# Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter

> 1984 film by Joseph Zito

**Wikidata**: [Q1243019](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1243019)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friday_the_13th:_The_Final_Chapter)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/friday-the-13th-the-final-chapter

## Summary
*Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter* is a 1984 American horror film directed by Joseph Zito, serving as the fourth installment in the *Friday the 13th* franchise. It continues the story of Jason Voorhees, the masked killer, as he returns to Crystal Lake to stalk a group of campers, marking a shift in the series' tone and narrative focus.

## Key Facts
- Released on August 10, 1984, in the United States.
- Directed by Joseph Zito, who also directed the previous film, *Friday the 13th Part III* (1982).
- Produced by Frank Mancuso Jr. and Joseph Zito.
- Written by Martin Kitrosser, Carol Watson, and Petru Popescu.
- Distributed by Paramount Pictures.
- Budget: $2.5 million.
- Box office gross: $32.98 million.
- Runtime: 91 minutes.
- Country of origin: United States.
- Language: English.
- Genre: Horror, slasher.
- Part of the *Friday the 13th* film series.
- IMDb ID: tt0087298.
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 22% (audience).
- Metacritic score: 33/100.
- Follows *Friday the 13th Part III* (1982) and precedes *Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives* (1986).
- Introduces a more psychological and atmospheric tone compared to earlier films.
- Features a new group of campers, including a returning character, Chris Higgins, who confronts her past trauma.

## FAQs
**What is the plot of *Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter*?**
The film follows a group of campers who gather at Camp Forest Green, located near Crystal Lake, where they are hunted by Jason Voorhees. The story explores themes of survival, fear, and the psychological impact of trauma, with the campers facing increasingly desperate situations as Jason stalks them.

**How does this film differ from earlier entries in the series?**
This installment marks a shift in the franchise's direction, introducing a more psychological and atmospheric approach. It also features a new group of campers, including a returning character, Chris Higgins, who confronts her past trauma, adding a layer of emotional depth to the story.

**What is the critical reception of the film?**
The film received mixed reviews from critics, holding a 22% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 33/100 score on Metacritic. While it was a commercial success, it was not as critically acclaimed as some of the earlier films in the series.

**Why is the hockey mask significant in this film?**
Jason Voorhees continues to wear his iconic hockey mask, which was first introduced in *Friday the 13th Part III* (1982). The mask has become a defining feature of the character, symbolizing his relentless and unpredictable nature as a killer.

**What is the legacy of *Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter*?**
The film is notable for its contribution to the slasher genre and its impact on the *Friday the 13th* franchise. It helped establish Jason Voorhees as a enduring horror icon and influenced the direction of the series, paving the way for future installments.

## Why It Matters
*Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter* is significant in horror cinema history for several reasons. It marked a shift in the *Friday the 13th* franchise, introducing a more psychological and atmospheric approach to the slasher genre. The film's success demonstrated the enduring popularity of the franchise and its ability to evolve with changing trends in horror. It also solidified Jason Voorhees as a central antagonist, giving him a more defined and recognizable persona. The film's legacy continues to influence the horror genre, inspiring countless other films and contributing to the enduring appeal of the *Friday the 13th* franchise.

## Notable For
- Introducing a more psychological and atmospheric tone to the *Friday the 13th* franchise.
- Establishing Jason Voorhees as a central antagonist with a more defined and recognizable persona.
- Contributing to the enduring popularity of the *Friday the 13th* franchise.
- Influencing the direction of the series, paving the way for future installments.
- Demonstrating the franchise's ability to evolve with changing trends in horror.
- Solidifying the iconic status of Jason Voorhees' hockey mask.
- Providing a unique and memorable experience for audiences, blending horror and suspense.

## Body
### Production and Development
*Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter* was produced by Paramount Pictures as a direct sequel to the successful *Friday the 13th Part III* (1982). Director Joseph Zito returned to helm the fourth installment, having directed the previous film. The screenplay was written by Martin Kitrosser, Carol Watson, and Petru Popescu, with the story focusing on a new group of victims for Jason Voorhees to stalk and kill.

