Clayton George Wickham - final thesis

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frame, words appearing as though typed on the computer screen spell out, “Location,
Crystal Lake Research Facility”. The text then disappears, replaced by, “Subject,
Jason Voorhees,” and finally, “Status, Awaiting Cryogenic Suspension”. These
captions are the only initial information provided, and the fact that he is restrained
using chains and leather straps indicates that he is dangerous. The following
sequence shows Rowan discussing Jason with Dr. Wimmer, who reveals that he is
cancelling cryogenic suspension in favour of researching his ability to regenerate
tissue. This is a piece of information, like that of Jason changing bodies in Jason
Goes to Hell, that is new to the franchise viewer. However, this does not entirely
alter the narrative history of the series, but instead attempts to explain it. After this
exchange, the fact that Jason despatches all of the armed guards verifies that he is, in
fact, a dangerous character. It is not until later, when Jason and Rowan are found in
cryogenic hibernation and Rowan is eventually revived that Jason’s back story is
revealed over thirty minutes into the film. The back story, however, is only
discussed after the events of the previous films. The professor tries to sell Jason as a
specimen, and his potential buyer reveals that he has killed over two hundred people,
far greater than the confirmed eighty-three mentioned in the previous film. Later,
Rowan says that he was a notorious murderer, executed for the first time in 2008.
Rowan says, “We tried everything. Electrocution, gas, firing squad, we even hung
him once. Nothing worked. Finally it was decided that if we couldn’t terminate
him, we could at least contain him – cryogenic stasis – freeze him until we could
figure out what to do.” This is all the background information provided, which
becomes beneficial to both the franchise viewer and the new viewer, as it informs
both of the unseen previous narrative.