9. Jason Goes To Hell: The Final Friday

With the franchise now in New Line's hands, the studio decided to recruit one of Jason's founding fathers - producer Sean Cunningham - to shepherd their first attempt on to the screen.

The Friday series had been in stasis for several years until Jason was reanimated for a complicated little run-around involving the members of his extended family and the revelation that he couldn't be killed by anyone except them.

Oh, and that his evil, murderous spirit could possess anyone, allowing him to leap between victims and continue his spree.

Realising that they had to step up and keep the films going, New Line threw the film into heavy development and offered the directing job to several people, including John McTiernan and Tobe Hooper.

Eventually, however, the gig would go to Adam Marcus, who had a character, FBI agent Elizabeth Marcus named after him.

Originally titled Friday The 13th Part IX: The Dark Heart of Jason Voorhees, it explored his backstory and ramped up the supernatural elements. In another incarnation, it was titled Jason Goes To LA, with the masked one butchering two rival gangs, leading to them teaming up to take him on.

It was also planned to feature a cameo by his mother, but a Betsy Palmer turned down the idea.

Oh, and in case you're wondering why the FBI suddenly has an entire unit dedicated to stopping Mr Voorhees, you might want to try to find the three-issue comic adaptation, which includes lots of info that never made it into the final film.

For those who hate the idea that the Friday films always get sliced to ribbons in the editing room, this is the first of the franchise that you can buy on an unrated DVD.

But even that didn't help make money - the movie ended up with bad reviews and a $15.9 million box office haul.

Though it had been designed with a finale intended to set up a meeting between Jason and Freddy (whose arm at the end is played by Kane Hodder), it would be a few years before that script was ready. In the meantime, Jason would go into orbit…

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