10 Horror Movie Sequels That Deserve A Second Chance

Between 1980 and 1989, there were eight Friday the 13th movies, which – unsurprisingly – resulted in the series quickly running out of steam.

That’s precisely why the maligned ninth chapter – 1993’s Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday – should be celebrated for its willingness to shake things up significantly with its fantastical elements, ambitiously absurd narrative, and crowd-pleasing ending.

Jason Goes to Hell's opening subversion is admirably clever, with viewers being fooled into thinking they’re watching an innocent woman fall into Jason’s path, only to learn that she’s actually an FBI agent luring Jason into a trap. After he’s blown up, his soul possesses various people who do his bloodthirsty bidding as Voorhees searches for a family member to resurrect him.

Sure, that goes against the core of Friday the 13th, but that core had been done to death by this point. So, why not shoot for the stars with a zany – and thoroughly fun – premise instead?

That risky foundation, alongside the film’s inventive kills and whacky lead character Creighton Duke makes Jason Goes to Hell special. Of course, its closing moment of Freddy Krueger pulling Jason’s mask into Hell definitely got horror lovers salivating over the two terrifying titans eventually squaring off as well.