Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter
Encyclopedia
Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter is a 1984 slasher film
. It is the fourth film in the Friday the 13th film series. Though it was billed as "The Final Chapter," there have been many further sequels in the franchise. The popularity and financial success of the film, which grossed over $32 million, kept Paramount Pictures
from retiring the franchise. Because of the finality of this film's plot and title, the next film, Friday the 13th: A New Beginning
, attempted to continue the series with a different killer; due to that film's critical failure, it was ultimately partially retconned
, making The Final Chapter the indirect predecessor to Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives
in the series' canon, in the sense of Jason himself returning at that point in the franchise. Likewise, Tommy Jarvis's storyline was incorporated into A New Beginning, making a direct connection that picks up from The Final Chapter and then into Jason Lives.
, paramedics and officers are cleaning up the killing spree at a lakefront property left by mass murderer Jason Voorhees. Voorhees himself is the final body to be taken to the morgue, having been struck in the head with an axe by the sole survivor of his rampage, Chris Higgins.
At the hospital, Jason is placed in the morgue, but reanimates when attendant Dr. Axel (Bruce Mahler
) becomes amorous with Nurse Morgan. Jason kills the couple and slips out of the hospital, making his way back to Crystal Lake.
The next morning, the Jarvis family-- Mrs. Jarvis (Joan Freeman
), her teenage daughter Tricia (Kimberly Beck
), her 12-year-old son Tommy (Corey Feldman
), and their dog Gordon-- make their way to the lake for vacation. Also en route to the lake are a group of vacationing teens, including Paul (Clyde Hayes), his flirtatious girlfriend Sam (Judie Aronson
), jokester Ted (Lawrence Monoson
), Ted's best friend Jimmy (Crispin Glover
), Doug (Peter Barton
) and his girlfriend Sara (Barbara Howard
). The group nearly stops to pick up a hitchhiker (Bonnie Hellman
), but instead keep driving; moments later, Jason emerges from the woods and murders the hitchhiker.
The Jarvises and the teens arrive at the lake, introducing themselves to the Jarvises and inviting Tricia to join them later. The teens head out to the woods to skinny dip
, where they meet a pair of twins, Tina and Terri (Camilla
and Carey More
), whom they invite to join them as potential dates for Ted and Jimmy. Meanwhile, Tricia and Tommy head into town, only for their car to break down along the way. They're rescued by a young man named Rob (Erich Anderson
), who is armed with weapons and survivalist supplies and claims to have come to the woods to hunt.
Night falls, and Jason begins killing the teenagers off one by one, starting with Sam who is stabbed through the torso while floating in a raft after skinny dipping, he kills Paul by launching a harpoon through his crotch before moving his way into the house. He kills Terri with a large pike to the back, then launches Tina through the second story window on top of the car. When a celebrating Jimmy goes into the dark kitchen he receives a corkscrew
through the hand and a cleaver to the face. Teddy is next with a knife through a projector screen into the back of his skull, he moves upstairs and kills Doug in the shower by crushing his face and finally he kills Sarah who finds Doug and tries to run, with an hatchet
to the chest. After killing everyone there he heads next door to the Jarvis house; he kills Mrs. Jarvis, but Tricia and Tommy have gone back into town. When they arrive back at the house, Tricia goes to Rob's camp for help, where she discovers a scrapbook filled with articles about Jason's initial sighting years before. Rob tells her that he was prompted to come to the woods by news of Jason's disappearance from the morgue; Jason murdered his sister, Sandra, two days prior (Friday the 13th Part 2
) and Rob intends to kill him in revenge.
Rob accompanies Tricia back to the teenagers' house. Jason catches Rob off guard in the basement and kills him with a gardening tool to the neck. Tricia runs back to her house and she and Tommy set about barricading themselves in, but Jason still manages to break in by using Rob's body to smash through a window. Jason pursues them upstairs, where Tricia bludgeons him with Tommy's computer monitor. They attempt to leave, but Jason awakens again and pursues them back downstairs. Tommy, having read Rob's newspaper clippings about Jason, hurriedly shaves his head and uses his special effects makeup to make himself resemble Jason as he appeared as a child. Tommy runs downstairs and calls out to Jason; Jason, thinking he sees himself, becomes confused. Tommy calls Jason to him, beckoning him to "remember." Jason briefly relents in his attack, allowing Tricia to attack him with a machete. In the process, his mask comes off, terrifying Tricia with the sight of his disfigured face. She drops the machete, and Jason begins advancing on her. Tommy snatches up the machete and swings it at Jason's face, lodging the tip in his eye. Jason staggers and falls onto the machete, driving it through his skull. Tommy and Tricia are initially celebratory until Tommy sees Jason's fingers twitching. Not satisfied that he is dead, Tommy yanks the machete out of Jason's head and begins hacking his body to pieces while a hysterical Tricia begs him to stop.
