FREDDY vs JASON

With Robert Englund, Ken Kirzinger, Jason Ritter, Monica Keena, Kelly Rowland
Directed by Ronny Yu

For those of us who grew up in the '80s with classic slasher anti-heroes like Freddy Krueger (Nightmare On Elm Street), Jason Voorhees (Friday The 13th) and Michael Myers (Halloween), this film will bring back some great grisly memories that we'd relive in the blood drenched pages of Fangoria Magazine. Fans have been screaming for this match-up for ages. Freddy is the thinking psycho and plots a plan to get back into the physical world by resurrecting Jason with a cunning trick (impersonating his nuts mama, Mrs Voorhees). Jason has to instill fear into the kids of Elm Street who has no recollection of Freddy's reign of terror - their parents drugging them with a chemical to prevent dreams (the world of nightmare's being Freddy's playground). The ultimate villain match-up, maybe, but when their prey is annoying stereotype teens, it's hard to feel sympathy when they get nailed in a variety of creative ways. But, the kids are just fodder - we want the final big bout between the two maniacs to see who is the baddest of them all! Those who grew up in the '90s and got exposed to the likes of Scream (and loved it), will be happy with this hoot, while the rest of us will only enjoy the idea of these two bad-asses sharing some gory screen-time, the final product ultimately quite disappointing. Director Yu apparently claimed not having seen any of the Elm Street or Friday films - perhaps he ought to have head down to his video store for an all weekend session of cramming to see what to retain and where to improve. At least it is produced by Friday The 13th originator Sean S. Cunningham.
DVD includes filmmakers' commentary.

2 / C
- PB

click CD for soundtrack review