Freddy Vs. Jason (2003)
Directed by Ronny Yu
Written by Damian Shannon & Mark Swift

Yes, Jason Ritter is in this film, but sadly he's not the Jason in the title … though I would pay good money to see that fucker vivisected by Freddy Krueger's infamous fingerblades. No, Freddy Vs. Jason pits the Nightmare on Elm Street villain against Jason Voorhees of the Friday the 13th series in a battle to the death-beyond-death. This idea has been a no-brainer since the mid-80s, and the deliverance, finally, of the showdown is surprisingly no disappointment.

Freddy, from Hell, hatches a plan to regain his former power, which has been all but obliterated by the Elm Street community's attempt to forget him (since he can only keep murdering as long as people remember him, even in their subconscious). He unleashes Jason upon his former stomping grounds, which inevitably causes the neighborhood to renew their concerns about Freddy returning, therefore allowing Krueger to garner some power.

Unfortunately for Freddy, Jason remains a bloodthirsty killing machine, and while his introduction to Elm Street was only intended as an apertif, he soon becomes the main course, in terms of community-based serial killing. So Freddy, ever more powerful as the local teens continue to dream about him, must face off with his protogee so as not to lose his intended dominion.

The plot, of course, is bullshit, as is most of the script, nearly all of the acting, and especially the inclusion of a stoner character clearly copied off Jay from "Jay and Silent Bob." But the showdown, which lasts a very long time, is exactly as brutal and unrelenting as you want it, the resolution perfectly ambiguous and sequel-bound.

Ronny Yu also directed Warriors of Virtue, but I won't hold that against him. I liked Freddy Vs. Jason very much; as with Brian Wilson's newly-recorded Smile, it actually delivered, against all odds.

Review by Frisky Pounders