This is fantastic just like the last was. I don't know how Hollywood can throw millions in to these and come up with a far inferior product than this fan film. I loved that the deputy from 6 is back alongside Tommy in this one. 6 is my favourite Friday's and it's great to see a continuation of that.
23 Reviews
Tonally different from the franchise but worth a watch
ashecatlin17 October 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I wasn't exactly rate this as a Friday the 13th movie, it's because it's a fan film. Something was just very different, I think it was the tone of the movie. Usually you have sex and violence, with a cast of mischievous teenagers but in this the focus on a kids disappearance. With the cops doing some sort of cover up, it was very good for what it is, just doesn't feel like a Friday.
I loved seeing Tommy Jarvis's actor back, that was a real shock for me. The whole cast is great, the Jason arrow kill was a bit iffy. Otherwise I really enjoyed this, defiantly worth a watch for a Friday fan.
I loved seeing Tommy Jarvis's actor back, that was a real shock for me. The whole cast is great, the Jason arrow kill was a bit iffy. Otherwise I really enjoyed this, defiantly worth a watch for a Friday fan.
DiSanti does it again
johnfhale326 October 2020
Was a big fan of the Never Hike Alone short film so when I heard he was planning on doing a series of films featuring his "Ghost Jason" I jumped at the chance to support it.
The film is a great set up for his future films and def has the style and feel of the old classics. While light on kills, the brutality of the ones on screen are really memorable!
Can't wait for the next one!
The film is a great set up for his future films and def has the style and feel of the old classics. While light on kills, the brutality of the ones on screen are really memorable!
Can't wait for the next one!
Glad to be a part of the credits
davidt-7385914 October 2020
The 2nd movie in the never hike series which takes place 3 months prior to "Never hike alone". Thom Mathews returning as tommy Jarvis in fan films is the best. With only a 30 min runtime the movie is over before u know it. Really well made by fans though and a nice fill in to what happened before the original .
Great on so many levels just minus flaws
jodiekeen28 February 2022
This was a great Friday 13 fan film. Jason Vorhees was fantastic in this one and the main guy who portrayed him did a great job. Great acting from the cast all around and they did some things that surprised me. Wasn't so keen on the ending. Without spoiling anything I was wished it cut the chase a bit more.
FAN MADE FILMS ARE UNDERRATED!!!
the_pharaoh-6205815 October 2020
Solid Short to Give Us Jason in the Snow
Reviews_of_the_Dead15 December 2020
This was a movie that I remember hearing about not too long after the original, Never Hike Alone, was released. It had a lot of success and many Friday the 13th fans, including myself, really wanted to see a movie taking Jason Voorhees and putting him in a snowy environment. When this film was finally released, I had it as one that I needed to check out and finally got around to it now that it is cold at the time of writing this. The synopsis here is 3 months prior to the events of Never Hike Alone that follows the strange disappearance of Mark Hill (Courtlan Gordon), a Crystal Lake resident who went for a hike in the dead of winter and never came home.
We start this seeing the mountains and snowy terrain of what we'll learn to be Camp Crystal Lake. Mark is wearing a bright jacket and he's running from something. Whatever it is, it is terrifying him. We then see that it is Jason Voorhees (Vincente DiSanti). He fires an arrow, which knocks down Mark before ending it with an ax.
He was able to set off his car alarm before dying, but Jason takes care of that. This crime does draw the attention of Sheriff Rick Cologne (Vincent Guastaferro) along with Deputy Alan Mabry (Bryan Forrest). They find blood in the snow and the vehicle, but no body. Sheriff Rick decides that he'll tell Mark's mother he is missing, she is Diana (Anna Campbell), while Deputy Mabry continues to clean up the crime scene. They're not the only ones that are alerted to this. Tommy Jarvis (Thom Mathews) watches from afar and it appears he has a reputation. He is the only one that knows Jason is out there and how dangerous he is.
Now this movie I was originally intending to do a Featured Review for on Journey with a Cinephile: A Horror Movie Podcast. I decided against it though as this movie isn't technically a feature, but is a short. I still wanted to give this a viewing in support of independent cinema and since I did enjoy the original I figured this one would be more in the same vein.
