#21 - Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986)
Alright, so let’s talk about Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives. Now, I’m gonna be real with you—none of the Friday the 13th movies are what I would call good movies. Like, none of these are masterpieces of cinema, and that’s fine! These movies are here to be dumb, fun, slasher flicks, and Jason Lives is probably the best at doing exactly that. If I had to pick the best of the series, it’s this one, and maybe Part IV, but let’s be honest—this one stands out because it leans into what the series should have been all along: a goofy, self-aware slasher that knows it’s ridiculous and runs with it.
First off, Jason in this movie? He’s a straight-up zombie. They literally bring him back to life with lightning like he’s Frankenstein’s monster, and it’s so over the top, but in the best way. Jason’s basically an unstoppable killing machine at this point, and they aren’t trying to make him some creepy guy in the woods anymore. No, they’re fully embracing him as a supernatural force of death, and it works. He’s a walking tank in this movie, and it’s fun to watch him just tear through people like it’s nothing.
Now, what I love about Part VI is that it finally has some self-awareness. The previous movies were taking themselves way too seriously for a series about a guy in a hockey mask murdering campers. But here, they’re in on the joke. The movie even starts with a James Bond-style intro where Jason slashes at the camera! Like, they know it’s ridiculous, and they’re leaning into it. There’s actual humor here that works, and it’s not just unintentional like in the earlier movies. The meta-humor is what makes this movie stand out from the rest of the franchise.
And the pacing? Way better than most of the other Friday the 13th movies. This one doesn’t drag. It moves at a brisk pace, the kills come fast, and the action is fun to watch. There’s not a lot of downtime where you’re just stuck with characters you don’t care about. Speaking of which—the characters in this one are slightly less annoying than usual. Like, okay, they’re still not great, but at least they’re a bit more self-aware and aren’t just there to be cannon fodder. Plus, Tommy Jarvis is back, and he’s pretty much the only character in the series that you actually care about. He’s on a mission to stop Jason for good, and it gives the movie a little more purpose than just “let’s watch Jason kill a bunch of random people.”
But let’s be real—the kills are why we’re here, and this movie delivers. Jason is brutal in this one, and the kills are creative and fun to watch. You’ve got him crushing heads, snapping people in half, throwing them into trees, and the effects are solid for the time. It’s not the goriest in the series (thanks, MPAA), but it’s still satisfying if you’re here for the slasher action. Plus, there’s a scene where Jason takes out a whole group of paintball players, and it’s just peak dumb fun. It’s the kind of over-the-top slasher nonsense that you want from a movie like this.
Another reason this movie stands out? The score. We’ve got Alice Cooper on the soundtrack, and let me tell you, that cheesy 80s rock vibe fits perfectly. “He’s Back (The Man Behind the Mask)” is such a ridiculous, on-the-nose song for a Jason movie, and that’s exactly why it works. It makes the whole thing feel more like a fun, horror-themed rollercoaster than a typical slasher movie.
So yeah, Friday the 13th Part VI is probably the best in the series because it knows exactly what it’s supposed to be: dumb, fun, slasher nonsense. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, it gives us an unstoppable zombie Jason, and it’s actually entertaining from start to finish. Is it a great movie? No, but none of these are. This one just happens to be the most funand the most self-aware, and honestly, that’s what makes it the standout in a franchise that’s not exactly known for high-quality filmmaking. If you’re gonna watch a Friday the 13th movie, make it this one. It’s the best example of what this series should have been the whole time.