To this day, Friday the 13th fans are pissed that Kane Hodder was replaced by Ken Kirzinger. But was Ken a bad choice?
Aside from the iconic hockey mask and machete, what do you think about when you hear the name Jason Voorhees? He’s obviously a monster who slashes almost anything in his path, but how does he move in your mind? Is he a slow, lumbering zombie capable of stealth and swift attacks? Despite his evil, are his eyes sad and sympathetic? Or perhaps he’s an angry, hulking monster that smashes everything and will not stop coming after you? Are his eyes full of rage?
Well, the first description describes the Jason Voorhees portrayed by Ken Kirzinger, the colossal Canadian giant who played Jason in Jason v. Freddy. The second description of Jason fits the style of Kane Hodder, who played Jason in four films and most recently in the Friday the 13th video game.
Well, the first description describes the Jason Voorhees portrayed by Ken Kirzinger, the colossal Canadian giant who played Jason in Jason v. Freddy. The second description of Jason fits the style of Kane Hodder, who played Jason in four films and most recently in the Friday the 13th video game.
Kane Hodder is under the makeup here (Friday The 13th: The New Blood) His vengeful portrayal of Jason Voorhees was so successful that he wound up playing the character in four consecutive films.
To this day, Friday the 13th fans are upset that Kane Hodder was not invited back to play Jason in Freddy v. Jason. Director Ronny Yu wanted to go in a different direction. He wanted a “new Jason.” But, despite being a fan of Kane Hodder, I had to objectively ask myself, “Was this a bad thing?”
Before Kane Hodder wore the hockey mask, each actor that played Jason portrayed him a bit differently, although the overall style was the same. CJ Graham (Friday The 13th, Jason Lives) was the first to make noticeable changes. At the beginning of the film, Jason’s maggot infested corpse was struck by lightning and became more of a supernatural being. This Jason could not be hurt, had superhuman strength, and could seemingly teleport. Stealth was probably his greatest weapon in the film, as his victims could almost never see him coming.
The director for the next film (Friday The 13th, The New Blood) was friends with Kane Hodder and hired him to wear the mask for the next film. Kane’s version of Jason was a new animal altogether. Each movement and kill was done with an insane rage and power we’d never seen from the monster before. In addition, Kane developed his own vocabulary of movement for the character. This Jason would intimidate victims sometimes by just standing there, doing idle breaths. He would also move his head and the rest of his body would follow its lead in sync. Kane’s Jason was a hit with audiences and he wound up playing the characters for four consecutive films.
Before Kane Hodder wore the hockey mask, each actor that played Jason portrayed him a bit differently, although the overall style was the same. CJ Graham (Friday The 13th, Jason Lives) was the first to make noticeable changes. At the beginning of the film, Jason’s maggot infested corpse was struck by lightning and became more of a supernatural being. This Jason could not be hurt, had superhuman strength, and could seemingly teleport. Stealth was probably his greatest weapon in the film, as his victims could almost never see him coming.
The director for the next film (Friday The 13th, The New Blood) was friends with Kane Hodder and hired him to wear the mask for the next film. Kane’s version of Jason was a new animal altogether. Each movement and kill was done with an insane rage and power we’d never seen from the monster before. In addition, Kane developed his own vocabulary of movement for the character. This Jason would intimidate victims sometimes by just standing there, doing idle breaths. He would also move his head and the rest of his body would follow its lead in sync. Kane’s Jason was a hit with audiences and he wound up playing the characters for four consecutive films.
Jason spooked the HELL out of Arsenio Hall by appearing on his late night talk show. Kane Hodder donned the costume to promote "Jason Takes Manhattan."
In Hodder’s portrayals, Jason spared no one. (However, Kane Hodder revealed in an interview that Jason would never hurt kids, as he was once a child victim himself). Kane was brilliant in the role, as he was able to communicate his anger, confusion, fear and other emotions using only his body and never his face.
Unfortunately, Kane developed a reputation for being difficult to work with behind the camera. There are stories that he would sometimes hold up production by arguing with the producers about what Jason would or would not do.
