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Jason Mask Controversy: Will He Have One? Filmmakers Clash

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The fight for the rights to the Friday the 13th franchise has been resolved, but only litigiously. There’s still the matter of the hockey mask and believe it or not that iconic prop could halt any future movies starring Jason Voorhees as we know him.

In what seems to be a bitter personal battle between Victor Miller and Sean S. Cunningham — Miller wrote the original 1980 script while Cunningham produced and directed the film adaptation — Jason Voorhees may drown in technicalities rather than Camp Crystal Lake.

The trouble started brewing when Miller wanted the rights to his script once the copyright expired a few years back. A judge awarded Miller those rights. But there is a snag, and it all started with Friday the 13th Part III.

Remember the portly young man named Shelly (Larry Zerner) in that movie? He was a prankster with serious self-esteem issues. In his death scene, he’s wearing a hockey mask which Jason appropriates and thus the icon was born.

Larry Zerner as Shelly in Friday the 13th Part III

Zerner has since become an entertainment lawyer and it’s no surprise the Miller vs. Cunningham case is one he follows closely.

“I love that my two passions intersect, copyright law and ‘Friday the 13th’,” Zerner told CNN. “People love Jason; they want to see more.”

The good news is they might. The bad news is it might not be exactly what people are expecting.

Remember, Miller won the rights to the original script, in which (spoiler alert) Jason’s mom (Betsy Palmer) is the killer.

Enter some complicated copyright laws from 1976 and it was concluded that Miller can move forward with his characters.

“Now we can license a remake, prequel or even sequel motion pictures… provided such films do not use any additional copyrightable elements” said Marc Toberoff, a copyright attorney representing Miller.

Not so fast. Miller only owns the intellectual properties of the first film, but not the title. Nor does he own rights to the original sequels, their characters (including the adult Jason), or anything past part one. Cunningham got custody of the hockey mask too.

“Miller now owns the copyright to his screenplay, including sequel rights, but Jason can’t be portrayed as any older than in the first movie? Makes no sense,” Toberoff said. “Jason was very much a presence in Miller’s film. In fact, Mrs. Voorhees channeled Jason. And, of course, the first was all teed up for sequels.”

To sum it up, Miller can’t make a movie beyond his original 1980 characters, and if he does, he can only make Jason 11-years-old. But Cunningham can’t use Jason’s name without Miller’s permission.

What’s more, Cunningham owns the foreign rights to Friday the 13th so even if Miller decides to make a movie, it can only be distributed in the U.S.

Terror in the Third Dimension: How 'Friday the 13th Part III' Helped Pioneer the Return of 3D - Bloody Disgusting

Friday the 13th Part III

It’s rare a studio exec would green-light such a hot movie commodity without having worldwide rights.

Thanks to an agreement made in 1979 between Miller and Cunningham, Miller might be privy to some worldwide rights, but that stake is undetermined.

“We can license television series, exploring Crystal Lake and how Jason became who he is – think ‘Twin Peaks’ or ‘Bates Motel,’” Toberoff told CNN.

According to Toberoff, Cunningham made millions from “Friday the 13,” but Miller, “got bupkis.”

At this point, one might question how the Marcus Nispel 2009 remake got made with Cunningham and Miller and at each other’s throats. It appears that the two had some sort of armistice at the time because Miller filed the copyright lawsuit in 2016. But there was still some drama over Nispel’s movie. The film was labeled as a “sequel” at the beginning which meant Miller would get less money since it wasn’t an outright remake of his original idea. However, Miller said the script he read at the time resembled a remake, not a sequel. The film did include Miller’s concept, but it was reduced to a small cold open. He took legal action and lost. The film went on and, surprisingly, the marketing department pushed it as a remake anyway.

The Friday The 13th Remake Came Out 12 Years Ago Today - We Got This Covered

Friday the 13th (2009)

With the requel and reboot trend currently hitting Hollywood, the potential for a Jason movie being a cash cow is not in doubt. The question is, when will it happen?

“I think for sure it will come back,” Cunningham said. “But I can’t tell you it will come back this year or next. Will Jason come back in the theaters? Right now, it is 50-50.”

The bottom line is, would fans rather see Jason as an 11-year-old disfigured child or the hockey mask-wearing behemoth we are all used to? Let us know what you think in the comments.

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The Top-Searched Free Horror/Action Movies on Tubi This Week

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The free streaming service Tubi is a great place to scroll when you’re unsure what to watch. They are not sponsored or affiliated with iHorror. Still, we really appreciate their library because it’s so robust and has many obscure horror movies so rare you can’t find them anywhere in the wild except, if you’re lucky, in a moist cardboard box at a yard sale. Other than Tubi, where else are you going to find Nightwish (1990), Spookies (1986), or The Power (1984)?

