Friday the 13th Part VIII - Jason Takes Manhattan (1989)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Tim S

  
  Regarded by most as the worst of the series, Friday the 13th Part 8: Jason Takes Manhattan is far from the worst. Storywise and in title maybe, I'll give you that, but this film is much more well-made and more interesting than the entry before it. The supreme letdown of the film… More
  Regarded by most as the worst of the series, Friday the 13th Part 8: Jason Takes Manhattan is far from the worst. Storywise and in title maybe, I'll give you that, but this film is much more well-made and more interesting than the entry before it. The supreme letdown of the film taking place in New York City for only the last 30 mins or so of the movie killed this movie's chances as it let all expectations of it down, and most wrote it off as nothing more than a marketing gimmick to get people in to see it. However in retrospect, I find it a bit more polished than most people are willing to give it credit for. It has some great gags and is genuinely creepy at times, even with a teleporting Jason (when did he learn to do that?). With a different subtitle and a different marketing campaign, this movie might have fared a bit better than it did. I can't praise it too highly though, because some of the story elements are a bit tedious. Again, we have a heroine lead with mind powers. They're not as prevalent as the previous film and there isn't really any telekinesis in use, but it does feel like it's drawing from the same well. The notion that she was almost drowned by Jason as a child and she has had a psychosis about it ever since which causes her to have visions of a young Jason crying for help was never really resolved the way it should have been. Besides, we later learn that Jason wasn't the one who caused the problem in the first place, so it feels shoehorned in rather than natural in the storytelling. The film also came under heavy scrutiny by the MPAA, so it's not as gory or violent as you might expect it to be. It takes place mostly on a cruise ship, but they change things up as the whole group is made aware of Jason early on, with the group taking him on (failing one by one, of course). It's nice that they switched it up for a change instead of just more camp murder hijinks. Maybe that's why I like it so much; that they tried to genuinely do something different with it. If you watch all of the films in a row, it shakes things up and keeps you interested. I'm not saying it's a great, but it is a bit underrated. It's also the last of the Paramount series, as well as the last film of the franchise (as of this writing) to show any kind of creativity or fun. From here on in, it's nothing but recycled idea after recycled idea.

• Coxxie M

  
  The one where we find out that Jason's head is made out of Play-doh. one of the first people he ever killed was his dentist.

• Conner R

  
  A hilarious horror epic, Jason truly takes the city by storm. There's so much anticipation to get to Manhatten, what with the whole boat trip and float to shore. It never gets old to see Jason punch the head off the cocky teenager known as Julius. Its a lot more entertaining than… More
  A hilarious horror epic, Jason truly takes the city by storm. There's so much anticipation to get to Manhatten, what with the whole boat trip and float to shore. It never gets old to see Jason punch the head off the cocky teenager known as Julius. Its a lot more entertaining than one might expect, you end up having a lot more fun with Jason and the way he takes his victims. Kane Hodder is everything that Jason should be and more. He makes you root for the bad guy, something not easily done. This has awesome deaths, lovable camp and incredibly bizarre storylines.

• jd c

  
  Another bad one in the series. Not that gory, horrible acting, horrible story, and just flat out corny. I hated how they made Jason Voorhees seem like a pissed off ghost, who could just appear and disappear at will. Bad choice. Not that good of a movie.

• Jeff "

  
  This ain't no love boat, and Jason is on board with one thing on his mind. The last Paramount release of the Friday The 13th franchise is actually an overlooked enjoyable film. People have strongly criticized this film because of the title, the length and other issues not worth… More
  This ain't no love boat, and Jason is on board with one thing on his mind. The last Paramount release of the Friday The 13th franchise is actually an overlooked enjoyable film. People have strongly criticized this film because of the title, the length and other issues not worth mentioning. Jason is a stowaway aboard a student boat charter as they set sail for New York City. The big question is will it get there??? umm, well a few will thats for sure. This by far the most laid back of all the Friday films,it pretty much builds up on the comedic effect that was showcased in Jason Lives! Except now, almost everything is done for comedic effect. I love this entry in this series because of that fact, it's a film return to key Friday The 13th elements and yet is the one that seems to take itself not seriously whatsoever. In my Book, this film would have been a better end to the series.

