both Freddy and Jason. On Location: Cabin Fever is a brief fly-on-the-wall look at one of the scenes being filmed.
Art Direction talks about the film’s look. Stunts discusses the film’s fire stunt, van crash, and fighting moments at the end of the film. Make-Up Effects covers many of the film’s prosthetic and make-up jobs. Visual Effects Tour takes us through twelve of the film’s visual effects sequences. My Summer Vacation highlights the film’s premiere at a summer camp in 2003 by Alamo Drafthouse. There are also twenty-one deleted and alternate scenes with optional commentary by Ronny Yu and Douglas Curtis. Last but not least is another tongue-in-cheek bit of business in which Freddy and Jason have a boxing-style, pre-fight press conference at Bally’s Casino, Las Vegas in 2003. Disc Fourteen includes Behind the Story offers a picture-in-picture experience combined with exclusive behind-the-scenes footage. The Rebirth of Jason Voorhees chronicles how the film came into being. Hacking Back/Slashing Forward features the cast talking about the history of the series. The 7 Best Kills shows the making of each scene, which includes interviews with the cast and crew.
Disc Fifteen includes more Bonus Material: Crystal Lake Confidential interviews Sean S. Cunningham about his career. Machete Memories also speaks to Steve Miner about his career, which is the first time that he has been included on any home video release of these films. Chicago to Connecticut talks to Harry Manfredini about his upbringing and how he became a composer. The Magic Keyboard traces Harry Manfredini’s journey as composer for the series film by film. In Blood Types, Harry Crosby—who also has never spoken about the franchise—talks about his involvement with the first film. In Once Speared, Twice Shy, Bill Randolph goes over his early career and eventually working on the film. In Back to Camp, Michael Gingold hosts a tour of filming locations from the first two films. It Came from the Vaults talks about how the master tapes for Harry Manfredini’s scores were found and eventually released on the La-La Land Records label. The Friday the 13th Chronicles, Secrets Galore Behind the Gore, and Crystal Lake Victims Tell All! are vintage featurettes from the DVD era that interview the cast and crew about the making of the films.
Tales from the Cutting Room Floor features a series of deleted, extended, and alternate scenes from Friday the 13th, Part IV, Part VI, and Part VII, the latter featuring commentary by John Carl Buechler and Kane Hodder. Friday Artifacts and Collectibles takes a look at various props, toys, and other ephemera from the series with the cast, crew, and fans. Legacy of the Mask discusses Jason’s look. Slasher Films briefly discusses the horror genre. Jason Forever features a Q&A held at a 2004 Fangoria Convention with Peter M. Bracke, Ari Lehman, Warrington Gillette, C.J. Graham, and Kane Hodder. Finding Friday: On Location of the Friday the 13th Films is an audio guide by Chris Carbaugh and Stacy Lee about the locations of the first three films utilizing photos from the Friday the 13th website. There are also a couple of Easter eggs to discover. When The Friday the 13th Chronicles: Friday the 13th Part III is highlighted, press right to reveal a bloody egg, which will take you to three vintage
TNT TV ads, one for a Saturday Nitro marathon of Friday films, and the other two for the infamous Joe Bob Briggs Monstervision marathon of Friday films (a shame that the segments for that couldn’t be included somehow). The other Easter egg can be found by highlighting the Friday the 13th Playing Card Gallery. Pressing left will reveal another bloody egg which contains a vintage HBO TV ad for Friday the 13th Part II. Lastly, Alice Lives features an interview with Alice Cooper and director Jeffrey Abelson about the music from Part VI and the accompanying music video. Legends Never Die speaks to Tom McLoughlin about the famous Hollywood cemetery where he wrote Part VI, as well as his views on what happens after death. Life, Death, and Jason Voorhees interviews Tom McLoughlin at the same cemetery, speaking mostly on the same subjects. The Road to Crystal Lake interviews Sean S. Cunningham and he discusses the longevity of the franchise. In Faceless Evil, Cunningham discusses the character of Jason. Ja/son Was Here shows what the filming locations of films 3 through 6 look like today.
Scream Queens is a 2014 documentary that interviews a number of women within the horror genre about the contradictory nature of the genre when it comes to women. Slice and Dice is a 2013 documentary about the slasher genre featuring many people who work within it. The Trailer Reel presents 12 trailers from the Friday the 13th series all in a row. The Freddy vs. Jason Storyboards galleries contain a total of 437 images while the Production galleries contain a total of 120 images. The Friday the 13th (2009) Electronic Press Kit features interviews with the cast and crew, as well as B-Roll footage. The Friday the 13th Series Newspaper Ad Still Gallery contains 57 newspaper clippings from the theatrical releases of all 12 films. This disc also contains an Easter egg. When the Friday the 13th Series Newspaper Ad Still Gallery is highlighted, press right to reveal a bloody egg, which contains two vintage Cinemax TV ads for Friday the 13th Part II and Friday the 13th Part III.
Also included is a 56-page booklet with photos and an overview of the films by Michael Gingold.