So with that said, I do feel that writer/director/actor DiSanti really has his fingers on the pulse of what fans of Friday the 13th want. We're getting the Jason Voorhees we want and getting the slasher in the snow here as well. There's a great opening kill here and then a bit of story to help drive the movie from there.
If I do have an issue here though, I didn't realize that this was a prequel. With what happened at the end of that one, I should have known. This isn't really that big of a deal toward the story. Another issue would be that I feel this movie could have been longer. I'm not sure if it was budgetary or they just didn't have story there, but I would have wanted a bit more. After that opening kill, we really get some stuff that is fine like learning more about Mark, Diana and even more about Jason, but if you're going to do a slasher with him, I just would like to see more deaths. It is really front and back loaded with this.
Where I should go would be the effects next. The practical ones that we do get were good for me. I like what they did with Mark and how he meets his demise. There is something that is pulled from Friday the 13th Part 2 here which is also good. They did go with CGI with a shotgun and something with an ax that didn't look as good. It was probably easier to do there and again, could be budget. It doesn't look horrible, I could just tell.
The last thing that I want to delve into would be the acting. It is great to see Mathews back as Tommy. He is just an actor I have a soft spot for and he does really good at just fitting into this role. Guastaferro works as the sheriff. I like that he seems to know about Jason, but doesn't necessarily believe. Forrest is fine as his deputy and it appears he is also playing Jason for some scenes as well. Gordon, Campbell and the rest also work for what was needed. Shout out to DiSanti who has great imposing size to portray Jason as well.
So now with that said this is a solid follow up to the original and another good fan film for the Friday the 13th series. I like the atmosphere that they're going for with setting it in the winter. I like bringing back Tommy and there is a solid enough story. The practical effects are good. While I don't love the CGI, I've seen worse. The acting is solid and the soundtrack fit for what was needed from what I remember. If I have any issues, I just wish there was more here in total and more kills would really have just made this stand more with Never Hike Alone personally. Being that this is a short though, it does leave me wanting more for sure. I would have to rate this as above average overall and definitely worth a viewing for the fans of the first or Friday the 13th in general.
We start this seeing the mountains and snowy terrain of what we'll learn to be Camp Crystal Lake. Mark is wearing a bright jacket and he's running from something. Whatever it is, it is terrifying him. We then see that it is Jason Voorhees (Vincente DiSanti). He fires an arrow, which knocks down Mark before ending it with an ax.
He was able to set off his car alarm before dying, but Jason takes care of that. This crime does draw the attention of Sheriff Rick Cologne (Vincent Guastaferro) along with Deputy Alan Mabry (Bryan Forrest). They find blood in the snow and the vehicle, but no body. Sheriff Rick decides that he'll tell Mark's mother he is missing, she is Diana (Anna Campbell), while Deputy Mabry continues to clean up the crime scene. They're not the only ones that are alerted to this. Tommy Jarvis (Thom Mathews) watches from afar and it appears he has a reputation. He is the only one that knows Jason is out there and how dangerous he is.
Now this movie I was originally intending to do a Featured Review for on Journey with a Cinephile: A Horror Movie Podcast. I decided against it though as this movie isn't technically a feature, but is a short. I still wanted to give this a viewing in support of independent cinema and since I did enjoy the original I figured this one would be more in the same vein.
So with that said, I do feel that writer/director/actor DiSanti really has his fingers on the pulse of what fans of Friday the 13th want. We're getting the Jason Voorhees we want and getting the slasher in the snow here as well. There's a great opening kill here and then a bit of story to help drive the movie from there.
If I do have an issue here though, I didn't realize that this was a prequel. With what happened at the end of that one, I should have known. This isn't really that big of a deal toward the story. Another issue would be that I feel this movie could have been longer. I'm not sure if it was budgetary or they just didn't have story there, but I would have wanted a bit more. After that opening kill, we really get some stuff that is fine like learning more about Mark, Diana and even more about Jason, but if you're going to do a slasher with him, I just would like to see more deaths. It is really front and back loaded with this.
