1428 Elm
Fansided

Ranking every Friday the 13th film from worst to best

By Wesley Lara

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 09: Actor Derek Mears arrives at the premiere of Warner Bros.' "Friday the 13th" at the Chinese Theater on February 9, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 09: Actor Derek Mears arrives at the premiere of Warner Bros.' "Friday the 13th" at the Chinese Theater on February 9, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
13 of 13
Next

1. Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)

Directed by Joseph Zito

I don’t know how clichéd it might be to consider The Final Chapter the best Friday the 13th franchise, but for me, it’s the easiest one to connect with. The story might be simple on the surface, with Jason continuing his rampage on another group of teenagers, but the key to this film’s success and standing as among the best of the Friday films lies in the surprisingly strong character work.

The Final Chapter consists of a group of characters who are actually performed admirably and contain some strong dynamics that render them easier to connect with than the characters from other films. The group’s camaraderie paints a vivid picture of well-meaning and genuinely close friends having a great time together, complete with endearing moments of awkwardness and quirkiness that becomes grim and pretty depressing to see get wiped away by Jason.

His appearance here genuinely feels like an intrusion that is ruining the lives of a bunch of kids just trying to have fun. Sure, it’s expected, but when you have a young Crispin Glover performing a frantic dance to appease the ladies, you can’t help but feel horrible when the inevitable happens.

The Final Chapter also introduces the best protagonist of the entire series: Tommy Jarvis. Played to perfection by Corey Feldman, Jarvis is the appropriate yin to Jason’s blood-soaked yang. Both are awkward kids that don’t have any friends, except Jarvis harnesses his energy into horror memorabilia instead of murder. Their similarities lead to a compelling final confrontation that ranks as one of the few moments where Jason was genuinely outsmarted, and by a kid of all people.

Ted White’s fantastic performance as Jason brought a level of finality to the franchise with intense physicality only matched by Kane Hodder and a great dynamic with Corey Feldman. Coupled with creative and horrifying kills, along with genuine family drama at the heart of it all, The Final Chapter would’ve served as the perfect end to the franchise.

Next. American Horror Story 1984 posters: Inspired by the classics. dark

Obviously that didn’t happen, but the ingredients were there for a gripping Friday film that showcased the potential of the series from a serious standpoint. It’s funny, sad, scary, and intense, but most of all, it is the embodiment of what the Friday series is all about.

What’s your favorite Friday the 13th film? Sound off below!