Directed by Michael Felsher and written by Adam Marcus, this documentary commemorates the 30th anniversary of the most controversial entry in the Friday the 13th film series, Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday. It unfolds as an irreverent and gushing love letter to not only the film’s avid fanbase, but its characters, cast and crew, and charts its ascent from maligned ‘dreck’ and ‘confusing mess’ to cult classic slasher. Several years in the making, Hearts of Darkness was funded entirely by a crowdfunding campaign on IndieGoGo and has been an obvious labour of love for all involved in its production.
Jason Goes to Hell was the ninth film in the Friday the 13th series and the first to be produced by New Line, who had purchased the rights to the character of Jason Voorhees from Paramount in the early Nineties. Co-written by Dean Lorey and Jay Huguely, and based on a story by Huguely and Adam Marcus, it is infamous for its daringly eschewed approach to the classic Friday the 13th formula (isolated teens stalked and graphically murdered at spooky summer camp by hulking, hockey-masked hermit, Jason Voorhees). With its introduction of overtly supernatural elements, not least the evil demon revealed to dwell in Jason’s heart (which explains his ability to regenerate and never die) body-jumping from one character to another, The Final Friday more closely resembles the body-possession narratives of the likes of The Hidden (1987) and Fallen (1998) than your average Friday the 13th. Director Adam Marcus also injected humour into the film, reflexively poking fun at the tropes and conventions of the series and of horror in general while deliberately toying with audience expectations – particularly in the opening scene when Jason is blown to smithereens by a SWAT team (!) and with references to the Evil Dead and Nightmare on Elm Street films.
Hearts of Darkness dives into the back story of Jason Goes to Hell, addressing the (still) contentious creative choices, the polarised response from fans of the franchise, and the driving force behind it all, director Marcus, who was only 23 years old when he helmed the production. The documentary charts Marcus’s beginnings in the film industry, and how he came to love horror films (even visiting the set of the original Friday the 13th as a child - he was best friends with director Sean Cunningham's son, Noel). Marcus discusses the stipulations given to him by producer Sean Cunningham (who had returned to the series as producer after being absent since directing the original film in 1980) and the main themes of the film, which include loss of self and identity. In Belfast, Marcus would be referred to as ‘an absolute rocket’, meaning he’s a real livewire. Animated, passionate and opinionated, he clearly holds Jason Goes to Hell close to his heart and talks candidly about his struggles at the time to prove himself to execs, and how his love for the Friday the 13th films fuelled him to try a different approach to his own offering.
It’s always interesting to delve into the production history of the Friday the 13th films. For such a critically scorned (yet highly lucrative) series, those involved in each instalment generally speak favourably of their experiences and enjoy being part of the legacy of the franchise. The cast and crew involved with Jason Goes to Hell is no exception – though there are a few notable absences, including actors Kari Keegan and Erin Gray, and producer Cunningham is very conspicuous by his absence. The roster of interviewees includes, among others, director Adam Marcus, cinematographer Bill Dill, special effects creators Robert Kurtzman and Howard Berger, and actors Kane Hodder, John D. LeMay, Steven Williams, Rusty Schwimmer, Julie Michaels, Richard Gant, Steven Culp, and Brooke Scher. They all remember the production fondly (except Scher, who was a baby at the time), sharing anecdotes of working with the gory effects, rallying behind their young director and remarking at how different the film was to other Friday the 13th titles. Also included is Peter M. Bracke, author of Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of "Friday the 13th", (the definitive guide to the series and a must for fans) who offers additional, delicious insight. Throughout, the tone is immensely light-hearted and jovial, which makes for a striking contrast given Jason Goes to Hell is one of the darkest, most violent entries in the franchise.
Elsewhere, Felsher looks at the reception of Jason Goes to Hell, particularly how it was received by die-hard fans of the series – many of whom are interviewed and are described throughout as a different sort of fan, more loyal, open-minded - and how this polarised response has partially led the film to hold its current cult status. After Hearts of Darkness premiered at Glasgow FrightFest last weekend, a very lively and candid Q & A session ensued, hosted by film critic and FrightFest co-curator Alan Jones, with Adam Marcus, documentary producer Debra Sullivan and Declan Boyle, who created the beautifully animated title sequence, in attendance. Marcus obviously enjoys holding court and adores the reputation his film has with fans of the series. He embraces its controversy and relished regaling the audience with further anecdotes and reminiscences from the set, as well as being unabashedly forthright about the absence of producer Sean Cunningham. He also noted that horror is experiencing a Golden Age at present, with more respectability and accolades than ever (shout-outs to The Substance and to A24), as well as being more diverse, platforming marginalised voices, while continuing to be as profitable as always. He recalled that when he was making Jason Goes to Hell, the genre was regarded by the mainstream as ‘little better than pornography.’ Producer Debra Sullivan clarified just how much of a labour of love the documentary has been for all involved, revealing that they have not profited from it, and they made it out of love for Jason Goes to Hell.
Hearts of Darkness works to establish Jason Goes to Hell as a scrappy interloper, complete with a plucky, renegade director at the helm, who was determined to make a striking, unusual film and, against all odds, offer fans of the series something different and memorable. Entertaining and insightful, Felsher and co. provide an irresistible peek behind the scenes and go all out to celebrate the legacy and continuing cult appeal of Jason Goes to Hell. If you love Jason, this one’s for you.
Hearts of Darkness: The Making of The Final Friday screened at Glasgow FrightFest on Saturday 8th March, 2025.