When Crazy Ralph tried warning the campers that Crystal Lake has a death curse in the first movie, he might as well have been talking about the series itself. Due to lengthy rights battles between the director and writer, the series has been in limbo for fifteen years with no theatrical release coming any time soon. The proposed TV show isn’t doing much better with its showrunner getting canned and progress all but stalled. For some reason, one of the most beloved horror franchises just can’t catch a break but I’m guessing once the show hits and does well, a reboot will be greenlit immediately. Rebooting a beloved horror franchise like Friday the 13th is no small task. The director chosen to helm such a project must bring a unique vision while honoring the original series’ legacy. With that in mind, Kane and I have compiled a list of directors who possess the talent, creativity, and experience to breathe new life into the saga of Jason Voorhees. From horror maestros to visionary filmmakers with a knack for suspense, here are the top directors we believe could take on the challenge of a Friday the 13th reboot.
10. Vincente DiSanti
Fan films have never landed a director a major film. Sandy Collora didn’t get a Batman gig after the critically acclaimed Batman: Dead End, Allan Ungar didn’t get to helm Uncharted (much to the dismay of video game fans) after his Uncharted short, and Adi Shankar is still languishing in obscurity despite producing shorts so good, any one of them could’ve landed him a gig, and he has many of them. For some reason, Hollywood just doesn’t care about fan films, regardless of their quality. This means Vincente DiSanti doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell at directing the reboot even though he’s the only one making quality Friday the 13th content for years now. His Never Hike Alone trilogy is inarguably better and more faithful to the spirit of the original film than at least three official sequels. The kills are solid and plentiful, Jason feels like Jason in them and he was even able to get Thom Matthews back as Tommy. It’s an obvious choice but based on the reaction to those films, he’s the fan favorite.
–Sailor Monsoon
9. Leigh Janiak
I have a feeling that when the next Friday the 13th movie finally does get made, it won’t be set in modern times and honestly it shouldn’t. Being set in the 80s or even the 90s makes a lot of sense for this property and we will need a director who will be able to capture that aesthetic in a way that it doesn’t seem like a cheap-looking gimmick. Enter Leigh Janiak who did just that with her Fear Street trilogy. Each part was set in different eras (1994,1978, 1666) with each one feeling authentic. In Fear Street Part Two: 1978, she did a fantastic job when paying homage to slashers which was very similar to Friday the 13th itself. It takes on a voyeuristic tone similar to 70s slashers in its cinematography as the viewer often watches how the events of the film unfold from outside of a window or hidden in the trees through a handheld camera. Lastly, she can bring the cool and inventive kills needed for our lovable hockey mask-wearing killer. The Bread slicer kill is one of the more memorable kills of the decade.
–Vincent Kane
8. Adam Green
Whether it’s a remake they think is superior to the original, a middling sequel they defend to the death or a critically reviled film they can’t help but love, every horror fan has a hot take that’ll bring out the pitchforks. I have many myself and while this is nowhere near the top of the list, my love of Hatchet over Friday the 13th, certainly raises some eyebrows. I put Adam Green’s quadrilogy up against the first four Friday films any day of the week and I love those first for Friday films. I love the fun cameos, the insane kills, the mythology, and the humor. I think Victor Crowley is a beast and I actually prefer Hodder in these than the Friday films. He’s still doing his trademark heavy breathing but there’s a ferociousness and intensity to his movements that Jason doesn’t have. He’s like a rabid junkyard dog eviscerating anyone who comes into his area. I want a Jason that brutal and I know if Green is picked to direct it, he’d definitely bring back Hodder and deliver on that old-school viciousness.
–Sailor Monsoon
7. Jalmari Helander
I was trying to look for a director who was outside the horror genre but would seem like a perfect fit for the Friday the 13th franchise. The 2022 “John Wick in World War II” movie Sisu kept popping into my head. It’s outlandish, gory, and at times nonsensical all the while delivering an entertaining ride from start to finish. Helander also does an excellent job of building up the mysterious legend of the main character. Sounds perfect for Jason Voorhees. The only problem with my initial thoughts about finding someone outside of horror was when I researched Helander’s career only to find out that he had directed one of the best and slightly unknown Finnish Christmas horror gems called Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale. After learning that, I knew I needed to add him to the list. It’s a black comedy horror film that again does a fine job of building the mystery of the big bad of the story (which is a trip once you find out who the villain is). Again, sounds perfect for Jason Voorhees.
