Jyl vs. Voorhees: Night of the Beast

Last week Jyl went on a Friday the 13th misadventure to answer the question horror fans never knew they needed to ask: Jason Voorhees or Bigfoot?

Written and Directed by Jason Pitts

Starring Alivea Disney, Will Reed, CJ Bernard, Jacob Southwick, and James Stokes as Jason Voorhees.

When director Jason Pitts invited me to a screening of his indie fan film set in the Friday the 13th universe on Friday the 13th at a small indie art gallery about an hour and a half from home, there was no way I was saying no.

Voorhees: Night of the Beast follows Mark from Friday the 13th Part VI as a young adult, giving the film an immediate connection to the larger franchise mythology. Writer-director Jason Pitts clearly understands what fans want from a project like this. The script is packed with callbacks and Easter eggs that horror nerds will appreciate, and the return of familiar characters gives the film an unofficial but authentic Friday the 13th feel. Most importantly, it respects the legacy of the franchise without relying solely on nostalgia.

One of the film’s biggest strengths is its writing. There’s solid foreshadowing throughout, and the pacing stays tight from beginning to end. At just one hour long, it never overstays its welcome, and honestly, that runtime feels perfect for this kind of indie horror. There’s no dragging middle and no wasted time. It moves quickly, keeps the momentum going, and delivers exactly what it promises.

Of course, the main hook here is Jason Voorhees vs. Bigfoot, which is as ridiculous and entertaining as it sounds. The movie wisely embraces that concept while still giving viewers a legitimate horror experience. It’s also surprisingly funny in places, adding just enough humor to make the whole thing even more enjoyable without turning it into a parody.

The cast does a great job across the board, helping sell both the emotional beats and the more over-the-top elements. Everyone involved seems fully committed, and that passion comes through in the performances as well as the overall production. You can really tell this was a labor of love.

For a micro-budget production, the movie looks and sounds remarkably strong. In fact, the production quality is better than a lot of straight-to-DVD or VOD horror releases I’ve seen lately. One thing that especially stands out is the sound mixing, which is often where lower-budget films struggle. That is definitely not the case here. The audio is clean and well balanced, which goes a long way in making the film feel polished.

Visually, the movie also delivers. The outdoor locations are beautiful and add a lot to the atmosphere, and the final confrontation between the film’s two main attractions looks especially great. Jason Voorhees himself looks fantastic, and the practical effects are well done throughout. There are also plenty of kills, including the BEST Jason kill of all time, which is exactly what fans of this kind of movie are hoping for.

We had a quick Q&A after the film, and I learned the film was shot in only five days. Impressive, right? That makes the final product feel like even more of an accomplishment. Every bit of the budget seems to have been put to good use, and the result is a movie that feels made with care, creativity, and a real affection for the source material.

Voorhees: Night of the Beast is a micro-budget indie horror film that punches well above its weight. What could have easily been a gimmicky mashup turns into a genuinely fun, well-made horror experience that feels crafted by people who clearly love the Friday the 13th franchise.

This is for fans of campy horror, slashers, Jason Voorhees, Bigfoot, or anyone who enjoys passionate indie horror. 

You can find it on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/tTsLDjdUMsw?si=5mN_9E0xl144g_Br

Jyl Glenn is a writer, editor, formatter, anthologist, poet, and a medical-legal writer and consultant. Her lifelong love affair with horror began at a very early age when she was left unattended on the weekend Poltergeist debuted on HBO. And then she figured out she could read any horror book she liked as long as she hung out at the public library, even if the librarian deemed it not to be age appropriate. Jyl was born and raised in New York and now lives in Tulsa with her dog. She loves creepy art, dark poetry, and pink dinosaurs. When she isn’t dabbling in the macabre—she’s most likely asleep.

PLEASE NOTE: The views and opinions of the staff of Memento Mori Ink do not necessarily represent those of Memento Mori Ink or Crystal Lake Publishing. Thank you for understanding.