The film was shot in 3D, which was a significant selling point at the time. The production used the Arrivision 3D single-camera system, which was considered more advanced than the traditional two-camera 3D systems. This allowed for more natural-looking 3D effects and was less cumbersome for the actors and crew to work with.

### Cast and Characters
The film features a cast of largely unknown actors, which was typical for the franchise at the time. The main characters include Chris Higgins (played by Dana Kimmell), who returns to Crystal Lake to confront her past trauma, and a group of her friends who accompany her. Richard Brooker plays Jason Voorhees, marking the first time the character wears the hockey mask that would become his signature look.

### 3D Technology and Effects
The 3D aspect of the film was heavily promoted in its marketing campaign. The Arrivision system used polarized light to create the 3D effect, requiring special glasses for viewing. The film includes several scenes specifically designed to showcase the 3D technology, such as yo-yos, popcorn, and various weapons being thrust toward the camera. While innovative for its time, these effects are often considered gimmicky by modern standards.

### Release and Reception
*Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter* was released on August 10, 1984, which coincided with Friday the 13th, adding to its marketing appeal. The film was a commercial success, grossing $32.98 million against a budget of $2.5 million. However, it received mixed reviews from critics, who criticized its reliance on 3D gimmicks and formulaic plot.

### Legacy and Impact
Despite its mixed critical reception, *Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter* had a lasting impact on the horror genre and the *Friday the 13th* franchise specifically. The introduction of Jason's hockey mask became one of the most iconic images in horror cinema, influencing countless other films and becoming a staple of Halloween costumes and pop culture references. The film's commercial success helped cement the *Friday the 13th* series as a major horror franchise, leading to numerous sequels and spin-offs.

### Technical Specifications
- Aspect ratio: 2.35:1.
- Sound mix: Mono.
- Cinematography: Gerald Feil.
- Editing: Bruce Green.
- Music: Harry Manfredini (returning composer from previous films).
- Production design: Robert M. Baldwin.

### Series Continuity
*Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter* directly continues the narrative from the previous film, with Jason Voorhees surviving his apparent death at the end of *Friday the 13th Part III*. This continuity was somewhat unusual for slasher films of the time, which often treated each installment as a standalone story. The film also introduces elements that would become recurring in the series, such as Jason's increased strength and resilience.

### Cultural References and Parodies
The hockey mask from this film has been parodied and referenced in numerous other media, from other horror films to comedy sketches and video games. The 3D effects, while dated, have also been referenced as examples of early 1980s cinema technology.

### Home Media Releases
The film has been released on various home media formats, including VHS, LaserDisc, DVD, and Blu-ray. The 3D version was particularly challenging to reproduce for home viewing, with various attempts made over the years to recreate the theatrical 3D experience for home audiences.

### Related Entities
*Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter* is part of the larger *Friday the 13th* franchise, which includes:
- *Friday the 13th* (1980).
- *Friday the 13th Part 2* (1981).
- *Friday the 13th Part III* (1982).
- *Friday the 13th: A New Beginning* (1985).
- And numerous other sequels, remakes, and spin-offs.

The film is also connected to the broader horror genre of the 1980s, which saw a boom in slasher films following the success of *Halloween* (1978) and the original *Friday the 13th* (1980).

## References

1. [Source](http://stopklatka.pl/film/piatek-trzynastego-ostatni-rozdzial)
2. [Source](http://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm=15989.html)
3. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087298/)
4. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087298/fullcredits)
5. The Movie Database
6. Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter. Rotten Tomatoes
7. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
8. [Friday the 13th Part IV: The Final Chapter (1984). The Numbers](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Friday-the-13th-Part-IV-The-Final-Chapter)
9. Kinopoisk
10. [Source](http://www.kijkwijzer.nl/index.php?id=26&i=264855)
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12. List of film licenses issued from 1945 to 2020
13. [Source](https://www.cnc.fr/professionnels/visas-et-classification/58966)
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