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Derek Mears: The Greatest Jason of All-Time

Published

7 years ago

April 29, 2017

Blasphemy is a strong word, but for some, it may apply to what I’m about to say.

Frequent iHorror visitors are aware of my love for Friday the 13^th, Kane Hodder in particular, but the more thought I devote to it (and the more I watch the 2009 reboot), the more I believe the finest portrayal of Jason Voorhees belongs to Derek Mears.

Look, I get it, how can a guy come along in the twelfth version of a film and be the best? Well, that’s not all the difficult to answer.

Horror fans are inextricably tied to the past; it’s just the way that it is. Collectively we are hung up on the “glory days” of eighties slasher flicks, and many of us fall prey to the idea that the best the genre has to offer is in the rear view with solid submissions few and far between these days.

That’s not necessarily true, though is it? In the past two years alone we’ve had The Witch, Don’t Breathe, Split and Get Out, with Alien: Covenant and IT on the way.

So let’s drop that fascination with the past and weigh things for what they are.

(Image credit: Superiorpics.com)

We’re not talking Stephan Smith Collins replacing Doug Bradley or Jackie Earle Haley stepping into the shoes of Robert Englund here, because Hodder’s four performances aside, a myriad of men have played the Camp Crystal Lake marauder.

Some have towered above the competition. Richard Brooker offered our first glimpse at Jason as refined killer. Still human, still a bit of bumble to the execution, but what Jason would become began to take shape with Brooker’s offering from Part III. Then Ted White set the standard by which all Jason’s henceforth would be judged in The Final Chapter, and Kane took zombie Jason to another level from The New Blood through Jason X.

Fantastic depictions all, but none quite measure up to Mears.

Why? Authenticity.

Before anyone goes off on that remark, let’s break it down. There was an element of goofiness to many of the Jasons we’ve been treated to over the years, and the legends above are not immune to that criticism. What separated Mears from the field was the realistic way he approached the character.

For the first time we had a completely believable Jason, one whose every action was calculated and embarked upon for reasons that made sense.

(Image credit: m.aceshowbiz.com)

Mears’ Voorhees didn’t simply wander the grounds of the camp slaughtering everyone he came into contact with; it was all laid out in the prologue of the film. Richie (Ben Feldman) commented, “I get it, though. You do what you’ve gotta do to survive.” Later, when Clay (Jared Padalecki) stopped by an old woman’s house to ask if she’d seen his missing sister, she commented that folks didn’t know where to walk around those parts. The people just wanted to be left alone, “and so does he.”

Those statements encapsulate everything you needed to know about the latest iteration of Voorhees. This Jason was not about stalking and slaying, he was about survival and protecting his home. That was certainly the intent of Damian Shannon and Mark Swift in the way that they wrote the character, but Mears took that premise to a whole other level.

Mears himself has stated that he may have done more research than he needed to fulfill the role of Jason, but that homework paid dividends.

The Bakersfield, California native delved into child psychology and the effects of losing a parent at a young age, as well as isolation and survival techniques. We saw Jason portrayed not only as human, but for the first time, as a human being.

We saw how taxing the loss of his mother was, how lost, alone and confused Jason felt. And like anyone else, when he was fucked with, he wanted to take action, to let everyone know that he was not to be trifled with, and grew angry when he couldn’t find his tormentors as they hid beneath canoes.

These weren’t camp counselors who needed to be punished for drinking, getting high or fornicating like rabbits, but rather invaders who were, to Jason’s thinking, threats to his very existence. They were unwanted guests who ventured into his backyard and strolled into his home, looking through his things as though it were a hotel. He acted accordingly – get them before they get you.

(Image credit: wickedhorror.com)

Mear’s Jason put them down swiftly and violently. Make sure they don’t get back up. He had set up trip wires around the camp to tip him off to approaching trouble, and his kills were efficient rather than elaborate. It was about survival, not savoring the murder. He only made victims suffer when it served a purpose, to bait the others into appearing to help their friends. Not as a set up for good times, but because he didn’t know how many of them there were or what weapons they may or may not have had. The only way to reclaim the upper hand was if the battle was fought on his turf.