• Anthony L

  
  This is joint worst along with part 5. Jason does not take Manhattan, he kills some stupid teenage people on a boat. Why is he on the boat? Why don't people seem to care that their friends are being killed? Why don't people run away? Ugh, it?s just very very crap. Nice to… More
  This is joint worst along with part 5. Jason does not take Manhattan, he kills some stupid teenage people on a boat. Why is he on the boat? Why don't people seem to care that their friends are being killed? Why don't people run away? Ugh, it?s just very very crap. Nice to get away from Crystal Lake but the boat idea was wasted. Anyway, to hell with you Jason..

• Chris G

  
  The title says it all. You know how bad this movie is going to be just from the title. But the title is a lie. A damn lie. A good portion of this film takes place on the Love Boat. Yes, the Love Boat. Jason kills some people until the ship sinks. He then swims to New York (actually… More
  The title says it all. You know how bad this movie is going to be just from the title. But the title is a lie. A damn lie. A good portion of this film takes place on the Love Boat. Yes, the Love Boat. Jason kills some people until the ship sinks. He then swims to New York (actually Toronto) and starts slicing and dicing more teens, which begs the question that if he could swim that good in the first place none of these films would have happened. Jason takes Manhattan is a ridiculous premise with a ridiculous script, ridiculous acting, and probably one of the worst endings ever. It's no wonder that Paramount sold the series out after this one. It sucks.

• Luke B

  
  As many have stated before me the taking of Manhattan doesn't happen until late on. It should really be titled Jason on a Boat. The film has some glimpses of Part VI's humour but nothing that great. Jason scaring some punks by taking off his mask being a highlight. It's… More
  As many have stated before me the taking of Manhattan doesn't happen until late on. It should really be titled Jason on a Boat. The film has some glimpses of Part VI's humour but nothing that great. Jason scaring some punks by taking off his mask being a highlight. It's also odd to see Jason ignore so many potential victims. Departing from the Camp may have seemed like a good idea but it proves to be a big anti-climatic downfall. Certainly a bit of slashing fun but mainly watch it for the absurd 80'sness of it all.

• A.D. V

  
  Hands down the worst in the entire series. Acting is worse than usual, the direction is boring and unimaginative, the "plot" spends way too much time on the boat and not enough in Manhattan, Jason seems to be capable of teleportation and toxic waste turns Jason back into a… More
  Hands down the worst in the entire series. Acting is worse than usual, the direction is boring and unimaginative, the "plot" spends way too much time on the boat and not enough in Manhattan, Jason seems to be capable of teleportation and toxic waste turns Jason back into a little boy with bad prosthetic makeup and a full head of black hair. And I just gotta say, in a flashback a young Rennie was pulled under by a young Jason--wouldn't that make her somewhere between 20 and 40???? And how did a pleasure boat get into Crystal Lake? When did Crystal Lake move to the East coast? How can the filmmakers or even Hodder for that matter forget which eye Jason lost?

• Cassandra M

  
  Friday the 13th part 8: Jason Takes Manhattan is the best Friday the 13th film in the series. My top three are: Part 8, part 6, and part 4. I don't know why alot of people are trashing it, but I do know that it had really good visuals and the dog was the cutest thing ever! I… More
  Friday the 13th part 8: Jason Takes Manhattan is the best Friday the 13th film in the series. My top three are: Part 8, part 6, and part 4. I don't know why alot of people are trashing it, but I do know that it had really good visuals and the dog was the cutest thing ever! I really thought that the kills were done the best here and were the most creative out of all of the other ones in the series.

• Lee ?