We take a look at the most searched horror titles on the platform this week, hopefully, to save you some time in your endeavor to find something free to watch on Tubi.

Interestingly at the top of the list is one of the most polarizing sequels ever made, the female-led Ghostbusters reboot from 2016. Perhaps viewers have seen the latest sequel Frozen Empire and are curious about this franchise anomaly. They will be happy to know it’s not as bad as some think and is genuinely funny in spots.

So take a look at the list below and tell us if you are interested in any of them this weekend.

1. Ghostbusters (2016)

Ghostbusters (2016)

An otherworldly invasion of New York City assembles a pair of proton-packed paranormal enthusiasts, a nuclear engineer and a subway worker for battle.An otherworldly invasion of New York City assembles a pair of proton-packed paranormal enthusiasts, a nuclear engineer and a subway worker for battle.

2. Rampage

When a group of animals becomes vicious after a genetic experiment goes awry, a primatologist must find an antidote to avert a global catastrophe.

3. The Conjuring The Devil Made Me Do It

Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren uncover an occult conspiracy as they help a defendant argue that a demon forced him to commit murder.

4. Terrifier 2

After being resurrected by a sinister entity, Art the Clown returns to Miles County, where his next victims, a teenage girl and her brother, await.

5. Don’t Breathe

A group of teens breaks into a blind man’s home, thinking they’ll get away with the perfect crime but get more than they bargained for once inside.

6. The Conjuring 2

In one of their most terrifying paranormal investigations, Lorraine and Ed Warren help a single mother of four in a house plagued by sinister spirits.

7. Child’s Play (1988)

A dying serial killer uses voodoo to transfer his soul into a Chucky doll which winds up in the hands of a boy who may be the doll’s next victim.

8. Jeepers Creepers 2

When their bus breaks down on a deserted road, a team of high school athletes discovers an opponent they cannot defeat and may not survive.

9. Jeepers Creepers

After making a horrific discovery in the basement of an old church, a pair of siblings find themselves the chosen prey of an indestructible force.

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Morticia & Wednesday Addams Join Monster High Skullector Series

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Believe it or not, Mattel’s Monster High doll brand has an immense following with both young and not-so-young collectors. 

In that same vein, the fan base for The Addams Family is also very large. Now, the two are collaborating to create a line of collectible dolls that celebrate both worlds and what they have created is a combination of fashion dolls and goth fantasy. Forget Barbie, these ladies know who they are.

The dolls are based on Morticia and Wednesday Addams from the 2019 Addams Family animated movie. 

As with any niche collectibles these aren’t cheap they bring with them a $90 price tag, but it’s an investment as a lot of these toys become more valuable over time. 

“There goes the neighborhood. Meet the Addams Family’s ghoulishly glamorous mother-daughter duo with a Monster High twist. Inspired by the animated movie and clad in spiderweb lace and skull prints, the Morticia and Wednesday Addams Skullector doll two-pack makes for a gift that’s so macabre, it’s downright pathological.”

If you want to pre-purchase this set check out The Monster High website.

Wednesday Addams Skullector doll
Wednesday Addams Skullector doll
Footwear for Wednesday Addams Skullector doll
Morticia Addams Skullector doll
Morticia Addams doll shoes
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1994’s ‘The Crow’ Coming Back to Theaters for A New Special Engagement

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The Crow

Cinemark recently announced that they will be bringing The Crow back from the dead once again. This announcement comes just in time for the film’s 30th anniversary. Cinemark will be playing The Crow in select theaters on May 29th and 30th.

For those unaware, The Crow is a fantastic film based on the gritty graphic novel by James O’Barr. Widely considered one of the best films of the 90s, The Crow’s lifespan was cut short when Brandon Lee died of an accidental on set shooting.

The official synapsis of the film is as follows. “The modern-gothic original that entranced audiences and critics alike, The Crow tells the tale of a young musician brutally murdered alongside his beloved fiancée, only to be risen from the grave by a mysterious crow. Seeking revenge, he battles a criminal underground that must answer for its crimes. Adapted from the comic book saga of the same name, this action-packed thriller from director Alex Proyas (Dark City) features hypnotic style, dazzling visuals, and a soulful performance by the late Brandon Lee.”

The Crow

The timing of this release couldn’t be better. As a new generation of fans eagerly awaits the release of The Crow remake, they can now see the classic film in all of its glory. As much as we love Bill Skarsgard (IT), there is something timeless in Brandon Lee’s performance in the film.

This theatrical release is part of the Scream Greats series. This is a collaboration between Paramount Scares and Fangoria to bring audiences some of the best classic horror films. So far, they are doing a fantastic job.

That’s all the information we have at this time. Make sure to check back here for more news and updates.

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