Where I should go would be the effects next. The practical ones that we do get were good for me. I like what they did with Mark and how he meets his demise. There is something that is pulled from Friday the 13th Part 2 here which is also good. They did go with CGI with a shotgun and something with an ax that didn't look as good. It was probably easier to do there and again, could be budget. It doesn't look horrible, I could just tell.
The last thing that I want to delve into would be the acting. It is great to see Mathews back as Tommy. He is just an actor I have a soft spot for and he does really good at just fitting into this role. Guastaferro works as the sheriff. I like that he seems to know about Jason, but doesn't necessarily believe. Forrest is fine as his deputy and it appears he is also playing Jason for some scenes as well. Gordon, Campbell and the rest also work for what was needed. Shout out to DiSanti who has great imposing size to portray Jason as well.
So now with that said this is a solid follow up to the original and another good fan film for the Friday the 13th series. I like the atmosphere that they're going for with setting it in the winter. I like bringing back Tommy and there is a solid enough story. The practical effects are good. While I don't love the CGI, I've seen worse. The acting is solid and the soundtrack fit for what was needed from what I remember. If I have any issues, I just wish there was more here in total and more kills would really have just made this stand more with Never Hike Alone personally. Being that this is a short though, it does leave me wanting more for sure. I would have to rate this as above average overall and definitely worth a viewing for the fans of the first or Friday the 13th in general.
Awesome
SeagalMuskula14 October 2020
Yeah.... Ok. So what
MikeHunt10758 November 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Yeah I get it, it's a fan made indie film and fans are dying for more Jason. But let's face it, and be honest. If this was released by a major studio, fans would be tearing it apart complaining that there is no way Jason would run? Since when does he use a bow and arrow since his Frankenstein rebirth? Why bother to get Thom Matthews to reprise his role to be nothing, and add nothing to the film other than a cameo? And worst of all, the unclimactic ending leaving you sit their going, "is that it?"
Sorry, I'm not rating this higher just because a fan made it and its independent. I'm also really put off by them milking this and the first short film for every cent now and practically saying "want more? Pay me"
Sorry, I'm not rating this higher just because a fan made it and its independent. I'm also really put off by them milking this and the first short film for every cent now and practically saying "want more? Pay me"
Outstanding and superbly shot.
DylanMurphy9714 October 2020
Never Hike in the Snow is an absolutely outstanding fan made Friday the 13th film that stands up there with any of the best Friday the 13th sequels. Incredible photography and special effects with a couple of Friday the 13th part 6 lead actors. I was blown away by this film my only complaint is that it's less than an hour would have loved it to have been longer! 10/10 for superb effort!
Half hour of this was better than NHA
arachnid-501591 December 2021
This was the better entry in the NHA series. It was shorter but was done way better. Unfortunately it gets a tad confusing towards the end... What is going on? This movie makes no sense, it's like I missed something. I hope 'Goddess of the dark' can enlighten me so I can change my ratings. Let me know V. D.
Pay attention Hollywood
fred_gorey26 October 2020
He's Back!!!
treakle_197814 October 2020
Pretty Good
ginogallo14 November 2020
This movie was pretty good.......However it was a bit disappointing coming off Never Hike Alone, which to me was a far superior Film.......Much credit to DeSanti and crew for doing so much with so little, Hopefully the third chapter is the best chapter
THIS IS HOW YOU SHOULD PAY RESPECT TO A LEGENDARY FILM FRANCHISE
jasonvoorhees-0875926 October 2020
This is exactly what the studio films aren't being able to do for so long, Friday the 13th films deserve this kind of a treatment, This should have been released in the theatres, it's that good, it does a complete justice to the legend & legacy of Jason voorhees and established the folklore of his violent deeds, along with some brief but brilliant introduction to all the other characters, gore is more believable and nasty this time, length is slick, cinematography top notch, making absolutely stunning, screenplay water tight, characters believable, terrific reunion of famous actors from this franchise was an absolute bonus for all the fans...Kudos to WOMP STOMP FILMS for gifting all the fans all over the world with this absolute treat, just before Halloween.. Overall it was worth a wait for 3 long years for this brilliant follow up to the epic NEVER HIKE ALONE.
