Jason Lives - Friday the 13th Part VI
Jason Lives - Friday the 13th Part VI Review: Story, Cast, Rating & Final Verdict
Last updated: April 10, 2026
Movie Overview: Jason Lives - Friday the 13th Part VI
| Movie | Jason Lives - Friday the 13th Part VI |
| Release Year | 1986 |
| Director | Tom McLoughlin |
| Genre | Horror / Thriller |
| Runtime | 86 minutes |
| Language | EN |
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is Jason Lives - Friday the 13th Part VI (1986) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE with a verified audience rating of 6.3/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Horror.
Cast & Character Study
The performances in Jason Lives - Friday the 13th Part VI are led by Thom Mathews . The supporting cast, including Jennifer Cooke and David Kagen , provides the necessary layers to the central narrative.
movieMx Verdict: Is it Worth Your Time?
What Works in the Movie
While Jason Lives - Friday the 13th Part VI does not fully realize its potential, it still contains moments that may appeal to viewers who enjoy Horror films.
- Interesting concept or premise
- Some entertaining scenes
- Supporting cast delivers occasional highlights
What Doesn't Work
Despite its strengths, Jason Lives - Friday the 13th Part VI has a few issues that may affect the overall viewing experience, particularly in terms of pacing and narrative consistency.
- Uneven pacing in certain parts of the film
- Some predictable plot developments
- May not appeal to audiences outside the Horror fanbase
Story & Plot Summary: Jason Lives - Friday the 13th Part VI
Quick Plot Summary: Released in 1986, Jason Lives - Friday the 13th Part VI is a Horror, Thriller film directed by Tom McLoughlin. The narrative crafts an atmosphere of dread and suspense, using psychological terror and visual scares. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict involving Thom Mathews.
Story Breakdown
The horror unfolds through carefully crafted atmosphere and escalating dread. Tommy Jarvis, tormented by the fear that maybe Jason isn't really dead, unwittingly resurrects the mass murderer for another bloody rampage. Director Tom McLoughlin uses both psychological terror and visceral scares, building tension through what's unseen as much as what's shown. The pacing allows for breathing room between scares, making each frightening moment more effective.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: An unsettling prologue sets the ominous tone, hinting at the terror to come while establishing the rules of this world.
- Character Arc: The main character shows growth throughout the story, though some supporting characters could have been more fully realized. Thom Mathews's arc is present but occasionally predictable.
- Climax & Resolution: The final act escalates the terror to its peak, forcing characters to confront the source of horror directly.
Ending Explained: Jason Lives - Friday the 13th Part VI
Jason Lives - Friday the 13th Part VI Ending Explained: Directed by Tom McLoughlin, Jason Lives - Friday the 13th Part VI wraps up the main storyline while leaving some interpretation to viewers. The ending highlights the core horror themes developed throughout the film.
The final twist encourages viewers to reconsider earlier moments in the story, particularly in scenes involving Thom Mathews. The interpretation of the ending may vary among viewers.
Key Elements of the Ending
- Narrative Resolution: The story resolves its primary conflict while leaving room for interpretation.
- Character Development: Character motivations become clearer by the final scenes.
- Thematic Message: The ending reinforces the horror themes introduced earlier in the film.
The final moments of Jason Lives - Friday the 13th Part VI reflect the creative choices of the filmmakers and align with the tone of the narrative.
Who Should Watch Jason Lives - Friday the 13th Part VI?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Horror films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of Thom Mathews or the director
- Want a few scares and creepy atmosphere
Box Office Collection: Jason Lives - Friday the 13th Part VI
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $3.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $19.5M |
| Trade Verdict | FINANCIAL DISAPPOINTMENT |
Jason Lives - Friday the 13th Part VI Budget
The estimated production budget for Jason Lives - Friday the 13th Part VI is $3.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Top Cast: Jason Lives - Friday the 13th Part VI
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Where to Watch Jason Lives - Friday the 13th Part VI Online?
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Apple TV StoreJason Lives - Friday the 13th Part VI Parents Guide & Age Rating
1986 AdvisoryWondering about Jason Lives - Friday the 13th Part VI age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of Jason Lives - Friday the 13th Part VI is 86 minutes (1h 26m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 6.3/10, and global performance metrics, Jason Lives - Friday the 13th Part VI is classified as a ABOVE AVERAGE. It remains an essential part of the 1986 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jason Lives - Friday the 13th Part VI worth watching?
Jason Lives - Friday the 13th Part VI is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Horror movies. It has a verified rating of 6.3/10 and stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE in our box office analysis.
Where can I find Jason Lives - Friday the 13th Part VI parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for Jason Lives - Friday the 13th Part VI identifies it as R. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of Jason Lives - Friday the 13th Part VI?
