By the time Jason X rocketed onto screens in 2001, the Friday the 13th franchise had already taken audiences through psychic battles, Manhattan alleyways, and hell itself. So where else could it go? Naturally, the answer was space. While that premise sounded like a joke to many at the time, over two decades later, Jason X has become a minor cult classic—remembered not for reinventing the franchise, but for boldly embracing absurdity and delivering pure, unapologetic entertainment.
The film begins in the near future. Jason Voorhees—once again captured by the government—is being held in a high-security research facility. After yet another attempt to contain or destroy him fails, he and scientist Rowan (Lexa Doig) are cryogenically frozen. Fast forward 445 years: Earth is an uninhabitable wasteland, and a group of students and researchers aboard a spaceship discover the frozen pair. They bring both back onboard their vessel, the Grendel, where Jason inevitably thaws out and resumes his favorite pastime—gruesome, creative murder.
The plot is absurd, but Jason X doesn’t try to pretend otherwise. It knows what kind of movie it is: a late-night B-movie in slasher-sci-fi drag, blending genre clichés with a blood-soaked grin.
One of the most striking—and surprising—aspects of Jason X is its visual style. Unlike the dark, greasy corridors of classic sci-fi horror films like Alien or Event Horizon, the interiors of the Grendel are brightly lit and oddly pristine. The environment feels more like a mall in the future than a spaceship. Everything gleams. There’s no grit, no shadowy corners to hide in—just bright panels, surgical lighting, and tech that looks like it was assembled at a convention booth.
This polished aesthetic is a complete reversal of the “lived-in” look that defined the genre up to that point. But it works. That slick, synthetic feel amplifies the surreal tone of the film and makes Jason’s brutal, flesh-ripping violence even more jarring against the clean sci-fi backdrop. It’s space horror dressed like daytime television, and the juxtaposition adds another layer of strangeness to the whole experience.
The cast does exactly what’s required of them. Most characters are there to die, often in spectacular fashion, but a few stand out. Lexa Doig brings a much-needed seriousness to Rowan, grounding the film when it teeters too far into camp. Lisa Ryder plays the android Kay-Em 14 with just the right mix of deadpan humor and unexpected badassery—especially in her climactic showdown with the film’s final boss version of Jason. Speaking of which, Kane Hodder delivers his final performance as Jason here, and as always, he’s physically imposing, methodical, and quietly terrifying—even when outfitted with metal armor and glowing red eyes.
For all its futuristic window dressing, Jason X never forgets its slasher roots. The film delivers a satisfying body count and several standout kills, including one of the most iconic in franchise history: the infamous liquid nitrogen face smash. There’s an over-the-top pleasure in watching Jason unleash carnage in zero gravity or in a virtual reality simulation of Camp Crystal Lake, and the film smartly uses its sci-fi setting to create new opportunities for creative violence.
Much has been said about the film’s use of CGI—and to be fair, it’s aged poorly. The digital effects, from spaceship models to nanotech regeneration sequences, often look like they belong in a forgotten PC game cutscene. But rather than detracting from the film, these flaws have become part of its appeal.
As someone who appreciates the artistry of Ray Harryhausen’s classic stop-motion monsters, there’s something oddly endearing about Jason X’s low-fi digital aesthetic. The effects don’t look real, but they have character. They come from a time when CGI was still finding its legs, when ambition often exceeded budget, and filmmakers had to make bold choices with limited tools. The shimmering surfaces, stiff animations, and awkward compositing all feel like artifacts from a bygone era—and that nostalgic texture makes the film more fun, not less.
If there’s one thing Jason X gets absolutely right, it’s tone. This movie knows it’s ridiculous. The script is filled with dry one-liners, self-aware banter, and genre references that make it clear the filmmakers were having fun. Director Jim Isaac and writer Todd Farmer lean into the chaos rather than trying to justify it. The result is a film that doesn’t feel cynical or tired—it feels like a wild experiment in franchise filmmaking, one where the only rule was to do something no one would expect.
And against all odds, it kind of works. The pacing zips along, the kills are creative, and the film constantly throws new ideas at the screen, from android kung fu battles to nanotech resurrection. You may roll your eyes, but you’ll never be bored.
At the time of its release, Jason X was viewed as a desperate gimmick—a franchise gasping for air. But time has reframed it. In an era where horror reboots often feel formulaic or overly grim, Jason X stands out for being something very few franchise entries are: playful. It’s not trying to elevate horror or redefine the genre. It’s just here to entertain. And for many fans, that’s more than enough.
The film’s brightly lit visuals, campy energy, and fearless weirdness have helped it earn a kind of retroactive respect. It may never be called “good” in the traditional sense, but it’s endlessly watchable, surprisingly memorable, and completely unique.
Jason X is a mess—and that’s exactly why it works. It’s loud, silly, over-designed, and driven by pure B-movie logic. But it’s also fun, inventive, and oddly charming. It takes one of horror’s most iconic villains and drops him into a neon-lit sci-fi blender, and somehow, it comes out better for it. If you’re a fan of cult cinema, retro-futuristic oddities, or just want to see a slasher icon wreak havoc in space, Jason X is absolutely worth your time.
Bonus Features
The Jason X 4K Ultra HD Limited Edition is loaded with bonus content that offers a comprehensive look at one of horror’s most unconventional sequels. The set includes both lossless stereo and DTS-HD 5.1 surround audio, optional English subtitles, and a vibrant 4K presentation with Dolby Vision. New and archival commentaries provide insights from director Jim Isaac, writer Todd Farmer, and producer Noel Cunningham, alongside fresh perspectives from genre historians Michael Felsher and Steve “Uncle Creepy” Barton. Featurettes like Scoring the Stars and Outta Space: The Making of Jason X offer in-depth behind-the-scenes stories, while The Many Lives of Jason Voorhees contextualizes the film within the broader franchise. Interviews with cast and crew—including Kane Hodder and Kristi Angus—add personal reflections, and the set is rounded out with trailers, stills, and promotional material. Packaging extras include reversible sleeve art, a foldout poster, and an illustrated booklet with new essays. It's a definitive release for fans.
4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS
- 4K (2160p) Ultra HD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
- Original lossless stereo and DTS-HD 5.1 surround audio options
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- Introduction to the film by actor Kane Hodder
- Brand new audio commentary with film historians Michael Felsher and Steve “Uncle Creepy” Barton
- Archival audio commentary with writer Todd Farmer and author Peter Bracke
- Archival audio commentary with director Jim Isaac, writer Todd Farmer and producer Noel Cunningham
- Scoring the Stars, a brand new interview with composer Harry Manfredini
- Outta Space: The Making of Jason X, an archival documentary on the making of the film featuring interviews with producers Noel Cunningham and Sean S. Cunningham, actor Kane Hodder and writer Todd Farmer
- In Space No One Can Hear You Scream, an archival interview with writer Todd Farmer
- Kristi Is a Headbanger, an archival interview with actor Kristi Angus
- Jason Rebooted, Sean S. Cunningham on Jason Goes to Hell and Jason X
- The Many Lives of Jason Voorhees, an archival documentary on the history of the character
- By Any Means Necessary: The Making of Jason X, archival making-of documentary
- Cast and crew interviews
- Behind-the-scenes footage
- Electronic Press Kit
- Theatrical trailers and TV spots
- Still, behind-the-scenes and poster galleries
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Gary Pullin
- Double-sided foldout poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Gary Pullin
- Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Matt Donato and JA Kerswell