Friday the 13th Part 8: Jason Takes Manhattan was released on this day in 1989


Jason Voorhees took a trip to New York City thirty-six years ago today, July 28, 1989. George H.W. Bush had tried to usher in a kinder, gentler America, but Voorhees was having none of it. Friday the 13th Part 8: Jason Takes Manhattan was the last to sustain the vague continuity of the film series. Voorhees ended the previous installment underwater in Crystal Lake, and that's where a boat manages to revive him via an electric shock in this film. It's no more farfetched than the idea that said boat can navigate a maritime route from Crystal Lake to the Big Apple. 

Part 8 also continued the trend Part 7 established of the lead female character having some psychic ability, here explored through visions "final girl" Rennie Wickham has of a younger Jason. The low budget meant that Jason's tour of New York City was underwhelming, and ultimately largely underground. But the slasher icon memorably destroyed another icon of the 80s - the boombox - before his vacation ended. Part 8 failed to demolish any box office records, though, taking in only $14.3 million. It wasn't all just mindless summer entertainment, as there was some subtle commentary about the greed, excess, and growing drug culture of the 80s to be found by the cerebral viewer.
Location: New York, NY, USA

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