NEVER HIKE IN THE SNOW. YOU JUST CAN'T AFFORD TO MISS THIS EPIC RIDE FILLED WITH RIGHT PROPORTIONS OF THRILLS & CHILLS.
NEVER HIKE IN THE SNOW. YOU JUST CAN'T AFFORD TO MISS THIS EPIC RIDE FILLED WITH RIGHT PROPORTIONS OF THRILLS & CHILLS.
What was the point?
chadwickmp5 December 2020
Jason Lives Again
thesar-215 October 2020
Wow, that title's longer than the actual movie.
A "Fan film?" This was better made than several of the actual movies. And it was AMAZING. Great acting, wonderful surprises/throwbacks, visuals great, homage perfect and best of all: this is a sequel to my personal favorite Friday film: Part IV - Jason Lives. How cool/coincidental is that?
They put a lot into a mere 25-minute movie. No background is given; you have to be a fan, yourself, to know who Jason Voorhees is, his mother's head, how it got there, etc. But suffice to say, scary-hockey-masked maniac Jason is opposed to anyone in his woods whether there by chance or the hunt.
Only regret is that it's too short. You simply can't be a fan and not want to see an entire movie of this. Even with killer filler of a bunch of 1-dimentional young, horny adults that have nothing to do with the story.
YOU MUST SEE THIS. And I lied. Second regret: this wasn't included in the same-day released Deluxe Boxset. It would be my favorite extra.
***
Final thoughts: Even though this isn't a movie, I wonder where I'd rank it in a top 13 Friday list:
1 Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives 2 Friday the 13th Part III 3 Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter 4 Friday the 13th Part 2 5 Friday the 13th (1980) 6 Never Hike in the Snow - A Friday the 13th Fan Film 7 Freddy vs. Jason 8 Friday the 13th (2009) 9 Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood 10 Jason X 11 Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning 12 Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday 13 Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan
A "Fan film?" This was better made than several of the actual movies. And it was AMAZING. Great acting, wonderful surprises/throwbacks, visuals great, homage perfect and best of all: this is a sequel to my personal favorite Friday film: Part IV - Jason Lives. How cool/coincidental is that?
They put a lot into a mere 25-minute movie. No background is given; you have to be a fan, yourself, to know who Jason Voorhees is, his mother's head, how it got there, etc. But suffice to say, scary-hockey-masked maniac Jason is opposed to anyone in his woods whether there by chance or the hunt.
Only regret is that it's too short. You simply can't be a fan and not want to see an entire movie of this. Even with killer filler of a bunch of 1-dimentional young, horny adults that have nothing to do with the story.
YOU MUST SEE THIS. And I lied. Second regret: this wasn't included in the same-day released Deluxe Boxset. It would be my favorite extra.
***
Final thoughts: Even though this isn't a movie, I wonder where I'd rank it in a top 13 Friday list:
1 Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives 2 Friday the 13th Part III 3 Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter 4 Friday the 13th Part 2 5 Friday the 13th (1980) 6 Never Hike in the Snow - A Friday the 13th Fan Film 7 Freddy vs. Jason 8 Friday the 13th (2009) 9 Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood 10 Jason X 11 Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning 12 Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday 13 Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan
Never Hike in the Snow!
wetmars15 October 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Set three months before "Never Hike Alone," "Never Hike in the Snow" follows the strange disappearance of Mark Hill, a Crystal Lake resident who went for a hike in the dead of winter and never came home.
As Local Wessex County Sheriff Rick Cologne and Deputy Allen Mabry (Bryan Forrest) search for answers, town local Tommy Jarvis believes that his old nemesis Jason Voorhees is to blame. Will Diana Hill ever see her son again, or will her son become another lost victim of the cursed camp?
As a "hardcore horror fan." this fan-film was good! Shame that it was 30 minutes, not 50 minutes. It was that short, anyway.