Everything Mears did as Jason was purposeful. It was strategic, believable and done out of survival.

Now, for those who would call into question Jason wandering to Trent’s (Travis Van Winkle) father’s cabin, you’d do well to remember that he simply followed the trail that the invaders put him on. That they had decided to exit his home stage left made them no less of a threat in Jason’s mind. Get them before they get you.

There was nothing humorous or goofy about the Jason Voorhees of Derek Mears. Yes, he ran and some had distaste for the tunnels beneath the camp that shed light on the long-standing mystery of his apparent ability to warp from one location to the next in what seemed like seconds, but for the first time Jason was not simply a killing machine seeking out blood regardless of circumstance.

No, this Jason was an actual character who thought, stressed and suffered, and whose motivation was not out of blood lust but survival. And when you have a hulking figure wearing a burlap sack or hock and wielding a machete believing that it’s him or them, you have all the ingredients for a horrifying figure.

“Let’s think beyond the legend, put it in real terms.” When Swift, Shannon and Mears teamed to expand on Ginny’s (Amy Steel) contemplation from Part II, they provided a gift to Friday fans everywhere, the most terrifying Jason in franchise history.

(Image credit: m.aceshowbiz.com)

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[Exclusive Photos & Trailer] Magnificent Films’ Vampire Feature ‘Drained’

Published

11 hours ago

May 18, 2024

Ryan T. Cusick

There have been some Vampires in the news this week; I’m not complaining! Sean Cronin and Peter Stylianou’s film Drained is screening at the Cannes Film Festival in France. Drained sounds like it has romantic and supernatural elements, conflict, emotional and psychological depth, and a rich setting. Go ahead and check out the press release below and our exclusive photos & teaser trailer. If you’re into vampires sprinkled with intriguing characters and a blend of genres, this may be your cup of blood!

**Madalina Bellariu lon in ‘Drained’** [iHorror Exclusive]

British filmmakers’ Sean Cronin and Peter Stylianou’s London-based feature vampire film “Drained” has completed post-production and is headed to market at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival (May 14-25, 2024) in Cannes, France.

The supernatural horror film – which was co-directed and produced by Cronin and Peter Stylianou from a screenplay by the latter — was filmed in London, England, and is a Magnificent Films/House 54/Red Guerilla Films co-production. Additional producers include Daniel Patrick Vaughan and Tony Currier. Cronin, as an actor, has portrayed villains in dozens of box office hits, as well as having directed several award-winning titles, including the upcoming feature ‘Bogieville.’ Peter Stylianou is a writer/director with two feature film credits already to his name.

Reads the synopsis for ‘Drained,’ “In the neon-soaked streets of London, Thomas, a jobless post-graduate concept artist, falls in love with Rhea, a mysterious woman who turns out to be a vampire. As their twisted romance unfolds, Thomas’s health deteriorates, and he spirals out of control.

**BTS of Directors Peter Stylianou and Sean Cronin**

Ruaridh Aldington (“Dirty Boy”) and Madalina Bellariu Ion (“Dampyr”) star as the ill-fated couple, with supporting cast which includes Craig Conway (“Dog Soldiers”), Angela Dixon (“Never Let Go”), Andrew Lyle-Pinnock, Natasha Patel (The Witcher: Blood Origin), Andrew Lee Potts (Band of Brothers), Diana Yekinni, Ayvianna Snow, Kenton Lloyd Morgan and Timothy Blore.

Special makeup effects are by Francesca Reidie, with Ellie Campbell handling production design and cinematography by Daniel Patrick Vaughan.