–Vincent Kane
6. Lexi Alexander
There have been four live-action Punishers and while I love them all for different reasons, Ray Stevenson is by far my favorite and that’s due to no small part to Lexi Alexander. Her commitment to a comic book-accurate aesthetic led to one of the most faithful superhero films ever made. She perfectly nailed the multiple tones (the raw and gritty part of the Punisher, the over-the-top cartoony elements of the villains, and the emotional subplot that’s grounded in reality) while also delivering copious amounts of bloody violence. This gives almost every other superhero a run for their money in terms of on-screen deaths. The Punisher kills so many people in this, he might as well be Jason. Since this movie bombed at the box office, she’s been in director jail ever since. Which means she desperately needs a hit to get out. It’s a beneficial arrangement that both of them need.
–Sailor Monsoon
5. Zach Cregger
Barbarian was a breakout horror hit in 2022 that captured the attention of a lot of non-horror fans as well. It had everything you would want in a Friday the 13th entry from being dark, scary, and thrilling with people making dumb decisions and great monster design. Cregger is an up-and-comer in horror who would be an excellent catch early in his career before he gets too big for the franchise. His next movie already has the likes of Josh Brolin attached, so he’s on his way if the film is a success like Barbarian.
–Vincent Kane
4. Alexandre Aja
Alexandre Aja, a renowned French filmmaker, has carved a niche for himself in the horror genre with his distinct style and masterful storytelling. His ability to blend visceral horror with psychological tension makes him an ideal candidate to reboot the Friday the 13th franchise. He has already successfully remade three horror films (Mirrors, The Hills Have Eyes, Piranha 3D) and as one of the members of the Splat Pack, a group of directors from the early ’00s whose films had a ton of gruesome kills and graphic violence, he might actually be overqualified for the job. The directors of the previous films were all up-and-comers with very few films under their belt. Aja is already a modern master of horror who’s already proven himself but that’s also kind of what this movie needs. A director who will deliver what the fans want and who’s a safe bet in terms of quality. No point in rebooting the thing if the first movie out the gate falls on its face. Aja has shown a deep respect for the history and conventions of the horror genre, often paying homage to classic horror films while injecting his own unique vision. This balance of reverence and innovation is crucial for rebooting a beloved franchise like Friday the 13th, ensuring that long-time fans are satisfied while attracting a new generation of viewers.
–Sailor Monsoon
3. Breck Eisner
2010’s The Crazies, made me an instant fan of Breck Eisner and I have been wanting him to return to horror ever since. Eisner showed a great eye for horror by knowing how to build tension while making the viewer care about the characters. Some fantastic horror imagery with white-knuckle moments. The Pitchfork scene is one of my favorite horror scenes of all time and you could easily picture Jason dragging that pitchfork on the cement before murdering helpless victims. Sadly, he hasn’t done much since except a show called The Expanse, an excellent sci-fi mystery. He was announced to direct a remake of The Brood but he ended up backing out while also being rumored for other remake projects such as Escape for New York. We need Eisner back in horror and Friday the 13th would be a perfect project for his homecoming.
–Vincent Kane
2. Damien Leone
I wasn’t a fan of either All Hallow’s Eve (the anthology that’s the first appearance of Art the Clown) or Terrifier but man did the sequel turn me into a convert. It’s definitely not perfect (it’s way too long) but Terrifier 2 is the best modern example of a sequel far surpassing the original. Everything about it is better because the director clearly evolved as a filmmaker. What Leone was able to accomplish with that minuscule budget is mind-blowing. To put it into perspective, Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey II had a budget of one million dollars, which is considered no-budget in Hollywood and that’s still more than the first two Terrifiers and All Hallow’s Eve combined. Since Leone was a makeup effects artist before he was a director, he knows how to stretch every cent and make every murder set piece look amazing for almost nothing. And there are many, many murder set pieces in the film. The goddamn thing is chock-full of practical effects, which as this list has conclusively proven, is the number 1 thing Kane and I (and every other horror fan) want in a Friday the 13th film.
–Sailor Monsoon
1. Michael Philippou, Danny Philippou
Also known as RackaRacka, Michael and Danny Philippou are twin Australian YouTubers who directed the 2023 breakout hit Talk to Me as their debut film. Talk to Me was a critical and box office hit and is one of the best horror films of the decade. There are gruesome practical effects, distressing visual jolts, and a rush of violent energy all the while having a certain tone of uneasy fun. They were also able to make a technically well-directed film with solid performances that you don’t always get in low-budget horror films. Sign me up if they were able to bring that same energy and technical ability to a Friday the 13th movie. The best Friday movies had all of those elements while making Jason the dangerous entity that he is. The twins seem to be into horror for the long haul and already have sequels to Talk to Me lined up, this could be a great pairing to bring Jason back from the dead.
–Vincent Kane
Who do you think should direct Friday the 13th? Comment below with your picks.
