TF hero
Horror’s most prolific slasher on killer form…
Behind the hockey mask with Kane Hodder.
Astuntman who became a horror icon when he donned the hockey mask of Jason Voorhees in the seventh, eighth, ninth and 10th Friday The 13th movies, Kane Hodder also plays a fan-fave killer in the Hatchet films – a fourth of which, titled Victor Crowley after his nutjob, was shot in secret last year. Meanwhile, new doc To Hell And Back: The Kane Hodder Story digs into the actor’s traumatic past…
Victor Crowley was made on the sly. How did you keep it under wraps?
It was easy for me – I just didn’t tell anyone. [laughs] But we had a lot of new crew members who were less likely to hold the secret as they’re not part of the family. I was surprised it didn’t leak.
It must be hot, heavy work playing Victor under all those prosthetics…
I’ve had worse, though lugging 20lb on your head and shoulders for any length of time gets old.
As Jason, you always helped create the kills. Is it the same for Victor?
With Adam [Green, director of the Hatchet series], I need far less input
because he’s really good at coming up with ridiculous, over-the-top kills.
What’s your favourite on-screen kill?
Victor’s done one that I prefer to any of Jason’s kills. This one [motions gripping the upper and lower jaw and ripping a head apart – an infamous kill in Hatchet].
Did you feel pressure when you took on the iconic role of Jason?
It felt like an honour. I was a fan of the first six movies. I went to the theatre to watch part six when C.J. [Graham] was killing people, and the following year I’m the character – how bizarre is that?
What did you need to do to get yourself into Jason’s headspace?
I felt I could bring the rage pretty easily. I don’t know if that speaks well of my personality. [laughs]
You were viciously bullied as a kid, and badly burnt as a stuntman. Did you tap into those dark experiences?
I don’t want to sound too method-y, but yeah, I’m sure it’s a factor in being able to get so enraged so quickly. But it was never, “Let me think of that fucking guy beating me up again as I twist this person’s head off…”
New Line ditched you when they made How come?
Freddy Vs. Jason.
I’ve never been given a reason. Whoever made the decision didn’t really think it mattered – “It’s a guy in a mask, who’s gonna know the difference?” So they went with somebody who lived where they were shooting. That was a bad point in my career. I put everything into that character, so to just be replaced and never told why…
Did you see the movie?
Yeah, because I’m a fan. It was decent. I wish I could say the guy who played Jason was terrible, but he really wasn’t. The only Friday I haven’t seen is the remake. I saw the trailer and Jason was running and setting traps and building tunnels – that’s not Jason.
Did you protect the role while playing it?
Yeah. The script of Jason Takes Manhattan said ‘Jason kicks a dog’. I went to the director and said, “Jason wouldn’t kick a dog. He’d do horrible things to people but he’s like an animal – he’d identify with the dog.”
More recently you’ve been praised for your performances without a mask…
When I started in the business, I just wanted to do stunts. Then I got the notoriety of playing Jason and Victor. Now I get dialogue-driven parts and I love it. I’ll play a killer, fine. But if you really want me to be interested, offer me something I haven’t done before.
ETA | TBC / ViCTor CrowlEy And To HEll And BACk: THE kAnE HoddEr STory plAyEd AT THiS yEAr’S FrigHTFEST.
‘that was a bad point in my career. i put everything into that character’