7. Friday The 13th Part VII: The New Blood

The seventh film is notable because it was originally intended to pit Jason Voorhees against New Line's dream demon himself, Freddy Krueger. Sadly, that match-up would have to wait as the two studios couldn't agree terms.

So the script was re-written to find a psychically-powered girl going up against the hulking brute.

That work was partly completed by writer Daryl Haney, but he was sacked when his agent told the producers that he wouldn't do any more work on the film until he received extra payment. Sadly for Haney, he hadn't asked for anything at all - but the studio still brought in another scribe.

One person who had better luck (depending on how you look at it) was Kane Hodder, who was championed for his now famous Jason role by director John Carl Buechler after watching him work on the set of Renny Harlan's Prison. Hodder ate live worms for that role and Buechler wanted that dedication for Jason.

That dedication nearly killed Hodder during one stunt - Jason falling through stairs - went wrong and almost brained the man. And he had some troubles during the legendary sleeping bag kill, since the dummy used was much heavier than he expected. That frustrated kick Jason gives the bag after smacking it against a tree? Real.

Oh, and he also terrified a local who confronted him one dark night and asked a fully-masked-and-costumed-Hodder if he was part of the movie. Class!

Buechler had his own troubles - he was another nine-time visitor to the MPAA office and had to hack out more than most of the series' directors in order to win that coveted R rating.

Still, all credit to him for a swift production - he got it completed and ready to release in six short months, shooting in less than a month in part of rural Alabama.

But the box office slide continued - Part Seven only made $19.1 million.

Would Voorhees be back again? You betcha…

Next: Friday The 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan