In the annals of cinema, there are just certain names that we’ve found synonymous with the horror genre such as Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi and Vincent Price. But as time went on and the idea of sequels and franchises became the norm, one could say that the characters themselves outgrew any one performer, with the likes of Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees and Michael Myers being some of the most notable examples.
Still, it’s the ones that have done the dance more than once that are most favored by fans. In the case of the aforementioned Jason Voorhees, many gravitate toward Kane Hodder as he’s played the character in four films, those being the seventh through tenth entries in the Friday the 13th franchise. Most fortunate for him, he’s also found a new home in recent years in the form of the Hatchet series, playing the grotesque Victor Crowley.
But how much do you really know about the man behind the mask? Probably not a lot, but don’t worry, as a new documentary titled To Hell and Back: The Kane Hodder Story is here to change that. Said to tell the harrowing tale of “a stuntman overcoming a dehumanizing childhood filled with torment and bullying in Sparks, Nevada,” the first trailer arrived a while back and now, we’ve finally got an idea of when we’ll get to see the film.
To Hell and Back will be receiving a limited theatrical release on June 28th/29th, followed by a VOD, Blu-Ray and DVD release on Friday, July 13th – how fitting, right? Speaking to Dread Central, director Derek Dennis Herbert said the following about what’s coming our way:
Making this film was a labor of love that took nearly two years of filming to complete, but we’re very proud of the results and know that audiences worldwide will love Kane’s story of overcoming bullying, a horrifying burn accident, and building his career from the ground up.
I hope fans will see what it took for Kane to become the man he is today and help them with similar struggles in their own lives. It’s always easier to get through something when you have someone you admire in your corner, and that’s what Kane does in this story. He is raw and rough and gives you a film that you’ll be laughing, crying, and cheering throughout!”
Featuring interviews with Hodder himself, along with several other notable names in the genre – Bruce Campbell, Bill Moseley, Cassandra Peterson, Sid Haig and Danielle Harris, among others – the official synopsis below teases more about what to expect.
After surviving a near-death burn accident, Hodder worked his way up through Hollywood, leading to his ultimate rise as Jason Voorhees in the Friday the 13th series and making countless moviegoers forever terrified of hockey masks and summer camp. After decades of watching Kane Hodder on screen, get ready to meet the man behind the mask in a uniquely human story about one of cinema’s most vicious monsters.
To Hell and Back: The Kane Hodder Story will see a release later this Spring, and as soon any further updates on the project surface, we’ll be sure to let you know.
