Jason Universe Director Reveals Which Friday the 13th Sequel Influenced Sweet Revenge

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After long periods of anticipation, fans of Friday the 13th can now rejoice as Jason Voorhees has returned. The Jason Universe by Friday the 13th LLC and Horror, Inc. has arrived, and prior to the expected 2026 debut of the Crystal Lake series on Peacock, we are treated to a short film titled “Sweet Revenge”. This teaser will premiere on the Jason Universe YouTube channel on August 13th. To enhance your viewing experience, you can pair it with a Blood Orange hard cider from the Angry Orchard Thriller Pack, as Angry Orchard Hard Cider is sponsoring “Sweet Revenge”. So, sit back and enjoy this unique fusion of Jason’s iconic mask and an alcoholic beverage!

At San Diego Comic-Con, ComicBook had the opportunity to chat with Mike P. Nelson, the director of “Sweet Revenge”. They asked him what sparked the idea for this latest “Friday the 13th” project. Nelson, who’s known for his horror work on the “Wrong Turn” reboot and the upcoming revamp of “Silent Night, Deadly Night”, pointed to a particular installment as the high point of his admiration for the franchise.

His primary concerns revolved around achieving “spectacular deaths” and recreating the intense ambiance reminiscent of the initial four films, a sentiment that resonates with franchise enthusiasts. Many would concur that these early films, including Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives, represent the pinnacle of the saga’s quality.

After sharing my thoughts, I enthusiastically singled out “Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter” as a personal favorite among fans. I further declared it as the quintessential horror movie of the ’80s. It possesses an unmistakable atmosphere, and its kill scenes are nothing short of extraordinary. Some of these deaths are staged off-screen, which is a daring move since the subsequent on-screen kills become even more shocking and distressing.

Joseph Zito, the director of “The Final Chapter,” and screenwriter Barney Cohen did an excellent job highlighting two crucial aspects. Firstly, they developed Jason’s victims more than usual for this series, making their encounters with Jason all the more impactful. Secondly, the kill scenes are well-timed and varied. When one kill is not shown, it is often followed by another that is particularly gruesome.

The director and writer did a great job in “The Final Chapter.” They made the victims more interesting than usual, making their encounters with Jason more intense. The death scenes are also well-planned and diverse – when one scene cuts away, it’s usually followed by another that is very violent.

Let’s consider the instance where Trish and Tommy Jarvis’ mother, Tracy, meets an untimely end off-screen. We’ve had the chance to familiarize ourselves with her, only for a bolt of lightning to abruptly signal her departure. The subsequent victim is Crispin Glover’s character, Jimmy Mortimer, who suffers a corkscrew wound to his hand and a cleaver strike to his face.

In the final movie of the series, The Final Chapter, they managed to recreate that unique, difficult-to-describe atmosphere that the franchise originally had. It felt as if we were right alongside the main characters at Camp Crystal Lake, then Packanack Lodge, Higgins Haven, and finally at the Jarvis house and the neighboring vacation rental. Following this, Friday the 13th: A New Beginning took on a more gritty tone, both in terms of mood and aesthetics, while from Jason Lives onwards, there was a touch more Hollywood-style polish to the subsequent films.

Nelson emphasizes that he wasn’t aiming to create a traditional period piece; instead, he aims to capture the ineffable charm that many fans have longed for – which is what makes Sweet Revenge an exciting comeback for Jason on screen.

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2025-08-04 00:13