  
  A little change of scenery in this 8th Friday the 13th movie as Jason Voorhees once again miraculously manages to get himself brought back to life and hitches a ride to New York via a Ferry full of students. The slaughter soon ensues onboard as Jason hacks his way through the unlucky… More
  A little change of scenery in this 8th Friday the 13th movie as Jason Voorhees once again miraculously manages to get himself brought back to life and hitches a ride to New York via a Ferry full of students. The slaughter soon ensues onboard as Jason hacks his way through the unlucky teens (including Kelly Hu in her first movie role). But the boring and confined interiors of the ship are no match for the atmospheric woods around Crystal Lake and the first hour of the movie just isn't effective at all and tedium soon sets in. Things get a lot more interesting though once Jason and Co. arrive in Manhatten and it's worth watching this movie for the last half hour alone. Other than that, it was a very average entry into the series.

• Lafe F

  
  Nowhere near the greatest Friday the 13th story. I think they stuck two scripts together: Jason killing people on an ocean liner, and Jason killing people in New York. The title is misleading, because Jason only spends the last third of the movie in Manhattan. The first two thirds are… More
  Nowhere near the greatest Friday the 13th story. I think they stuck two scripts together: Jason killing people on an ocean liner, and Jason killing people in New York. The title is misleading, because Jason only spends the last third of the movie in Manhattan. The first two thirds are him killing kids on a boat on the way to Manhattan! There are some great kills here. Jason looks a bit weird; his mask has yellowed, and his arms look a bit prosthetic. The great "Skeletor-Jason" face effects from part 7 weren't used again. The characters aren't as likeable in this one; we hardly get to know them. The ship-themed killing scenes are well done, but I think I'd rather see them being killed in New York. When we do get to New York, there's a cool Subway and Times Square scene, but the remainder takes place in dingy alleys and in the sewer tunnels under the city. Many of the New York scenes were shot in Vancouver, BC instead. It would've been cool if Jason had gone to one of the lakes in Central Park. The main girl (forget her name) keeps having visions of young deformed Jason. The ending makes no sense; as Jason is trapped in radioactive waste (which conveniently floods the sewers of New York every night), and is transformed into his younger self. This was the end of the Friday the 13th series for the Paramount studio. When New Line picked it up for "Jason Goes to Hell", they threw out the young Jason plotline with the bath water. This film has a terrible title song too. The whole production felt a step down in quality from previous chapters.

• Dean !

  
  Good location for a change in the series, most of the film takes place on a small cruise ship. However gets quite silly towards the end.

• danny d

  
  terrible

• Jason S

  
  He was in the Big Apple for the last fifteen minutes. That should tell you everything you need to know.

• Dean M

  
  When Jason take his mask off, it frights me a bit - terrible and freaky.

• James A

  
  Just read the title!

• Lindsey D

  
  'Friday The 13th: Part 8 - Jason Takes Manhattan' is a viewing experience I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy.

• Matthew Y

  
  Ugh...this series has become so campy that even the title is pure camp. Jason Takes Manhattan. The really funny part is that Jason is hardly in Manhattan at all. The film should be called Jason Takes a Luxury Cruise Liner to Manhattan. Although when he finally gets there he makes… More
  Ugh...this series has become so campy that even the title is pure camp. Jason Takes Manhattan. The really funny part is that Jason is hardly in Manhattan at all. The film should be called Jason Takes a Luxury Cruise Liner to Manhattan. Although when he finally gets there he makes up for lost time by checking out a dock, a back alley, a diner, the subway and finally a sewer. Yup, sounds like Manhattan alright. The movie is pure lowest common denominator stuff at this point and even fans of the series will probably jump ship on this one.

• Jon O

  
  So it turns out that this was one of the two "Friday" films I hadn't seen. It gets a bad rap, but it's probably the 4th or 5th best film in the series. It's well-shot and well-directed if nothing else.

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