Sometime later, Tricia consults with doctors in a hospital over Tommy's behavior, concerned about the sudden outburst of violence. The doctors assure her that Tommy was simply acting in an instinctive survival mode to protect them and that such a display was perfectly normal under the circumstances. Tommy is brought into the room and Tricia hugs him while Tommy blankly stares ahead.
taking $11,183,148 during its first weekend. It ended with a total domestic gross of $32,980,000.
Slasher film
A slasher film is a type of horror film typically involving a psychopathic killer stalking and killing a sequence of victims in a graphically violent manner, often with a cutting tool such as a knife or axe...
. It is the fourth film in the Friday the 13th film series. Though it was billed as "The Final Chapter," there have been many further sequels in the franchise. The popularity and financial success of the film, which grossed over $32 million, kept Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
from retiring the franchise. Because of the finality of this film's plot and title, the next film, Friday the 13th: A New Beginning
Friday the 13th: A New Beginning
Friday the 13th: A New Beginning is a 1985 slasher film. It was released on March 22, 1985. It is the fifth film in the Friday the 13th film series...
, attempted to continue the series with a different killer; due to that film's critical failure, it was ultimately partially retconned
Retcon
Retroactive continuity is the alteration of previously established facts in a fictional work. Retcons are done for many reasons, including the accommodation of sequels or further derivative works in a series, wherein newer authors or creators want to revise the in-story history to allow a course...
, making The Final Chapter the indirect predecessor to Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives
Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives
Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives is a 1986 slasher film, the sixth film in the Friday the 13th film series. The film was written and directed by Tom McLoughlin...
in the series' canon, in the sense of Jason himself returning at that point in the franchise. Likewise, Tommy Jarvis's storyline was incorporated into A New Beginning, making a direct connection that picks up from The Final Chapter and then into Jason Lives.
Plot
The day after the events of Friday the 13th Part 3Friday the 13th Part 3
Friday the 13th Part III is the third film in the Friday the 13th series. The 1982 movie was the first film in the series to feature Jason Voorhees wearing the hockey mask that has become his prominent trademark. The film was released theatrically in 3-D, and is notable as the first Paramount...
, paramedics and officers are cleaning up the killing spree at a lakefront property left by mass murderer Jason Voorhees. Voorhees himself is the final body to be taken to the morgue, having been struck in the head with an axe by the sole survivor of his rampage, Chris Higgins.
At the hospital, Jason is placed in the morgue, but reanimates when attendant Dr. Axel (Bruce Mahler
Bruce Mahler
Bruce Mahler is an American actor, producer, and writer. He is known for his role as Sgt. Fackler on the comedy films Police Academy, and as Rabbi Kirschbaum on the sitcom Seinfeld....
) becomes amorous with Nurse Morgan. Jason kills the couple and slips out of the hospital, making his way back to Crystal Lake.
The next morning, the Jarvis family-- Mrs. Jarvis (Joan Freeman
Joan Freeman
Joan Freeman is an American actress.Freeman was a child actor, having appeared in her first film in 1949 at the age of seven...
), her teenage daughter Tricia (Kimberly Beck
Kimberly Beck
Kimberly Beck is an American actress with over sixty television and film roles to her credit.-Biography:...
), her 12-year-old son Tommy (Corey Feldman
Corey Feldman
Corey Scott Feldman is an American film and television actor. He became known during the 1980s, with roles in the Hollywood films Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter, The Goonies, Stand by Me, The Lost Boys, License to Drive, Dream a Little Dream, Gremlins and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles...
), and their dog Gordon-- make their way to the lake for vacation. Also en route to the lake are a group of vacationing teens, including Paul (Clyde Hayes), his flirtatious girlfriend Sam (Judie Aronson
Judie Aronson
Judith M. Aronson is an American actress who has starred in many films and a television show. The television series in which she starred was the short-lived Pursuit of Happiness as Sara Duncan from 1987-1988....
