"Jason can survive anything."Considering how the UK DVD editions of the Friday The 13th films have been starved of extras, Anchor Bay's two-disc documentary goes a very long way to sate the fans of this oft-maligned but much-loved horror franchise. The first disc is the 90-minutes long documentary itself, featuring an extraordinary number of Friday actors, writers, directors and crew (including every Jason!); the main feature would have benefited, however, from giving more time to those actually involved instead of some unnecessary 'talking heads' from the horror world (although some of the interviews can be found in extended form on disc two). Tom Savini is as ever a genial host, although the framing walkthrough of the theme park attraction becomes irritating. It would be churlish to point out some absences (e.g from leading cast members) when there is so much on offer, and to see key actors such as Adrienne King and Amy Steel talk about their roles with such enthusiasm is a joy. Indeed, King's subdued recounting of her obsessive stalker shows the real human background entwined with any level of the movie-making business. This is very much by fans for fans, and there is scope for more coverage of the series' fascinating transition from the-little-indie-that-could to studio franchise and the MPAA struggles, but overall each entry is covered positively in the limited time available. The second disc offers up extended interviews and the occasional treat (e.g. the visit to the original barn from Part III ), but other content is less essential (such as weak fan-films). Overall, His Name Was Jason is a treat for Friday fans, in spite of offering little that is really new in terms of information. It says something about the times when the original UK 18-rated video release of The Final Chapter saw a cut to Jason's death scene, yet here it is presented in its full glory on a DVD Exempt from Classification!
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