I quite feel bad for Tommy Jarvis though, he had a terrible life. His mother got killed by Jason Voorhees. Got traumatized by the horrific events, sent to the Pinehurst Youth Development Center for teenagers with mental disabilities. He didn't talk, suffering from severe PTSD, almost became the new Jason, his friend Allen got killed, accidentally resurrected Jason from the dead, leading many people to think that he's being a psycho and was responsible for the killings in the 1990 killing spree.
It was great to see Vincent Guastaferro whose played Deputy Rick Cologne in Jason Lives to come back. He still rocks the acting and his astounding hair. Loved the "ya-bang" reference.
The gore was awesome. Great work!
I totally can't wait to see Never Hike Again.
As Local Wessex County Sheriff Rick Cologne and Deputy Allen Mabry (Bryan Forrest) search for answers, town local Tommy Jarvis believes that his old nemesis Jason Voorhees is to blame. Will Diana Hill ever see her son again, or will her son become another lost victim of the cursed camp?
As a "hardcore horror fan." this fan-film was good! Shame that it was 30 minutes, not 50 minutes. It was that short, anyway.
I quite feel bad for Tommy Jarvis though, he had a terrible life. His mother got killed by Jason Voorhees. Got traumatized by the horrific events, sent to the Pinehurst Youth Development Center for teenagers with mental disabilities. He didn't talk, suffering from severe PTSD, almost became the new Jason, his friend Allen got killed, accidentally resurrected Jason from the dead, leading many people to think that he's being a psycho and was responsible for the killings in the 1990 killing spree.
It was great to see Vincent Guastaferro whose played Deputy Rick Cologne in Jason Lives to come back. He still rocks the acting and his astounding hair. Loved the "ya-bang" reference.
The gore was awesome. Great work!
I totally can't wait to see Never Hike Again.
$130k for 25 minutes?
flegendaryreviews24 December 2021
If you can say one franchise and director robs his fans it's this one. $250k for 25 minutes? Wow. You're supposed to be a "real hollywood director" lmao. Please. This is the same guy who paid not once, but twice to have his movies promoted in Fanboy 13. Another atrocity to the film industry. All the fans are catching on to this guys antics.
Excellent Fan film
griffjohnjr23 January 2022
The film makers of Never Hike Alone have done it again. You can clearly tell they are fans and they respect the films and characters. This is what a Friday the 13th film should look like. Vincent DiSanti is excellent as a director and as our favorite slasher Jason. Great job. I cnat wait to see future entries in this excellent series of films. They are creating a franchise of their own with these well done tributes to Friday the 13th!
Made, but why?
maxastree27 April 2022
I don't know what to say about this film, to be honest.
It's basically a group of (adult) fanboys with costly video production gear (they have at least one production spec camera, a crane, audio gear, LED lighting, post staff, etc) to create a very "polished" - frankly middle class/pro-am version - of a Friday the 13th movie. Updated, if you will, for the expanded storage and technical abilities of 2020 era videography. The film clearly passes for professional cinematography (or rather, they used a legit cine-cam and post workflow) but the film also has odd focus-pulling errors, some very odd lighting effect compositing and inexplicably shows shots of "awe" to establish Jason Vorhees' presence in the film - here attempting to stab someone in the snow without motive, character, context, emotion or even humor. (I guess they got that bit right.) - it all sort of begs the question - WHY DOESN'T THIS PRO-LEVEL INDIE FILM CREW THINK OF THEIR OWN MONSTER STORY?
The issue being - these films weren't any good to begin with! Except for the 80s kitsch/nostalgia value they are strictly disposable sequels without classic characters, sets, locations. Being "able" to create a higher production value version of these (often inept) movies via crowdfunding says little creatively.
HAD THEY actually come up with their own monster idea and sold that, it could have pulled me in - besides that, I feel the film is overwhelmingly an attempt to sell "real, cinematic quality" shots and postproduction work on a no-concept film with acting that is often lacking compared to real studio acting.
This doesn't mean "fan films suck" - if they're satirical or engaging somehow, sure - but there's an odd feeling the whole point here is to make money or profile for Womp Stomp film productions instead of taking chances and doing something creative (or even: SCARY, which this film isn't) - THERE IS NO STUDIO OR MARKETING EXPECTATION for them to make a decent movie here, yet they act as if there is? What are they trying to do, exactly? Get the attention of Platinum Dunes productions?
