recommended

Crappy film

Watch something else. There are very few redeeming qualities to this film.

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

This film was incredible. Unlike the other films of the series, this impressive piece of work relied mostly on suspense and even some psychological horror rather than a huge kill count, and it succeeds because it actually is pretty scary. But with that said, there are some graphic wounds and there are two deaths. A man gets a hatchet to the chest, he is seen stumbling into the middle of a road and bleeds to death. This is pretty graphic. A girl is pulled put of an ambulance and is bashed against the side of the vehicle off scree, but her corpses is shown from a distance. The ambulance driver is pulled out of the car and is attacked by Jason (offscreen) but he survives. The main character is attacked constantly by Jason. He is stabbed, beaten, even thrown out a second story "door that goes nowhere." They explain it in the movie. Jason even torments him psychologically, appearing in his dreams, including a pretty well made special effect of Jason crushing his head. The hero stabs Jason in the neck with an axe, blue blood leaks from his mask and wound, but it has no real effect on him. I really liked this movie, it was well made and very suspenseful. The only real problem I had was how I felt that the ending was rushed. I didn't understand how Jason didn't kill the ambulance driver, but then again, it could have been that Jason was distracted by his friend trying to help him, but to me it felt like that random biker Jason butchered in Part 3 only for him to somehow be alive at the end without a scratch. But I did overall enjoy this fan film. It was well made, had some pretty cool special effects, and overall a great story line. I did enjoy the modern twists to this film series. It is actually better than most Friday films.

I'm a fan of the "Friday the 13th" franchise, this film just like Jason I honestly didn't see coming but once it came it was one of the best surprises. Fan films have always been hit or miss with me, but this film is thankfully one of those hits.The way the film is handled and directed feels like it could be a lost sequel to the franchise. The production value is on par, I really love the use of the wooded location. Music is also great, they use some of the old tracks we're familiar with in the movies, and there are a few new tracks to keep things fresh. The blood effects are really solid, the scene where the protagonist is closing a wound hurt me watching almost similar to the scene in "First Blood".Cinemagography is great I really like how the film mixes both the P.O.V. and regular cinematography making it seem not too much like one kinda film. The use of the P.O.V. is excellent not just it making the film have a bit of a documentary sense, giving the film a slight realism as if Camp Crystal Lake and Jason could exist but also a participatory factor because in a way the P.O.V. makes us hiker no. 2 as we are with the protagonist the entire way.However what really powers this film is in it's suspense and this film is just great in it, it's the simple cat and mouse premise and that was the right way to go because that's part of what the franchise and slasher films are by their nature. I really like how throughout the film you are just in constant suspense and extremely tense from beginning to end.I really like the fact that Jason throughout the film from the first to a bit of the second half we see flashes and glimpses, letting us know he's around and watching. Despite the fact that we don't see Jason in most scenes were are on constant red alert knowing and thinking he just might pop up again any time any where. Like in one scene where the protagonist is in a room of Crystal Lake there are two windows behind him, I couldn't help but think, ah oh Jason is going to show up on one of them.Once we see Jason himself it doesn't disappoint. The person playing Jason is the director himself and he is just excellent, if they ever think of making a new sequel or a better revival film to "Friday the 13th" I wouldn't mind him playing the role. It's pretty much a physical performance but he really gets it down to a tee, just the walk, movement of his head, behavior it's all there. Though what really gets me is sound of his footsteps which are a loud stomping, it just gave me a chill because it just conveys menace and just the sound of a monster closing in for the kill.However the other villain of the film is "Camp Crystal Lake" itself, there is just a disturbing and oppressive atmosphere thought-out the abandoned camp, you already know the protagonist unknowingly has walked right into Jason's den. Really like some of the shots of the place, from the grit, old wood, rust and dirt, down to even some dried up blood in a place or two you know this place has death written all over it. There are even some ribbons you see hung up with numbers and you already know those are markers of death and the next one has his number on it.But also what makes it good is protagonist himself Kyle he's likable he's sort of one of those extreme hikers/outdoors men whom is just doing one of the things he loves and does best for fun. From his persona it just all the more hope he somehow gets out alive, but of course when it comes to dealing with Jason there are no guarantees. Let alone I love the fact that once again a guy takes the lead which needs to happen more often in horror. Kyle is kinda the third male protagonist to go toe to toe against Jason and the physical confrontations between both of them are solid, their not fancifully choreographed but that's because it's realistic, as if this is what a fight against Jason would be in the real world. But the protagonist holds his own well against danger and we see he doesn't just use just physical force to defend himself but also his wits, which are really the best weapon against Jason.Overall, if your a fan of the "Friday the 13th" franchise then hike to this film, it makes the cut.Rating: 4 stars

