Horror duo rather entertaining

Evan Marmol

The sum total of all of our collective fear is culminated in “Jason

vs. Freddy.”

For the last 20 years Jason Voorhees has stalked hapless teens

with his machete like a demented gardener. This juggernaut has

mutilated, decapitated and hacked up the visitors to Camp Crystal

Lake as retribution for his own unpleasant demise.

Freddy (Robert Englund), on the other hand, has employed a more

sadistic approach over the years. His realm has been the dreams of

the inhabitants of Elm Street. A living slashing nightmare, Freddy is

inventive in his slayings and takes genuine pleasure in horrifying

his victims before taking their lives.

Freddy, though, has lost his powers to petrify. He is diminished

because nobody remembers him and without fear he is powerless. This

puppet master does not subside though; instead he manipulates Jason

Voorhees to remind the denizens of Elm Street of his existence.

For a film with explicit gore and violence, “Freddy vs. Jason” has

moments of unique humor. Englund supplies copious amounts of his wry,

droll charisma while on his murderous rampage. Playing opposite the

silent single-minded dullard Jason, Freddy is allowed to shine as the

more diabolical and twisted madman. Jason is more interested in the

carnage than the glory, and is at least as creepy as his counterpart.

Coupled, these two are truly bloodcurdling.

This flick delves into the history of each madman, acquainting us

with the motives for their madness. It also revisits the original

abode on Elm Street that Freddy terrorized and all the way to the

cabins of Camp Crystal Lake.

Watching these two pitted against each other is marvelous. They

compete against each other while wreaking havoc on everyone in their

path.

“Freddy vs. Jason” is fun summer movie. If you are a horror movie

freak it is worth it just to reminisce about the glove and mask.

* EVAN MARMOL is Laguna Beach resident. He graduated from UC

Irvine with a degree in psychology and social behavior.