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Friday the 13th Part VII: Jason Takes Manhattan

October 17, 2025

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • The mythology of Jason Voorhees is considered 'busted' by the hosts, who struggle to reconcile his various resurrections and abilities, such as swimming despite drowning as a child. 
  • The film's title structure, 'Jason Takes Manhattan,' is speculated to be a reference to 'The Muppets Take Manhattan,' a notion the hosts find hard to believe given the film's quality. 
  • The production severely lacked budget, leading to the film being largely shot on a ferry (mistakenly called a cruise ship) in Vancouver, despite being set primarily in New York City. 
  • The reveal of Jason's unmasked face in *Friday the 13th Part VII: Jason Takes Manhattan* significantly lessened his scariness for the hosts, making him look like a "Muppet" and leading to speculation that the filmmakers intended to humanize him for a future plot involving switching spirits. 
  • The hosts noted that many female characters in the film silently accept their fate when attacked, contrasting with the men who attempt to fight back, and they also questioned the questionable judgment of the boat captain's son, Renny's love interest. 
  • The episode's closing segment highlighted positive fan reception for the movie, citing high Amazon ratings and reviews that praised its unique setting (boat/NYC) compared to typical *Friday the 13th* cabin locations, despite the hosts' overall critical view. 

Segments

Opening Impressions and New York Vibe
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(00:01:31)
  • Key Takeaway: The film’s opening sequence heavily features gritty New York imagery, including burning trash cans and a prolonged shot of a rat.
  • Summary: The hosts noted the film’s opening immediately established a gritty New York aesthetic, characterized by dirty alleys and trash cans. One specific detail observed was a shot of a rat lasting approximately 30 seconds. A viewer noticed drug users smoking crack over a long candle placed over a burning trash can.
Origin of ‘Takes Manhattan’ Title
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(00:05:02)
  • Key Takeaway: The title framework ‘Takes Manhattan’ is likely a direct reference to the 1984 film ‘The Muppets Take Manhattan’.
  • Summary: A question was raised regarding the origin of the ‘Takes Manhattan’ title structure, suggesting it could not be referencing ‘The Muppets Take Manhattan’ (1984). Research confirmed that no other major ‘Takes Manhattan’ film preceded this one, implying the connection to The Muppets is likely intentional.
Jason’s Mythology and Rules
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(00:07:46)
  • Key Takeaway: Jason Voorhees’s rules and motivations are unclear, contrasting with the defined lore of characters like Freddy Krueger.
  • Summary: The hosts admitted to not knowing Jason’s specific rules or motivations, noting that in the first film, Jason’s mother was the killer, not Jason himself. Jason did not wear his iconic hockey mask until the third installment of the franchise. Subsequent films established Jason’s resurrection via lightning in Part 6, turning him into an undead zombie.
Ferry Amenities and Budget Issues
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(00:13:10)
  • Key Takeaway: The vessel used for the majority of the film, intended to be a luxury cruise ship, was actually an industrial ferry with incongruous amenities like a sauna and disco.
  • Summary: The ship featured luxurious appointments, including a beautiful hot rock sauna, a gym, and a disco, which seemed out of place for what looked like a commercial industrial boat. The film was originally written to be shot extensively in New York City locations like Madison Square Garden and the Brooklyn Bridge. However, due to a $5 million budget constraint, the script was rewritten to spend more time on the ship, which was ultimately filmed in Vancouver.
Water Safety and Jason’s Drowning
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(00:18:44)
  • Key Takeaway: Jason Voorhees’s inability to swim, which led to his initial death in 1957, is contrasted with his ability to swim after being resurrected by electricity.
  • Summary: The premise of Jason drowning as a six-year-old because he could not swim is a central point of contention regarding parental responsibility. Jason was 11 years old and already disfigured when he drowned in 1957 after being bullied by campers. After being resurrected by electricity in Part 7, Jason is able to swim without issue, raising questions about when he learned this skill.
Character Relationships and Exposition
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(00:17:45)
  • Key Takeaway: The film provided excessive exposition without clear context, leading the audience to incorrectly assume relationships, such as the heroine being the principal’s daughter instead of niece.
