Quartile rating: 5/10 · 1 rating
In the year 2455, Old Earth is now a contaminated planet abandoned for centuries -- a brown world of violent storms, toxic landmasses and poisonous seas. Yet humans have returned to the deadly place that they once fled, not to live, but to research the ancient, rusting artifacts of the long-gone civilizations. But it's not the harmful environment that could prove fatal to the intrepid, young explorers who have just landed on Old Earth. For them, it's Friday the 13th, and Jason lives!
Jason X earns mild novelty credit for transplanting the Friday the 13th slasher formula into a sci-fi/space setting — the genre mashup is self-aware and campy in a way that distinguishes it from the standard Camp Crystal Lake entries. However, the plot is thin even by slasher standards, following a purely mechanical kill-cycle with no meaningful character development or dramatic tension. Acting is functional at best, with the cast delivering genre-standard performances. Cinematography is workmanlike low-budget sci-fi with nothing distinctive in framing or lighting. The ending, including the nano-enhanced 'Uber-Jason' upgrade, is memorable for its absurdity but lands as gimmicky rather than satisfying. Overall a curiosity piece that is slightly more interesting than its reputation suggests due to its audacious premise, but executes that premise with minimal craft.