Jason and Fulci, Revisited

I wrote before on the resemblance between Zombie Jason from FRIDAY THE 13th parts six through eight and the most recognizable revenant from Lucio Fulci’s masterpiece ZOMBIE (aka ZOMBIE 2, aka ZOMBI, aka ZOMBI 2). Searching for images of Jason Voorhees to accompany an article about my visit this past week to the filming location for the sixth installment in the FRIDAY movies, the first appearance of Zombie Jason (one could argue that, as Jason technically died for the first time as a little boy, he’s been a zombie in *every* FRIDAY THE 13th movie, but it is in part six where he leaves no doubt about it, being in an advanced state of decay), I came across this image, the one on the above right. Look familiar? It did to me. Almost immediately I recognized it as a takeoff on the poster for ZOMBIE.

I’m not the first to point out the similarities, then. Tom McLoughlin, writer and director of FRIDAY THE 13th VI: JASON LIVES, is a big ol’ mark for classic Horror. He based his idea for that movie on the 1931 classic FRANKENSTEIN, with Jason being brought back to life by lightning, and borrowed ideas from DRACULA, too, specifically the part about a vampire being bound to its native soil. I don’t know that McLoughlin had anything to do with that poster, but it sure wouldn’t surprise me if he had.

By TheCheezman

WAYNE MILLER is the owner and creative director of EVIL CHEEZ PRODUCTIONS, specializing in theatrical performances and haunted attractions. He has written, produced, and directed (and occasionally acted in) over two dozen plays, most of them in the Horror and True Crime genres. He obtained a doctorate in Occult Studies from Miskatonic University and is an active paranormal investigator. Is frequently told he resembles Anton Lavey. And Ming the Merciless. Denn die totden reiten schnell!

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