), jokester Ted (Lawrence Monoson
Lawrence Monoson
Lawrence Monoson is an American film and television actor.His first film was the 1982 comedy The Last American Virgin, in which he starred as Gary. His other well known film roles are in the 1984 horror movie Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter as Ted, and the 1985 hit drama movie Mask as Ben...
), Ted's best friend Jimmy (Crispin Glover
Crispin Glover
Crispin Hellion Glover is an American film actor, director and screenwriter, recording artist, publisher, and author. Glover is known for portraying eccentric people on screen such as George McFly in Back to the Future, Layne in River's Edge, unfriendly recluse Rubin Farr in Rubin and Ed, the...
), Doug (Peter Barton
Peter Barton
Peter Thomas Barton is an American actor. In the 1980s and 1990s, he starred in The Powers of Matthew Star, with Louis Gossett, Jr.; Burke's Law with Gene Barry; and the soap opera Sunset Beach. Named one of the 10 sexiest guys in soaps by Playgirl, Barton is probably best known as Dr...
) and his girlfriend Sara (Barbara Howard
Barbara Howard
Barbara Howard is an American actress, who remains best known for her roles in the film Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter and in the television series Falcon Crest as Melissa Agretti's cousin Robin Agretti. She is currently working as a psychotherapist.-External links:...
). The group nearly stops to pick up a hitchhiker (Bonnie Hellman
Bonnie Hellman
Bonnie Hellman is an American television and film actress. She has had roles in series such as Sunset Beach and Desperate Housewives, and has appeared in films including Get Smart and Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter .-References:...
), but instead keep driving; moments later, Jason emerges from the woods and murders the hitchhiker.
The Jarvises and the teens arrive at the lake, introducing themselves to the Jarvises and inviting Tricia to join them later. The teens head out to the woods to skinny dip
Skinny Dip
Skinny Dip is a caper novel by Carl Hiaasen first published in 2004.-Plot introduction:Set in South Florida in the course of April, 2003, it is about a woman, Joey Perrone, who takes revenge on her cheating husband after he has tried to murder her...
, where they meet a pair of twins, Tina and Terri (Camilla
Camilla More
Camilla More is an English actress who has starred in movies and on television. She is the fraternal twin sister of Carey More. The two sisters have starred together in some films and TV shows.More was born in London, England...
and Carey More
Carey More
Carey More is an actress who has starred in movies and on television. She has appeared on some shows with her fraternal twin sister, actress Camilla More. She is known for playing the role of Terri in the 1984 horror film Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter. She also appeared in the 1985 comedy...
), whom they invite to join them as potential dates for Ted and Jimmy. Meanwhile, Tricia and Tommy head into town, only for their car to break down along the way. They're rescued by a young man named Rob (Erich Anderson
Erich Anderson
Erich Anderson is an actor, sometimes credited as E. Erich Anderson, who has starred in film and on television. He is best known for his first film role in the 1984 horror film Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter as Rob Dyer...
), who is armed with weapons and survivalist supplies and claims to have come to the woods to hunt.
Night falls, and Jason begins killing the teenagers off one by one, starting with Sam who is stabbed through the torso while floating in a raft after skinny dipping, he kills Paul by launching a harpoon through his crotch before moving his way into the house. He kills Terri with a large pike to the back, then launches Tina through the second story window on top of the car. When a celebrating Jimmy goes into the dark kitchen he receives a corkscrew
Corkscrew
A corkscrew is a kitchen tool for drawing stopping corks from wine bottles. Generally, a corkscrew consists of a pointed metallic helix attached to a handle. The user grips the handle and screws the metal point into the cork, until the helix is firmly embedded, then a vertical pull on the...
through the hand and a cleaver to the face. Teddy is next with a knife through a projector screen into the back of his skull, he moves upstairs and kills Doug in the shower by crushing his face and finally he kills Sarah who finds Doug and tries to run, with an hatchet
Hatchet
A hatchet is a single-handed striking tool with a sharp blade used to cut and split wood...
to the chest. After killing everyone there he heads next door to the Jarvis house; he kills Mrs. Jarvis, but Tricia and Tommy have gone back into town. When they arrive back at the house, Tricia goes to Rob's camp for help, where she discovers a scrapbook filled with articles about Jason's initial sighting years before. Rob tells her that he was prompted to come to the woods by news of Jason's disappearance from the morgue; Jason murdered his sister, Sandra, two days prior (Friday the 13th Part 2
Friday the 13th Part 2
Friday the 13th Part II is a 1981 slasher film directed by Steve Miner, who also directed its sequel, Friday the 13th Part III and several other popular horror films. A sequel to Friday the 13th , it is the second film in the Friday the 13th film series. It was a moderate box-office hit, opening on...