Freddy v. Jason Director Ronny Yu wanted nothing to do with this. So he instead hired a lumbering stuntman from Canada named Ken Kirzinger. Ken was much more cooperative and just happy to have the part. With Ken wearing the hockey mask, Ronny would not have to worry about being intimidated by Kane Hodder.
Unfortunately, Kane developed a reputation for being difficult to work with behind the camera. There are stories that he would sometimes hold up production by arguing with the producers about what Jason would or would not do.
Freddy v. Jason Director Ronny Yu wanted nothing to do with this. So he instead hired a lumbering stuntman from Canada named Ken Kirzinger. Ken was much more cooperative and just happy to have the part. With Ken wearing the hockey mask, Ronny would not have to worry about being intimidated by Kane Hodder.
Ken Kirzinger's 6'5 height only increased his intimidating presence.
Ronny had his own vision of Jason Voorhees. He wanted a slow, zombie monster in the vein of Frankenstein. This is why Jason suddenly went from being an angry hulking monster in the previous films to being a slow and silent killer in Freddy v. Jason.
In Ronny’s movie, Jason is actually the lesser of two evils. Freddy is the evil mastermind. Jason is no saint obviously, but the movie shows him being bullied by his peers as a child. We also see Freddy manipulate his fear of water and love for his vengeful mother. Ronny wanted Jason to have “sensitive eyes.” Because of these vulnerabilities, Jason almost comes across as an anti-hero.
Kirzinger did not copy any of Hodder's signature Jason movements. Well, except for one. Like Hodder, Kirzinger's Jason would tilt his head to the side like a puppy whenever he was puzzled by something. It's almost adorable.
In Ronny’s movie, Jason is actually the lesser of two evils. Freddy is the evil mastermind. Jason is no saint obviously, but the movie shows him being bullied by his peers as a child. We also see Freddy manipulate his fear of water and love for his vengeful mother. Ronny wanted Jason to have “sensitive eyes.” Because of these vulnerabilities, Jason almost comes across as an anti-hero.
Kirzinger did not copy any of Hodder's signature Jason movements. Well, except for one. Like Hodder, Kirzinger's Jason would tilt his head to the side like a puppy whenever he was puzzled by something. It's almost adorable.
Many say that Ken was basically sized up and given the part, which is true. But when you watch Freddy v. Jason, his size difference with Robert Englund makes a hell of a contrast. He towers over Freddy and everyone else in the movie. This heightens his intimidation factor.
When I finally sat down recently to watch the movie for the first time in years, it clicked. “I got it. I see Ronny’s vision.”
When I finally sat down recently to watch the movie for the first time in years, it clicked. “I got it. I see Ronny’s vision.”
If Kane Hodder had clashed with Freddy, the two would have been nearly the same height, and Jason's fierce rage would not have put him in position to be a sympathetic anti-hero.
On an interesting side note, this was not Ken Kirzinger's first time replacing Kane Hodder as Jason Voorhees. Kirzinger previously played Jason in a few brief scenes in Jason Takes Manhattan. Jason suddenly appears much leaner and taller during these scenes.
Amusingly, Kirzinger played the owner of a NY diner in that movie who was flung into the wall by Jason.
Kane Hodder, in the meantime, has been playing a lesser known horror creature - Victor Crawley in the Hatchet film series. Victor is a powerful and tragic figure like Jason, but a behaves more like a wild beast than a demon.
Kane Hodder as Victor Crawley in the Hatchet film series.
Kane Hodder will always be Jason Voorhees. However, Ken Kirzinger did his job well and his Jason was the perfect fit for what Ronny Yu set out to do. Kane’s raging Jason would have perhaps been a bigger threat to Freddy, but Kirzinger’s Jason came across as a misunderstood monster - the guy you almost felt bad for and wanted to beat Freddy. That is what Ronny was going for, and it worked.
Ken Kirzinger was chosen to play Jason Voorhees because of his height and "sensitive eyes."
Kane Hodder is my favorite Jason Voorhees. But Ken Kirzinger did not do a bad job, (he's actually my second favorite) and I think it's unfair that people put him down just because his name isn't Kane Hodder.
What do you think?
What do you think?
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