Live at Montreux 2011 [DVD]

The hockey-masked killer Jason goes cosmic in the tenth installment of the Friday the 13th series, Jason X. New Line has done an excellent job at making sure this 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer looks sharp, detailed, and very well produced. With solid black levels and bright colors throughout, this transfer should please any self-respecting horror film buff. The soundtrack is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, DTS Surround, and Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround, all in English. Both the Dolby 5.1 and DTS mix are in full bombastic order with multiple uses of directional effects throughout the movie. With nary an ounce of hiss or distortion in the mix, both of these soundtracks are very loud and enveloping. Also included on this disc are English subtitles. Jason X is featured as one of New Line's "Platinum Series" DVDs, and as such sports a vast array of extra features. Starting out the disc is a commentary track with director James Isaac, writer Todd Farmer, and producer Noel Cunningham. This is a grandly entertaining commentary with all kinds of stories about the film's production and lots of tidbits about the character of Jason (played by the imposing Kane Hodder). "The Many Lives of Jason Voorhees" is a half-hour featurette that takes a probing yet humorous eye to the legendary Friday the 13th series. Featuring interviews by film critic Drew McWeeny, film historian David del Valle, B-movie host Joe Bob Briggs and others, this is an exceptionally entertaining piece on the history of the franchise. "By Any Means Necessary: The Making of Jason X" is a nice promotional piece on the making of the film with interviews by the principle cast and crew members. Much of the information from this featurette is covered in the commentary, though this is still a worthwhile treat for fans. Finally there is a theatrical trailer for the film, along with a fun "Jump to a Death" menu.