) and Rob intends to kill him in revenge.
Rob accompanies Tricia back to the teenagers' house. Jason catches Rob off guard in the basement and kills him with a gardening tool to the neck. Tricia runs back to her house and she and Tommy set about barricading themselves in, but Jason still manages to break in by using Rob's body to smash through a window. Jason pursues them upstairs, where Tricia bludgeons him with Tommy's computer monitor. They attempt to leave, but Jason awakens again and pursues them back downstairs. Tommy, having read Rob's newspaper clippings about Jason, hurriedly shaves his head and uses his special effects makeup to make himself resemble Jason as he appeared as a child. Tommy runs downstairs and calls out to Jason; Jason, thinking he sees himself, becomes confused. Tommy calls Jason to him, beckoning him to "remember." Jason briefly relents in his attack, allowing Tricia to attack him with a machete. In the process, his mask comes off, terrifying Tricia with the sight of his disfigured face. She drops the machete, and Jason begins advancing on her. Tommy snatches up the machete and swings it at Jason's face, lodging the tip in his eye. Jason staggers and falls onto the machete, driving it through his skull. Tommy and Tricia are initially celebratory until Tommy sees Jason's fingers twitching. Not satisfied that he is dead, Tommy yanks the machete out of Jason's head and begins hacking his body to pieces while a hysterical Tricia begs him to stop.
Sometime later, Tricia consults with doctors in a hospital over Tommy's behavior, concerned about the sudden outburst of violence. The doctors assure her that Tommy was simply acting in an instinctive survival mode to protect them and that such a display was perfectly normal under the circumstances. Tommy is brought into the room and Tricia hugs him while Tommy blankly stares ahead.
Alternate ending
An alternate ending to the film, included in the 2009 Deluxe Edition DVD, shows a dream sequence where Trish and Tommy wake up the next morning after killing Jason to the sound of police sirens. Trish sends Tommy to summon the police who have arrived next door. At that point she notices water dripping from the ceiling and goes to investigate. She enters the upstairs bathroom, and finds the body of her mother floating in a tub full of bloody water. Trish lifts her mother out of the tub, prompting Mrs. Jarvis' eyes to open, revealing them to be solid white and devoid of irses. Jason suddenly appears from behind the bathroom door and prepares to attack Trish. Trish then suddenly wakes up in the hospital in a scene reminiscent of the ending of the first movie. In his commentary, the director says this scene was cut because it interfered with the idea that this would be the final film.Cast
- Kimberly BeckKimberly BeckKimberly Beck is an American actress with over sixty television and film roles to her credit.-Biography:...
as Trish Jarvis - Erich AndersonErich AndersonErich Anderson is an actor, sometimes credited as E. Erich Anderson, who has starred in film and on television. He is best known for his first film role in the 1984 horror film Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter as Rob Dyer...
as Rob Dier - Corey FeldmanCorey FeldmanCorey Scott Feldman is an American film and television actor. He became known during the 1980s, with roles in the Hollywood films Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter, The Goonies, Stand by Me, The Lost Boys, License to Drive, Dream a Little Dream, Gremlins and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles...
as Tommy Jarvis - Peter Barton as Doug
- Crispin GloverCrispin GloverCrispin Hellion Glover is an American film actor, director and screenwriter, recording artist, publisher, and author. Glover is known for portraying eccentric people on screen such as George McFly in Back to the Future, Layne in River's Edge, unfriendly recluse Rubin Farr in Rubin and Ed, the...
as Jimmy - Clyde Hayes as Paul
- Barbara HowardBarbara HowardBarbara Howard is an American actress, who remains best known for her roles in the film Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter and in the television series Falcon Crest as Melissa Agretti's cousin Robin Agretti. She is currently working as a psychotherapist.-External links:...
as Sara - Lawrence MonosonLawrence MonosonLawrence Monoson is an American film and television actor.His first film was the 1982 comedy The Last American Virgin, in which he starred as Gary. His other well known film roles are in the 1984 horror movie Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter as Ted, and the 1985 hit drama movie Mask as Ben...
as Ted - Joan FreemanJoan FreemanJoan Freeman is an American actress.Freeman was a child actor, having appeared in her first film in 1949 at the age of seven...