We can all agree that most horror franchises lose a fair amount of steam at some point. Michael, Leatherface, Pinhead and Freddy all suffered from too many bad sequels, and Jason is no exception. Honestly, the last great Friday the 13th film was Part 6: Jason Lives.....31 years ago. Sure, people tend to love some of the others that followed for various reasons, but most certainly not because they're great horror films. Enter writer/director/actor Vincente DiSanti, who spearheaded a Kickstarter campaign in 2016 to fund an originally estimated short 22 minute fan-film. With an enticing teaser trailer and fantastic incentives, it's no surprise that they surpassed their goals, which might explain why it turned into a 55 minute film rather than the original 22. Anyway, here we are in October of 2017, with the film brilliantly being released for FREE all over the world on.....wait for it......Friday the 13th! Amazing. Let's dig in.An avid back country hiker and vlogger, Kyle McLeod, is out hiking on a solo trip when he stumbles upon a deserted camp. He soon discovers that this camp has a brutal history and worse yet, he might not be alone.Never Hike Alone is hands-down one of the best Friday the 13th films ever made. DiSanti and his crew took all of the fundamental elements that made the franchise so great in the first place and puts a fresh spin on it by incorporating the found footage narrative. But wait! Before you roll your eyes, hear me out. I personally can't stand found footage films. I find them lazy. But the way DiSanti incorporates it into Never Hike Alone works brilliantly. It's only a small tool, and thankfully, most of the film is shot traditionally. Even so, the found footage angle is still done surprisingly well, in that it's not shaky- cam nonsense, which was entirely refreshing. And that's another thing I found surprising here. The film itself is visually impressive. In fact, if you were to judge it purely on the camera-work alone, it's a better looking film than any of the last 6 in the franchise, including Freddy VS Jason. But that's just me. On a technical level, it delivers the goods in every single department; from the sound editing, the score, the effects, the stunts and most importantly, the editing. It's a trim 55 minutes that never overstays it's welcome, and utilizes every second to help push the film further along at a brisk pace.On a narrative front, the film packs a punch. While the first half does a good job of setting things up in a timely manner, it's really the second half that delivers the slasher goods, and boy you're in for a treat. Every creative and technical decision DiSanti and his crew make bring the film to life in such a startlingly frightening way, that it makes you wonder why filmmakers today can't make films like this anymore. He doesn't bring anything new to the table, other than the found footage angle, but uses the typical slasher tropes to full effect, and in some instances, enhancing certain elements for a much more visceral experience. I don't want to give too much away before you've actually seen it, but needless to say, Vincente DiSanti did his homework. For example, every single time Jason (DiSanti) took a step, it sounded like a giant dinosaur was walking the Earth. You felt every single step. And that brings me to DiSanti's portrayal of Jason. He does a phenomenal job. The guy is big, and he takes on the role with gusto. I'd have to say it's probably one of my favorite Jason's after C.J. Graham in Part 6: Jason Lives. The makeup department also needs to be commended. I loved Jason's "look" in this. Traditional, yet cleaner. Again, it's more in tune with his look in Part 6 than say his zombie-look in Part 7 and 8.If you've been missing a good traditional slasher, then Never Hike Alone will surely fill that sweet spot. The film was filled with nonstop surprises for me. It's so good in fact that you'll want more. You'll wish they were able to stretch it out for an extra half hour, but trust me when I say that it's a strong 55 minutes and just as long as it needs to be. And wait till you see the surprise at the end. I couldn't believe it. Such a.....awe hell. I'll just let you experience it for yourself. Just a great bombshell in an already great experience. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at how good this little crowd-sourced film is compared to big budget studio films in general. Only, it's not just good.....it's GREAT!!For more cult cinema please visit www.robotGEEKSCultCinema.com

Going into this knowing it was a fan made story and shortened I was sure what to expect but it delivered on a fun way of rediscovering the camp. There were plenty of throwback moments and details that made the wandering around the camp suspenseful and the movie does a great job building until Jason arrives.The lead actor does a good job making you feel the emotion and keeping the tension up. Once Jason is there we get all the things we love about Friday the 13th movies. The interaction and battle between Jason and the lead were good and kept you in the moment.The ending falls a little short for me and almost feels out of place compared to the explore and survive that the first 45 minutes did a wonderful job storytelling. There is a cool throwback in the final minutes that fans will love but unfortunately I think it actually takes away from how good the first 45 had been.If your fan of Friday the 13th movies definitely check this one out and remember if you find yourself at Camp Blood "Run!"