Every Time Friday the 13th & A Nightmare on Elm Street Movies Hid References To Each Other

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It’s common to see references or jokes about the classic horror series *Friday the 13th* and *A Nightmare on Elm Street* in other movies and TV shows. Jason Voorhees and his machete have appeared in nods within films like *National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation* and *ParaNorman*, and on shows like *Family Guy*. Freddy Krueger’s dream world has been referenced in titles such as *It* and *Ready Player One*, as well as the series *Rick and Morty*. Some shows, like *The Simpsons* and *South Park*, have even referenced both franchises, sometimes in the same scene. But before Freddy and Jason finally battled each other in *Freddy vs. Jason*, did these two series ever acknowledge each other? Surprisingly, yes – three times, and we’re about to explore those moments.

We did exclude *Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan*. The movie used hallucinations for the character Rennie, and while IMDb notes these were meant to resemble the dream sequences from the *Elm Street* films, it feels more like an attempt to capitalize on their popularity than a genuine reference.

Mystery Dream Man in Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives

It seemed likely that if any film featuring Jason Voorhees would acknowledge the *Nightmare on Elm Street* series, it would be the 1986 horror-comedy *Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives*. Released between the second and third *Nightmare on Elm Street* films, *Jason Lives* was surprisingly well-received by critics. It’s a clever slasher film, especially considering it came out a decade before *Scream* and eight years before *Wes Craven’s New Nightmare*.

This movie includes several nods to classic horror films and the people who created them. For example, the character Sheriff Mike Garris is named after Mick Garris, a director known for documentaries about films like *The Thing* and *The Howling*. The movie also subtly references other horror franchises: Sheriff Garris mentions a town near Forest Green (which is similar to Crystal Lake) called Carpenter, and Jennifer Cooke’s character suggests taking Cunningham Road during a chase – both names alluding to horror directors Sean S. Cunningham (of *Friday the 13th* fame) and John Carpenter.

The film also includes several nods to the classic *Frankenstein* story, like the way Jason is revived using electricity, a clear reference to Mary Shelley’s novel. You can also spot Karloff’s General Store, and the opening scene echoes the beginning of *Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man*. Finally, there’s one more *Frankenstein* homage that cleverly connects to a reference from *A Nightmare on Elm Street*.

When Jason appears in the cabin, he looms over a scared little girl in a way that strongly recalls the classic scenes of Frankenstein’s monster and a child from *The Ghost of Frankenstein*. We find out through an earlier conversation that the girl’s name is Nancy, a clear nod to Nancy Thompson from *A Nightmare on Elm Street*. Interestingly, the Nancy in *Jason Lives* describes being attacked in a dream, saying it felt “real, just like on TV.”

Jason the Dog in A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master

The popular sequel, *A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master*, brings back several characters from *A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors*. In addition to Robert Englund reprising his role as Freddy Krueger, Tuesday Knight steps in as Kristen Parker (previously played by Patricia Arquette), alongside returning actors Brooke Bundy as Elaine Parker, Rodney Eastman as Joey Crusel, and Ken Sagoes as Roland Kincaid.

Kristen, Joey, and Kincaid are Freddy’s first targets, but first, he needs to be brought back to life. That’s where Kincaid and his dog, Jason, come in. Many fans consider the moment Jason urinates on Freddy’s grave – resurrecting him – as the point where the series jumped the shark. That’s a valid opinion, but it’s still a neat touch that a character named “Jason” is the one who brings Freddy back.

Kincaid’s puppy has a unique look – a white face with black spots that look a bit like a hockey mask. It’s unclear if the filmmakers chose this dog, Jake, specifically for that reason, but it’s a fun coincidence. And honestly, this version of Jason is the most endearing we’ve ever seen.

Freddy’s Glove in Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday

New Line Cinema, famous for the ‘Nightmare on Elm Street’ films, really wanted to bring back popular but fading horror franchises. They’d made a lot of money with Freddy Krueger in the 80s and hoped to repeat that success, but their attempt ultimately failed.

They first tried to revive the *Texas Chainsaw* franchise with *Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III* (1990), but it didn’t generate much excitement. The following year, they seemingly ended Freddy Krueger’s story with *Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare*, only to bring him back in a self-aware way three years later with *Wes Craven’s New Nightmare*.

Following *Freddy’s Dead* and before *New Nightmare* came *Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday*. This movie featured less of Jason than usual and was released four years after *Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan*, which was the last film made with Paramount Pictures. However, *The Final Friday* didn’t earn much more money than *Jason Takes Manhattan*, and that film was the lowest-grossing in the series domestically until *Jason X* was released by New Line Cinema.

By the 1990s, audiences were tired of the usual horror villains like Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers, and Leatherface. The slasher genre needed a fresh idea, something like pitting two of these iconic characters against each other. The ending of *Jason Goes to Hell* hinted at this possibility, and fans who saw it in theaters were thrilled. However, they wouldn’t get the crossover they hoped for for another ten years.

Even now, the moment Freddy Krueger’s glove rises from the ground and pulls Jason Voorhees’ mask off, accompanied by his signature laugh, remains a shocking highlight of both horror series. While it doesn’t really advance the story, it’s a perfect fit for *Jason Goes to Hell*, a film known for taking big risks. Why *not* end it with the most audacious one? Plus, this scene is notable because Kane Hodder became the only actor to portray both Jason (in *Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood* through *Jason X*) and Leatherface (*Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III*), as well as Freddy Krueger.

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2025-10-09 02:12