Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989)

A boatful of graduating high school students headed to Manhattan accidentally pull Jason Voorhees along for the ride.

Director:

Rob Hedden

Writers:

Rob Hedden, Victor Miller (characters)

Stars:

Jensen Daggett, Kane Hodder, Todd Caldecott

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Todd Caldecott	...	Jim (as Todd Shaffer)
Tiffany Paulsen	...	Suzi
Tim Mirkovich	...	Young Jason (as Timothy Burr Mirkovich)
Kane Hodder	...	Jason
Jensen Daggett	...	Rennie
Barbara Bingham	...	Colleen Van Deusen
Alex Diakun	...	Deck Hand
Peter Mark Richman	...	Charles McCulloch
Ace	...	Toby
Warren Munson	...	Admiral Robertson
Fred Henderson	...	Chief Engineer
Scott Reeves	...	Sean Robertson
Gordon Currie	...	Miles Wolfe
Saffron Henderson	...	J.J.
Martin Cummins	...	Wayne

Storyline

A whole high senior class is finally graduating. For that, they get into a luxury cruise called ''Lazarus''. At the beginning they are all having fun, including our main heroine ''Rennie'' who has a serious problem with the water because of past traumatic events '' Almost got drowned when she was little''. When we get to see all the young teenagers our friend Jason who got on board the ship starts with his killing rampage until we get to see only the main characters of the movie.. After that, they decide to look for the killer and kill him... Unfortunately, Jason got them first... After only a few of them escaped and got off the ship reached N.Y where they now have a bigger problem. Jason managed to get there too! He's cashing the survivors so he can kill them. Now the young teenager couple must escape or die in the dark waters of New York.

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Plot Keywords:

friday the thirteenth | boat | hockey mask | anchor | murder spree | 

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Taglines:

New York has a new problem

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Genres:

Adventure | Horror | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

During the opening credits featuring New York City's Time Square a huge Batman (1989) poster is clearly visible. As filming of these scenes took place during the promotional campaign of Tim Burton's first Batman film, starring Jack Nicholson and Michael Keaton.

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Goofs

(at around 1h 13 mins) When Sean emerges from the door in the wall and finds Rennie in her drugged state, the wooden props holding the set's wall up are visible inside the doorway.

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Quotes

[first lines]
DJ: [narration] It's like this... We live in claustrophobia; the land of steel and concrete, trapped by dark waters. There is no escape, nor do we want it. We've come to thrive on it and each other. You can't get the adrenaline pumpin' without the terror, good people... I love this town.

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Alternate Versions

A "Deluxe Edition" DVD was released with over 10 minutes of "Slashed Scenes" that feature extensions on deaths and dialog such as more gore on Jim's Death, and the never before seen original death where the Boxer gets darts shoved in his eyes.

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Connections

Referenced in Friday the 13th: The Game (2017)

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Soundtracks

Darkest Side Of The Night
Written by Fred Mollin and Stan Meissner
Performed by Peter Fredette
Produced by Stan Meissner

User Reviews

Friday the 13th Part VIII Jason Takes Manhattan: Not the blotch I'd heard but still pretty meh

I'd been told from multiple sources that Jason Takes Manhattan is a weak link in Jasons legacy. Though hardly impressive I'd say its no worse than many of the others.

Finally taking Jason away from the camps we see the majority of the movie take place on a ship with it's perhaps last third in the bustling city of New York.

Same cut away deaths, same lack of storyline, but same Friday 13th charm. Also Kane Hodder is Jason so that's an immediate win right there.

I do have to ask, what is it with Friday 13th and inconsistencies and poor endings? This one is no different and I feel like I could rant about it for an hour but will resist the urge.

Jason Takes Manhattan is a worthy addition to the franchise even if the events that transpired in the finale are not explained in part 9.

The Good:

Kelly Hu

Kane Hodder

Refreshing new setting

The Bad:

Why'd they have to kill off such a great character so early?

Ridiculous ending

Weak deaths

Details

Country:

Canada USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 July 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ashes to Ashes

Filming Locations:

S.S. Princess Patricia

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,251,310, 30 July 1989

Gross USA:

$14,343,976

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$14,343,976

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Horror Inc., Sean S. Cunningham Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1