The total duration of Jason Lives - Friday the 13th Part VI is 86 minutes, which is approximately 1h 26m long.
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How Jason Lives - Friday the 13th Part VI Compares & Where it Ranks
Critic Reviews for Jason Lives - Friday the 13th Part VI
Jason 6: Welcome To Camp Blood! An absolute hoot of a addition to the Friday 13th franchise. As is often the way with the "Friday" sequels, you can talk to one horror fan and this is the worst of the bunch, talk to another and it's the best etc etc. There's a more airy touch here and it serves the formula well, which if the series' fans are honest, is a formula that was getting stale quite early in the chain, so any sort of new ideas or direction is most welcome. After a glorious James Bond parody opens the credits sequence, accompanied by Harry Manfredini's superbly thunderous musical score, we get long running tormented character Tommy, here played by Thom Matthews, digging up Jason Voorhees' corpse so as to make sure the evil one is dead - oh and to kill him again. Enter a glorious Frankenstein homage (cheeky steal if you like) that sets us up for another round of stalk and dismember as Jason heads back to Camp Crystal Lake, which is now called Camp Forest Green! The kills are not particularly inventive, but there's a real thud of humour about much of them. From an American Express Card to a bloody smiley face imprint, it's clear the makers have a glint in their eyes. We even get an early appearance from Tony Goldwyn, some four years before Ghost would make him a known name. Adding to the quality score, which BTW rattles around home cinema speakers lie a supernatural entity, is Jon Kranhouse's cinematography, which is gorgeous in colour lens selections. All that and you get an Alice Cooper soundtrack as well. From joyful reanimation to a suitably watery finale, this part 6 delivers more than enough to almost make you rush out to rent part 7. Almost... 6.5/10
_Jason Lives_ is the _Friday the 13th_ movie that starts injecting comedy into the franchise, which after 5 movies of more or less the same tone, is understandable. Prior entires have still had fun, but _Part VI_ has multiple, actual jokes. This bugs a lot of people, but me? Not so much. It's definitely not the high point of the franchise, but I still would never skip this one during a marathon. _Final rating:★★½ - Had a lot that appealed to me, didn’t quite work as a whole._
***Jason lives again as a horrific zombie, plus Megan (Jennifer Cooke)*** Released in 1986, "Jason Lives: Friday the 13th Part VI" is notable for being the premiere of the zombie Jason as his rotting corpse is resurrected in the prologue indirectly through the actions of Tommy Jarvis and a friend who recently got out of a mental institution. This prologue also shows that Tommy didn't murder Pam at the end of Part V and that he was simply experiencing hallucinations from his trauma with the diabolic Voorhees spirit. Another difference with Part VI is that we finally get to see a busload of kids, children, at Crystal Lake, although they changed the name to Forest Green. Tommy runs to the local police to inform them that Jason has been resurrected but the sheriff, of course, doesn't believe him (would you?). His hot daughter, Megan, is attracted to Tommy and, when the bloody body count rises, the sheriff realizes that Jason is indeed alive. Tommy Jarvis is played by Thom Mathews rather than John Shepherd, who was excellent in Part V. Thom is a worthy replacement, but I prefer Shepherd's brooding charisma. The film features one of the best Friday girls in Megan, played by Jennifer Cooke, although Pam from the previous film is my favorite. Other than that, though, the females in Part VI are rather weak, although the redhead in the Volkswagen is notable (Nancy McLoughlin). The campiness of Part III and Part V returns for this installment, particularly with the goofy paintball warriors and the graveyard caretaker. But “Jason Lives” is noticeably superior to Part III and shares the kinetic vibe of Part V. As far as locations go, Part VI returns to the East for filming, being shot roughly 40 miles East of Atlanta in Covington & Rutledge . BOTTOM LINE: You either like the Friday the 13th series or you don't. Part VI is another retread of the same Friday formula with the entertaining spirit of Part V and the distinction of Jason now being totally inhuman, a horrific zombie; not to mention the addition of children at the camp. It also has a better story than parts III and IV with the sheriff and his daughter & Tommy going after Jason, plus Megan is one of the top Friday girls in the series. The film runs 91 minutes and the cut version 86 minutes. GRADE: B/B-
Going through the F13 franchise again, skipping Part V since I just watched an online review (and remembered not caring for it much), and this one was... odd. Went full on with the cheese which makes sense since Jason is brought back to life through the dumb ass decision by Tommy Jarvis to not only dig up the grave but stabbing the corpse with an iron post, he was just asking for trouble (and running into the sheriff's office yelling like a psycho didn't help). I did like the female lead but everyone else, including Thom Matthews, was a bit bland. **2.75/5**
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This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
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