Jason’s Ultimate Rampage: Never Hike Alone 2- The Final Slay

Starring: Thom Mathews, Anna Campbell, Drew Leighty, Vincent Guastaferro

Synopsis: Set as a direct sequel to Never Hike Alone (2017) and Never Hike in the Snow (2020), Never Hike Alone 2 picks up with Crystal Lake’s haunted son, TOMMY JARVIS (Thom Mathews), who has all but given up on his search for the long lost JASON VOORHEES (Vincente DiSanti / Bryan Forrest). However, when Tommy receives an emergency call to pick up injured hiker KYLE MCLEOD (Andrew Leighty), he will once again come face-to-face with the ghost of Crystal Lake.

Get ready to dive back into the blood-soaked mayhem of the Never Hike Series, folks, because Vincente DiSanti is back with his machete-sharp storytelling in “Never Hike Alone 2.” Now, some might scratch their heads and wonder how it’s the final installment in a trilogy when we already had a prequel called “Never Hike In The Snow” sandwiched between the original “Never Hike Alone.” Well, that’s horror for you, always messing with timelines and our heads.

Vincente, our mastermind director and writer, is here to deliver a bloody bow on this series, and this time around, Thom Mathews steps up, flexing his Tommy Jarvis muscles. Tommy has become a horror icon as big as Laurie Strode, and we’re all excited to see him in action again.

The movie kicks off by filling in some POV gaps from Tommy, Jason, and the ever-irritated Sheriff Rick Cologne, aligning perfectly with the events of “Never Hike Alone.” This not only ties up the loose ends of original survivor Kyle McLeod’s story but also helps increase that body count – because who doesn’t love a good slasher flick body count?

Now, you might have heard that the plan was for four films in the Never Hike series. But guess what? Vincente has pulled out all the stops for a bigger-budget grand finale. It’s the showdown we’ve all been waiting for – Tommy vs. Jason, mano-a-machete.

Drew Leighty, Anna Campbell, and Thom Mathews lead the charge, gearing up to take on Jason in Crystal Lake’s heart. The set looks out-of-this-world, and the Womp Stomp team deserves a high-five for finding such an amazing location. Sheriff Rick Cologne, played by Vincent Guastaferro, is convinced that Tommy is the butcher behind the mask, and he’s on a mission to put him in cuffs.

And now, let’s talk about Jason’s epic entrance. He makes his appearance in a blood-soaked, red-lit hallway of the hospital, leaving us all awestruck. It’s like wherever that red dot goes, you “bang”! And yes, there’s another epic scene right around the corner.

The entire cast delivers solid performances, but the real standout is Anna Campbell, who portrays Dr. Diana Hill. Her character, a grieving mother, is back to work after the horrifying events of “Never Hike In The Snow,” still holding on to hope that her son might be out there. Her emotional scene with Tommy is a tearjerker as she pours her heart out about her son’s disappearance.

“Never Hike Alone 2” is a rollercoaster of suspense that brings back the classic Friday the 13th eerie vibe while cranking up the action. Jason gets straight to the slashing, making his way to the Wessex County Hospital to finish off Kyle, the original hiker who narrowly escaped the Voorhees fury.

Here’s a fun twist: Doug Tait, who’s donned both the Jason and Michael masks in his career, plays a deputy and throws in a nod to a classic scene from “Freddy vs. Jason.” A treat for horror buffs!

DiSanti pours his heart and soul into this powerhouse of a movie for Friday the 13th fans. He not only wraps up Tommy Jarvis’s trauma but brings back the terrifying Jason that fans adore. DiSanti proves he has what it takes to helm a big-budget Friday the 13th film, with the right tone, brutal kills, and creative gore that the franchise deserves. Watch out, because he’s destined to join the ranks of horror legends like Carpenter, Craven, and Tobe Hooper.

As “Never Hike Alone 2” draws the curtain on Tommy’s story, it sneakily hints that the story might not be over. A sequel? Yes, please! But if this is the end of DiSanti’s Jason universe, it’s been a helluva ride. With beloved characters returning, a gripping storyline, mind-blowing effects, and jaw-dropping cinematography, the Never Hike series is the adrenaline shot Jason fans have been craving. And who knows, maybe it’s time we let DiSanti take a stab at Michael Myers next?

Oh, and eagle-eyed fans, keep your peepers peeled for two surprise Friday the 13th alumni cameos – you won’t want to miss them!

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