as Mrs. Jarvis - Judie AronsonJudie AronsonJudith M. Aronson is an American actress who has starred in many films and a television show. The television series in which she starred was the short-lived Pursuit of Happiness as Sara Duncan from 1987-1988....
as Samantha - Adrienne KingAdrienne KingAdrienne King is an American actress, dancer and painter. She is mostly known for her starring role in the original Friday the 13th.-Life and career:...
as Alice Hardy (Archive Footage) - John FureyJohn FureyJohn Furey is an American actor who has starred in film and on television. He is best known for his role in the 1981 horror film Friday the 13th Part 2 as Paul Holt. His most recent film is the 2005 movie The Galindez File....
as Paul Holt (Archive Footage) - Amy SteelAmy SteelAmy Steel is an American film and television actress, also credited as Amy Steel Pulitzer.-Biography:She is perhaps best known for her role as Ginny Field in the 1981 horror film Friday the 13th Part 2. She was offered the chance to reprise the role for the third film in the long-running series,...
as Ginny Field (Archive Footage) - Betsy PalmerBetsy PalmerBetsy Palmer is an American actress, best known as a regular panelist on the game show I've Got a Secret, and later for playing Pamela Voorhees in the notorious slasher film Friday the 13th.-Life and career:...
as Pamela VoorheesPamela VoorheesPamela Sue Voorhees is a fictional character in the Friday the 13th films, and the antagonist of the original Friday the 13th film. She is a former camp cook and the mother of Jason Voorhees, the main character of the series....
(Archive Footage) - Rex EverhartRex EverhartRex Everhart was an American film and musical theatre actor.Everhart appeared in such films as 1978's Superman...
as Enos the truck driver (Archive Footage) - Walt GorneyWalt GorneyWalter Gorney was an American actor. He was known for his role as Crazy Ralph, the drunken old man who warns "You're all doomed!" in the 1980 hit horror movie Friday the 13th. He reprised his role in the sequel Friday the 13th Part 2...
as Crazy Ralph (Archive Footage) - Camilla MoreCamilla MoreCamilla More is an English actress who has starred in movies and on television. She is the fraternal twin sister of Carey More. The two sisters have starred together in some films and TV shows.More was born in London, England...
as Tina - Carey MoreCarey MoreCarey More is an actress who has starred in movies and on television. She has appeared on some shows with her fraternal twin sister, actress Camilla More. She is known for playing the role of Terri in the 1984 horror film Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter. She also appeared in the 1985 comedy...
as Terri - Lisa Freeman as Nurse Robbie Morgan
- Bonnie HellmanBonnie HellmanBonnie Hellman is an American television and film actress. She has had roles in series such as Sunset Beach and Desperate Housewives, and has appeared in films including Get Smart and Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter .-References:...
as Hitchhiker - Bruce MahlerBruce MahlerBruce Mahler is an American actor, producer, and writer. He is known for his role as Sgt. Fackler on the comedy films Police Academy, and as Rabbi Kirschbaum on the sitcom Seinfeld....
as Axel - Ted WhiteTed White (stuntman)Ted White is an American stunt man/actor who doubled for John Wayne, Fess Parker, Clark Gable, Lee Marvin and Richard Boone, among others.-Sports career:The hulking White also played football for the University of Oklahoma....
as Jason VoorheesJason VoorheesJason Voorhees is a fictional character from the Friday the 13th series of slasher films. He first appeared in Friday the 13th , as the son of camp cook-turned-murderer, Mrs. Voorhees, in which he was portrayed by Ari Lehman. Created by Victor Miller, with contributions by Ron Kurz, Sean S...
(uncredited) - Marta Kober as Sandra Dier (Archive Footage)
- Kristen Baker as Terry (Archive Footage)
- Steve Daskawisz as Jason Voorhees (Archive Footage)
- Richard BrookerRichard BrookerRichard Brooker is an English stuntman, perhaps best known for his role in Friday the 13th Part III as Jason Voorhees.-Career:Brooker, a former trapeze artist from England, started his career in acting in a casting magazine, "Dramalogue"...
as Jason Voorhees (Archive Footage)
Box office
The film played in 1,594 theaters and opened in first place in the box officeBox office
A box office is a place where tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through an unblocked hole through a wall or window, or at a wicket....
taking $11,183,148 during its first weekend. It ended with a total domestic gross of $32,980,000.