Jason Universe (HHN 34)

[Tobias]

That's not the discussion, though. Yes, it could work in an SS, but it's also, by and large, working in its current location, too.

Bingo, the topic at hand is the OP stated "Jason needs a sound stage", which implies the house is not working in its current location...but the very good number of positive reviews say otherwise.

With a good chunk of folks saying this house utilizes the space of the supercharged venue the best so far, it's pretty clear Jason is doing just fine in this venue. And if a house works just fine in a smaller location like this, there's no true need for it to be in a bigger venue.

 

[Lucky Planet]

“Camp in the woods” as a concept does not read as claustrophobic. I think a lot of folks imagining a Jason house tend to conjure up visions of something like Yeti. None of which is to say that an approach emphasizing tight spaces and large Jason’s isn’t valid, but the alternative certainly isn’t absurd.

or be like the evil dead remake house back in the day. that was the perfect house to have Jason. the ending was literally Jason perfect.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

The house does not need a soundstage to work at all. Sure, it would have been great to have a large facade in the woods (similar to Cabin in the Woods or Dead Water bayou)... but that's the only benefit it would get. What makes Jason (and other slasher-based houses) great is your proximity to the character, not the setting necessarily.

F&F has not been my favorite venue, but this house uses it masterfully.

 

[Lucky Planet]

The house does not need a soundstage to work at all. Sure, it would have been great to have a large facade in the woods (similar to Cabin in the Woods or Dead Water bayou)... but that's the only benefit it would get. What makes Jason (and other slasher-based houses) great is your proximity to the character, not the setting necessarily.

F&F has not been my favorite venue, but this house uses it masterfully.

well, Jason did have small tunnels in the 2009 remake lol. .so you could say that the 2009 remake is represented by the small spaces lol

 

[Midnight Detective]

I think the area was expertly utilized to a point where it elevates the house and kudos to actors. The Jasons are fast, the Pamela scene is well done and some of the victim scares give a slight variety and in some case are more frightening than the Jasons. That being said,

I did not care for J4S0NUN1V3RA3

It might very well be ranked 10 for me. My first thought was that it might be the haunt genre itself - big aggressive masked character jumpscares - but that's exactly what WWE is and what Halloween executed successfully on repeat.

I'm really not entirely certain but it just didn't quite *click* for me

 

[Chumpieboy]

I think the area was expertly utilized to a point where it elevates the house and kudos to actors. The Jasons are fast, the Pamela scene is well done and some of the victim scares give a slight variety and in some case are more frightening than the Jasons. That being said,
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I did not care for J4S0NUN1V3RA3

It might very well be ranked 10 for me. My first thought was that it might be the haunt genre itself - big aggressive masked character jumpscares - but that's exactly what WWE is and what Halloween executed successfully on repeat.

I'm really not entirely certain but it just didn't quite *click* for me

I get what you’re saying and I mostly agree. It was a mash of too many properties. I’ve only seen like maybe the first 3 films so I’m not the target for the deep references and Easter eggs.

The aggressiveness of the cast is what saves this house. So many times you don’t know where the next Jason is going to appear from that it ends up not mattering whether that Jason is wearing the mask from Jason part 26 or the background is from the Jayson in Spayce remayke.

 

[Midnight Detective]

I get what you’re saying and I mostly agree. It was a mash of too many properties. I’ve only seen like maybe the first 3 films so I’m not the target for the deep references and Easter eggs.

The aggressiveness of the cast is what saves this house. So many times you don’t know where the next Jason is going to appear from that it ends up not mattering whether that Jason is wearing the mask from Jason part 26 or the background is from the Jayson in Spayce remayke.

The Jason Infestation in the house reminds me of the difference between Halloween and Halloween 4: Modern Warfare

Halloween 4 threw out any pretense of continuity and plunged you into an army of Michael Myers. What made it work for me though was there were all sorts of other things happening simultaneously. It was overwhelming and awesome.

 

[jseal777]

I think all of the FF houses have been pretty good and have used the arena well. This did the best job of utilizing that middle part where you get a break though. Much better use of this space than the ride itself imo.

I really enjoyed this house. Tons of Jasons. The sets were cool. Maybe one or two things I wish were included/done differently, but overall this house is solid. Especially since its not the "headliner" IP house this year.

 

[GA-MBIT]

Any other year, this house would be #1 on my list, guaranteed. This year though? It's fighting Terrifier for that #2 spot, with an original taking #1. That's sick.

This house perfects the F&F location. Incredibly close-quarters, incredibly dim, well-themed and claustrophobic. Relatively quiet, until it's not. Great use of SIF throughout. The Jasons are gigantic and imposing, and crazy high-energy. As mentioned by some others, the Victim scares don't slouch either. Some have gotten me far more than even some Jasons.

It's just a gauntlet. There are multiple spots where performers can sneak around to different spots in the house or room, and despite being so crammed into these tight shacks or forest paths, you can just feel that the scareactors know their way around their rooms and can get you any time they want, and from somewhere in this small space you can't even expect. That's the feeling a Jason house should have.

I was a bit worried in the lead-up that a traditional Jason house would lean too close to what they did with Yeti a few years back. They did lean that direction, but IMO it entirely works. That's because the focus is different. As other's have brought up, the design of Yeti made the campground feel expansive and wide, while this narrows the scope and reaps the rewards for it. Had Campground Kills been in a smaller location, it might have honestly improved that house too. Those close, in-your-face scares from gigantic monsters really deliver.

The Black Phone section of 31's Blumhouse is currently my favorite use of F&F so far. It's creative interpretation of a very non-HHN coded film worked wonders. Interpreting the feeling of being trapped in a killer's basement with no hope of escape as an incredibly tight, claustrophobic house full of SIF and aggressive Slasher scares; it was legitimately incredible.

Jason Universe is significantly more literal than that, but besides that, it leans hard into everything I loved about 31's Black Phone; up and into basically copying the exact same finale "Slasher Gauntlet" scene, where you walk in a straight-line thru pitch-dark rooms where the slasher can be in your face in moments. A total rush.

Add in the wonderful use of the mid-house exterior transition, the only good thing Chucky: Kill Count introduced, and you've got a clear winner for Best F&F house, and a personal all-timer house. Definitely a worthy house to commemorate the return of Jason Voorhees after a decade-long absence.

 

[Legacy]

I’ll say this… the Gauntlet is one of the best finales I’ve seen at HHN. It just… works.