On May 13th, 1988 a slasher film was released by Paramount Pictures, directed by the late-great special-effects horror legend himself, John Carl Buechler, and written by Daryl Haney (originally) and modified by Manuel Fidello the film has also helped introduce the definitive and immortal Jason actor to be seen on screen...Kane Hodder! is the only man to reprise the role of Jason for 4 straight films, it also gives way to Jason's new adversary Tina Shepard played by a newly late 1980s Scream Queen Lar Park Lincoln with the film also having Terry Kiser as Doctor Christopher Crews who served as the films secondary antagonist, with more future household names like Kevin Blair the love interest to Tina as Nick and is the 2nd most memorable Final Boy in the franchise for his scenes as an actual secondary combatant to Jason! the film was originally the idea for Jason Vs Freddy but turned into something else a Jason Vs Carrie if you will!
The film is mostly known for its unnecessary/petty censorship from and by the MPAA, making it one of the most tamed in the Friday the 13th franchise, the film helped make both John Buechler and Kane Hodder household names as Kane was already known as a veteran stuntman and now he was made synonymous with the hockey mask!
Kane Hodder would play Jason from Part VII to Jason X and holds to be the most recognizable Jason actor in horror cinema history as he went on to play MANY slashers in his career! Kane Hodder has gone to play Jason Voorhees, the hand of Freddy Krueger, Leatherface, Victor Crowley, Ed Gein, Goatface, and many more!
John Carl Buechler would be known for his iconic special effects and directory skills but it was in 1988 that this man would work on Jason Voorhees in Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (May 13th, 1988), Freddy Krueger in A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (August 19th, 1988), and Michael Myers in Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (October 21st, 1988) and yes, he is the ONLY person to design 3 of the biggest known slashers in modern cinema!
Lar Park Lincoln wouldn't just be fighting against one but two slashers from Jason Voorhees (Kane Hodder) in The New Blood but also be going against the dream demon himself Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund) in the TV Series Freddy's Nightmares! then later would be in 13 Fanboy as well! She is truly meant for being a great female adversary for any slasher!
For years this film has been my first in the franchise, and the first slasher film as I was even growing up! As I told Kane Hodder each time, I met him it was him who motivated me 100% to be a Cosplayer and hopefully a future Jason actor! today May 13th, 2023 marks this films 35th Anniversary! and I couldn't honestly wait to say what I have to say because this film truly changed my view of the Horror Genre forever!
THANK YOU, KANE!
THANK YOU, JOHN!
THANK YOU, LAR!
THANK YOU, KEVIN!
THANK YOU, TERRY!