Said Cronin of “Drained”, “Stylistically, the film is a mesmerizing blend of darkness and beauty. With a neon-noir aesthetic reminiscent of a night bus ride through London’s rain-soaked streets, we worked hard to capture the city’s underbelly, with a score and soundtrack that echoes the allure of ‘Drive’ with its synth 80s sound, striking the perfect balance between atmospheric and engaging.”

**Ruaridh Aldington & Madaline Bellariu lon in ‘Drained’** [iHorror Exclusive]

Added Stylianou. “Beneath the surface of this vampiric romance, the film delves deeper, exploring the addictive nature of today’s society. Just as Thomas becomes ensnared in Rhea’s world, modern life presents its own metaphorical vampires, be it social media, substance abuse, or other self-destructive habits. The film paints a striking portrait of why individuals give themselves to these draining forces.”

Added Madalina Bellariu Ion: “Growing up in Transylvania, Romania, I’ve always dreamt of playing a vampire. So, portraying Rhea was a perfect fit for me! The blend of fantasy horror and gritty realism in this film created an unforgettable experience that stayed with me long after filming ended. I hope the audience feels the same way after watching it. It’s a truly unique vampire film.”

[Exclusive] ‘Drained’ Teaser Trailer

About Magnificent Film & Television LTD

Magnificent Films was founded in 2007 by Sean Cronin to create imaginative, cinematic storytelling second to none. With a team of talented editors, writers, and production staff he has forged forward in building a dynamic film company for the 21st century. With working relationships with some of the best and established people in the industry yet keen to support and promote new talent both in front and behind the camera and from all areas of the community, Magnificent believes passionately that the industry should be accessible to all who have an aptitude and talent for storytelling in the medium of film and television.

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Movies

New Body Horror Film ‘The Substance’ Releases Teaser

Published

1 day ago

May 17, 2024

Timothy Rawles

We haven’t seen Demi Moore in a movie since The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent back in 2022. She has been busy though, she had a part in Ryan Murphy’s latest Feud chapter and now she is contemplating altering her body to make it more youthful in the body horror film The Substance.

Apparently, according to the official synopsis, there is a newly developed beauty regimen that “generates another you. A new, younger, more beautiful, more perfect you. And there’s only one rule: You share time. One week for you. One week for the new you. Seven days each. A perfect balance. Easy. Right? If you respect the balance… what could possibly go wrong?”

A still from the film (used in out header) suggests that this new technology requires a lot more than dabbing it under your eyes or administering a sticky mask. The film premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival and was bought by Mubi. No US release date has been announced.

^{The Substance}

The Substance reminds us of another FDA nightmare, The Stuff (1985) in which a commercially marketed whipped treat turns people into zombies. That film is a dark comedy about consumerism and gluttony. While Deadline reports that The Substance is humourous as well as gory, they don’t say how rooted it is in satire.

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News

Airbnb Scareprank Pits Influencers Against ‘The Strangers’

Published

1 day ago

May 17, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The Strangers: Chapter 1 was released this week. This is the first part of Renny Harlin’s trilogy which appears to be a retelling of the 2008 original. Early reviews are passable, but many have said it is not as scary as the original and hope this first installment is just a taste of what is to come.

However, social media influencers got the scare of their lives after they were invited to an Airbnb for a special screening. As they watched the film masked home invaders visited them and their reactions were recorded.

The stunt was put together by actor/executive producer Madelaine Petsch and producer Courtney Solomon. You can watch how it played out below.

Soloman was recently interviewed by iHorror and attempted to clear up some questions about how this trilogy fits into the Strangers universe:

“The one thing that seems to register confusion amongst the OG ‘The Strangers‘ fans is that we remade the movie, or that it’s a prequel. Not really. What we did is we took the DNA of the original setup, and wanted to use that because you really can’t do better for a setup, we’re using that as the jumping-off point. Our characters are different. Our scares and our beats are very different. It’s all setting up a bigger story. You’re following these characters, and you will really get to know the protagonist and antagonist, and as they go through, it’s like they almost know each other.”