Unfortunately for myself and the millions of other Friday the 13th fans worldwide, Hollywood won't be making anything new regarding the franchise or our beloved Jason Voorhees anytime soon. The original film's director Sean S. Cunningham and writer Victor Miller have got into a pretty nasty legal battle concerning the right over the film franchise and its main villain. Long story short, Miller had been granted the rights to his script, which Cunningham continues to dispute. Then to make matters even worse, Cunningham filed a fresh lawsuit in January 2021 going after Warner Bros and Paramount concerning money. As reported by The Hollywood Reporter:
"Friday the 13th producer Sean Cunningham has launched a new lawsuit over net profits from the horror franchise. According to a complaint filed on Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court, the studios distributing the films have “systematically misaccounted” contingent compensation.”
So basically the franchise and any plans for it have been placed on hold indefinitely. This ranged from new downloadable content for Friday the 13th: The Game being released, new NECA figures and collectibles being produced and most likely any film plans stopped immediately with no plan in place to continue them until this lawsuit is resolved. Luckily us horror fans will always find a way to get a fix if needed, and my God some truly incredible Friday the 13th fan films have been released over the last few years. So I've compiled a list of the best ones I've seen to date. Enjoy!
Never Hike Alone
A fan tribute to Friday the 13th, Never Hike Alone follows an adventure blogger, Kyle McLeod (Andrew Leighty), who uncovers the long lost remains of Camp Crystal Lake while on a solo backpacking trip. Ignoring the campfire tales from his childhood, Kyle's search turns deadly when he makes the grave mistake of crossing the path of Camp Blood’s legendary mass murderer, Jason Voorhees. Stranded in the forest with Jason on his heels, Kyle must push his survival skills to their limits if he hopes to survive the night. Otherwise, he'll wind up as another lost victim of the cursed camp.
Never Hike in the Snow
Set three months prior to “Never Hike Alone,” “Never Hike in the Snow” follows the strange disappearance of Mark Hill (Courtlan Gordon), a Crystal Lake resident who went for a hike in the dead of winter and never came home. As Local Wessex County Sheriff Rick Cologne (Vinny Guastaferro) and Deputy Allen Mabry (Bryan Forrest) search for answers, town local Tommy Jarvis (Thom Mathews) believes that his old nemesis Jason Voorhees (Vincente DiSanti) is to blame. Will Diana Hill (Anna Campbell) ever see her son again, or will her son become another lost victim of the cursed camp?
VOORHEES
After pulling off the perfect heist a dangerous crew of thieves flee town to the seclusion of the nearby woods. All they have to do is make it through the night so they can get away clean but their sadistic leader has taken them to the long deserted Camp Crystal Lake, a place that is no longer on any maps and for good reason. Unaware of the locations notorious past the fugitives begin to explore their temporary hideout and soon realise that this place has a very dark and violent history that they are soon about to become part of. It is a race to morning where the lines between bad and pure evil are blurred and the fight to survive the awakened legend of Camp Crystal Lake is much more than they bargained for.
Friday the 13th: Vengeance
Friday the 13th Vengeance follows the exploits of the young daughter of Tommy Jarvis, Angelica, who is hellbent to travel to the very place where it all began to find her missing father. We also follow the very man who was long believed to be Jason Voorhees's father, Elias Voorhees. Vengeance also illuminates some dark dealings with the Wessex County Sheriff's Department throughout the years. Finally, we witness the return of Jason Voorhees. What is now driving him?
Friday the 13th Vengeance features Harry Manfredini's talents, the man who composed all the original music for the Friday the 13th series. Also, featuring the amazing talents of Steve Dash of Friday the 13th Part 2, Tommy McLoughlin, and C.J. Graham of Friday the 13th Part 6. And an ensemble cast starring Kelly Tappan as Angelica Jarvis, Luke Schuck as Robert Thompson, and Jason Brooks as the titular character, Jason Voorhees.
Death Curse - A Friday the 13th Fan Film
Youtubers Horror Domain Presents Friday the 13th Death Curse A Friday the 13th Fan Film. A young man Michael, disregards unsettling advice from his aunt Ginny and travels to a cabin near Camp Crystal Lake to visit his uncle Lewis, where he encounters the wrath of the legendary Jason Voorhees on a gruesome killing spree. This will be a Friday the 13th not to forget!
Camp Blood: Cat and Mouse
Friday the 13th: Extraction
When private military company, Chase Defense International, learns of a massacre involving a search and rescue party near Crystal Lake, the company's CEO takes a personal interest in apprehending the masked killer--though her intentions may be less than admirable...
Friday the 13th Resurgence
Friday the 13th: Repetition
In this fan film, 4 hikers looking to do a little extreme tourism in the fabled CAMP CRYSTAL LAKE get more than what they bargained for on FRIDAY THE 13TH!
MICHAEL vs JASON: Evil Emerges
Michael Vs Jason: Evil Emerges is short from Radical Talent that pits a resurrected Jason against Michael, who appears to be based on the Halloween 2018 version. The movie consists of a crunchy, well-choreographed fight between the two titans and helps illustrated their strengths and weaknesses.
Jason Bloodtrails: A Friday the 13th Fan Film
Friday the 13th: No Man's Land
F13: No Man's Land is a thrilling new fan made venture which returns us to the terrifying world of Jason Voorhees, and the chilling area he calls home, Crystal Lake.
When a group of youngsters, accompanied by two road travellers find themselves stumbling accidentally into the now abandoned realm of the infamous and long since gone Camp, it isn't long before they are picked off one by one by someone who isn't too happy to have been disturbed.
Here Comes The Night: A Friday the 13th Fan Film
IN THESE WOODS…THE NIGHT COMES FOR YOU!
When Sarah, Jack, and Pete go off to meet their party friends for a weekend camping trip, they soon discover they are not alone. When laughter turns to screams, and the blood begins to spill, this unsuspecting group gets more than they bargained for.
"Here Comes The Night: A Friday The 13th Fan Film" is a passion project by fans of the franchise, pulling together to tell a story that encompasses what they love about the series. With a budget of $2,000 dollars, and filmed over the course of 5 days, all involved donated their time, skills, and knowledge in order to bring this project to life. Join us on a journey into the very heart of darkness that is Crystal Lake.
The Man in the Lake
J's Night
A group of six friends meet for a weekend together and go camping on the edge of Crystal Lake. Very badly takes them, because this place is the territory of one of the most unforgiving killers that the earth has known .... and disturbing it is a very bad idea!