Give the film a solid 7-9 out of ten for craft, 4 for performances, 2 for concept.
It's basically a group of (adult) fanboys with costly video production gear (they have at least one production spec camera, a crane, audio gear, LED lighting, post staff, etc) to create a very "polished" - frankly middle class/pro-am version - of a Friday the 13th movie. Updated, if you will, for the expanded storage and technical abilities of 2020 era videography. The film clearly passes for professional cinematography (or rather, they used a legit cine-cam and post workflow) but the film also has odd focus-pulling errors, some very odd lighting effect compositing and inexplicably shows shots of "awe" to establish Jason Vorhees' presence in the film - here attempting to stab someone in the snow without motive, character, context, emotion or even humor. (I guess they got that bit right.) - it all sort of begs the question - WHY DOESN'T THIS PRO-LEVEL INDIE FILM CREW THINK OF THEIR OWN MONSTER STORY?
The issue being - these films weren't any good to begin with! Except for the 80s kitsch/nostalgia value they are strictly disposable sequels without classic characters, sets, locations. Being "able" to create a higher production value version of these (often inept) movies via crowdfunding says little creatively.
HAD THEY actually come up with their own monster idea and sold that, it could have pulled me in - besides that, I feel the film is overwhelmingly an attempt to sell "real, cinematic quality" shots and postproduction work on a no-concept film with acting that is often lacking compared to real studio acting.
This doesn't mean "fan films suck" - if they're satirical or engaging somehow, sure - but there's an odd feeling the whole point here is to make money or profile for Womp Stomp film productions instead of taking chances and doing something creative (or even: SCARY, which this film isn't) - THERE IS NO STUDIO OR MARKETING EXPECTATION for them to make a decent movie here, yet they act as if there is? What are they trying to do, exactly? Get the attention of Platinum Dunes productions?
Give the film a solid 7-9 out of ten for craft, 4 for performances, 2 for concept.
Didnt want it to end.
barbell_289 January 2021
It was over before it even got started...
paul_haakonsen31 January 2023
I sat down to watch the 2020 movie "Never Hike in the Snow" immediately after having watched the 2017 movie "Never Hike Alone".
But I will say that writer and director Vincente DiSanti didn't impress me with this 2020 sequel. The storyline was just simply too lacking in all departments. The entire movie was over before it even got started, and there wasn't enough Jason action to keep the movie afloat.
What was impressive about "Never Hike in the Snow" was the fact that they had managed to get Thom Mathews to return to reprise his Tommy Jarvis character and also Vincent Guastaferro for this movie to reprise his Rick Cologne character from "Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives".
And the Jason costume looked good in this movie, that worked out well enough.
But in terms of "Never Hike in the Snow" being entertaining and worth the effort. No, not really. Sure, I gobbled it up as I am a big fan of the "Friday the 13th" movies and franchise, and of course also a huge fan of the Jason Voorhees character.
Thumbs up for the production and the fact that they managed to get this 31 minute feature out. However, it came and went without leaving much of a memorable mark.
My rating of "Never Hike in the Snow" lands on a four out of ten stars.
But I will say that writer and director Vincente DiSanti didn't impress me with this 2020 sequel. The storyline was just simply too lacking in all departments. The entire movie was over before it even got started, and there wasn't enough Jason action to keep the movie afloat.
What was impressive about "Never Hike in the Snow" was the fact that they had managed to get Thom Mathews to return to reprise his Tommy Jarvis character and also Vincent Guastaferro for this movie to reprise his Rick Cologne character from "Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives".
And the Jason costume looked good in this movie, that worked out well enough.
But in terms of "Never Hike in the Snow" being entertaining and worth the effort. No, not really. Sure, I gobbled it up as I am a big fan of the "Friday the 13th" movies and franchise, and of course also a huge fan of the Jason Voorhees character.
Thumbs up for the production and the fact that they managed to get this 31 minute feature out. However, it came and went without leaving much of a memorable mark.
My rating of "Never Hike in the Snow" lands on a four out of ten stars.
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