Jason Voorhees stalks a group of high school graduates on a ship en route to New York City.
Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan stinks to high heaven of 1989 and that is not a bad thing. The American slasher film directed by Rob Hedden is the eighth instalment in the Friday the 13th film series and captures a time that was grittier, grimier and less polished with gore, rock music, big hair and make-up. That's not to say its' the best in series, its far from it. Hedden unnecessarily slips in more visions and dream sequences with Jensen Daggett's aqua-phobic Rennie Wickham character to keep up with the Nightmare on Elm St series. It's akin to part 7's New Blood shenanigans. Yes there are chronically time setting issues and plenty of inconsistencies but its own failing logic only adds to its wacky charm.
Fred Mollin's amps up the score and puts a twist on Harry Manfredini's theme stings. There's also some great stunt work. Veteran actor Peter Mark Richman features and out shines the other actors as Charles McCulloch. Aside from Richman few leave a big impact. Kane Hodder is excellent as the gooier, rotting Jason Voorhees and makes this effort so watchable, there's plenty of effects and fun to be had in Hodder's portrayal. Director Rob Hedden offers some imaginative direction and visuals, it feels bigger than it should moving from Crystal Lake but doesn't deliver on its New York setting with much of the action taking place on cruise ship with (mis- sold) Maniac Cop-like Manhattan featuring at the end. Jason Takes Manhattan at times is choppy and Hedden's change in setting offers some novelty freshness.
Jason kills using a harpoon gun, a guitar, slams a hot sauna rock into someone, decapitates someone else to name a few but the flow is nowhere as tight as The Final Chapter or Jason Lives. Of course there's some obligatory T & A, courteous of Sharlene Martin's Tamara and notably from Tiffany Paulsen as Suzi. Hodder saves this innings and as well as his little nuances as the masked killer we see Jason memorably in Times Square.
Overall, it's totally mindless with some nice make-up effects but it's the epitome of a cash-in horror sequel.
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