More than just his one-of-a-kind stare, Jason Voorhees has been known to display many truly scary expressions in the films. From the beginning as a water-filled corpse to later appearances as a sack-topped killer and then the masked menace, Jason has gone through many changes, just as the fates of his victims. Today, viewers can enjoy an official look at how Jason Voorhees has been updated in the game.
Every great Horror FX sequence starts with a machete taken into action.
Greg Nicotero, who has worked on The Walking Dead, is now managing the changes to Jason Voorhees’ design for his appearances in the series going forward. According to a post on Bloody Disgusting, which officially unveiled the design on May 15, Nicotero worked with the rights holders to continue Jason Voorhees’ story in a way that stays true to the past and opens up new chapters.
Rob Barsamian, the president of Horror Inc., talked about the reason this redesign was pursued:
“We strive to maintain Jason’s original essence while continuing to move toward the future with a defined look and feel that takes Jason into his next chapter.”
Barsamian pointed out that Nicotero was given a brand new 13-hole hockey mask, which formed the base of his project. The final result? A hulking, gooey, machete-holding beast that pays tribute to the classics of the slasher genre, while suggesting there might be a more evil side lying underneath.
It’s important to note that this new design might not make an appearance on screen for some time. The next official Friday the 13th project is the upcoming Crystal Lake, a Linda Cardellini-starring series from A24 and Peacock, that will tell events leading up to Jason Voorhees’ famous near-drowning. So, no hockey mask and no machete-carrying maniac for the moment.
Peeking at the Nightmare Still to Come
While you probably won’t see Jason Voorhees ripping screens open soon, the latest look is a clear warning: he’s still out there, waiting. If Greg Nicotero decides to try something new with Jason X’s character? Most likely, the people who like horror films will see it first.