  • Summary: The hosts struggled to make sense of character dynamics, initially believing a key female character and an older woman were mother and daughter, only to learn they were teacher and student. The relationship between the captain and his son was also unclear, as was the principal’s exact relationship to the final girl, Rennie. The principal is portrayed as a villain for trying to teach Rennie to swim by throwing her into the water, despite this being a method to ensure water safety.
Kills and Jason’s Movement
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(00:26:15)
  • Key Takeaway: The kills in ‘Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan’ felt uninspired and chore-like, lacking the fun or clear motivation seen in other installments.
  • Summary: The kills were criticized for being blunt and lacking fun, feeling like Jason was simply completing chores rather than enacting revenge. Jason’s movement pace seemed quickened, suggesting teleportation rather than his usual lumbering nature, making him appear everywhere at once. A standout kill was Jason punching a victim’s head off, which the hosts felt should have been a more common occurrence.
Kane Hodder’s Professionalism
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(00:41:42)
  • Key Takeaway: Actor Kane Hodder, who plays Jason, refused to perform a scene where he was supposed to kick a dog off the boat.
  • Summary: Kane Hodder, who plays Jason, demonstrated professionalism by refusing to kick a dog into the water for a scene, leading the dog to remain part of the cast. The presence of the dog with a bandana was cited as an interesting, unique element in an otherwise confusing film. Another moment of intelligence noted was a filmmaker student using his camera lens to refocus and reveal a murder he had shot.
New York Arrival and Final Confrontation
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(00:47:29)
  • Key Takeaway: The characters’ immediate shift to excitement upon reaching New York, despite witnessing mass trauma, was jarring, followed by the principal making the ‘dumbest line’ by suggesting they split up.
  • Summary: The boxer celebrating upon arrival in Times Square, despite the recent deaths, was noted as a tonal shift that ignored the preceding trauma. The principal’s suggestion to split up after Rennie was kidnapped by drug dealers in a New York alley was deemed the dumbest line in the film. The final confrontation involved Rennie drowning Jason in acid, which she threw before the promised Times Square acid wash could occur.
Jason’s Unmasked Face
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(00:56:43)
  • Key Takeaway: Jason’s unmasked face in Friday the 13th Part VII: Jason Takes Manhattan is perceived as non-scary, resembling a Muppet.
  • Summary: The reveal of Jason’s face, which had only one eye hole previously, made him look too cute and humanized, lessening his power for the hosts. This unmasking was potentially intended to set up a future plot where the spirit might switch back to the boy. The hosts found the acid-damaged ending comical and sad rather than frightening.
Jason’s Motivation Lore
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(00:59:18)
  • Key Takeaway: The motivation for Jason Voorhees’ vengeance is less clear than Freddy Krueger’s retribution.
  • Summary: The hosts feel that Freddy Krueger’s actions are clearly driven by vengeance or retribution, but the ‘why’ behind Jason’s and Michael Myers’ killing sprees remains ambiguous. The current lore suggests Jason protects Camp Crystal Lake, which prompted a brief tangent about a couple’s poor decision-making on a boat.
Bad Guy/Good Guy Dynamics
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(01:00:17)
  • Key Takeaway: The film presents a scenario where female characters must fear both the villain and the ‘good guys’ on the boat.
  • Summary: The captain’s son, Renny’s love interest, was considered a ’top-notch kid’ among the male characters, who otherwise made poor decisions, including the cameraman who was filming a ‘shockumentary.’ The opening sequence showed a woman being killed after jumping off the boat, highlighting that nobody in the movie moves quickly to save themselves.
Fan Second Opinions
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(01:03:30)
  • Key Takeaway: Despite critical reception, Friday the 13th Part VII: Jason Takes Manhattan holds a high average rating on Amazon (4.7/5 stars).
  • Summary: One reviewer compared the film to ‘Titanic’ due to the boat setting, while another stated it perfectly encapsulated their mood when visiting New York City. Positive reviews often cited the location change away from cabins as a refreshing element, and one fan enjoyed the B-roll footage of Times Square.
Host Promotions and Wrap-up
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(01:06:13)
  • Key Takeaway: Paul Scheer is starring in the highly-reviewed children’s movie Gabby’s Dollhouse as the villainous stuffed bear, Chumsley.
  • Summary: The hosts announced upcoming live shows in New York and Philadelphia, encouraging listeners to check hdtgm.com for tickets. June promoted her movie Weapons being available on DVD for spooky season viewing. Paul revealed his voice acting role in Gabby’s Dollhouse, which was number two at the box office and is the best-reviewed movie of his career.