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Victor Miller Prevails in First Ruling of the ‘Friday the 13th’ Lawsuit

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Friday the 13th lawsuit

It certainly has been an eventful month for the seemingly cursed franchise Friday the 13th. With a Jason Vorhees statue being removed from the bottom of an Arizona Lake, and Friday the 13th: The Game making it onto PS Plus as a free download, Jason has been plastered on headlines across the internet. However, one of the most important news bulletins for our famed hockey mask murderer has finally surfaced after roughly 2 years of anticipation.

In 2016, a lawsuit between the franchises’ original screenplay writer Victor Miller and director/writer Sean Cunningham (along with Horror Inc.) surfaced on whether or not Miller was entitled to payment from the prosperous franchise after its first film: Friday the 13th. The legal bloodbath grew ugly with suspicion of Cunningham perjuring himself before his deposition testimony. As a result,  plans for a sequel to the 2009 Friday the 13th have been suspended, and any additional content for Friday the 13th: The Game has been cancelled.

Friday the 13th lawsuit

Image via IMDB

Recently, THR reported that a ruling was issued which could have us see an end to the legal dispute.

As we’ve covered, the case revolved around Miller wanting to claim what he is financially owed from the Friday the 13th franchise–having written the first film’s script–and is credited as a character writer for the sequel films. Cunningham and Co. felt that since Miller wrote the first script as work-for-hire under the WGA (Writers Guild of America), then the creative properties of the entire Friday the 13th franchise belong to the company/Cunningham (Horror Inc.).

Friday the 13th Jason

Image via IMDB

While both sides wanted the judge to motion for a summary in October of 2017, this particular section of copyright law is relatively new in courts; consequently, U.S. District Court Judge Stefan Underhill did not have much to go off of when issuing a summary of the ruling for the rights over Friday the 13th.

Ultimately, the judge’s summary came down to the amount of evidence that proved Cunningham’s influence and control over Miller’s creative work with Friday the 13th. Cunningham is accredited as a writer, worked with Miller on the film, and both were under the WGA; however, when Miller drafted the characters and script, there’s no tangible/concrete proof outside of allegation that Cunningham possessed greater influence over the initial creation and creative direction of Friday the 13th. Miller was paid to work with Cunningham and to submit the script for the company, but as it stands the first Friday the 13th film is creatively and legally his work.

[The full unabridged legal document and statement]

The summary determines victory to Miller over entitlement to the script and rights of Friday the 13th in the United States. In contrast, Cunningham and Horror Inc. have legal control outside of the states, where the copyright law does not have any legal domain.

A settlement can be arranged at this point, or Cunningham can look to put forth an appeal. Underhill’s summary may pressure Cunningham to settle, but the judge did mention an aspect of the dispute which Cunningham and the producers will want to continue on with the case and make an appeal.

While Miller did in fact write the first franchise installment Friday the 13th, it is not certain if he directly influenced the characters in the sequels or not, specifically Jason Vorhees. To clarify, I don’t mean the deformed child who snags Adrienne King from the canoe at the end of the first film, but Jason Vorhees as we know him today. Jason the icon, as far as surface level and legal evaluations go, is the hockey mask wearing murderer we see in a plethora of films after the first one. Whether Miller directly influenced or intended to create the adult Jason prior to the first script is a question the court is not equipped to answer at this time. Cunningham and Horror Inc. may have enough legal ground to go for an appeal and contest that they are the sole creative owners of the everything after Friday the 13th.

Friday the 13th 2 Jason

Image via IMDB

This is to say, while the first round of the legal battles is settled in favor of Miller, and may set a precedent for the rest of the case, the franchise is not exactly out of the woods yet.  Still, we can hope that Cunningham and Horror Inc. choose to not drag out the battle any longer and settle. I would think it’d be worth inquiring if the “Jason” from Part 5 would count as one of the sequel Jasons?

Do you think that Cunningham should have the sole rights to the entire franchise, or is Miller entitled to payment for writing the script that started it all? Comment below and tell us what you think! Regardless, we’ll most likely be waiting a while for an update, but we’ll keep you posted as this story develops!

In the mean time, if you’re curious about whether the previously mentioned Friday the 13th game is worth downloading or not, you can read our review on it! If you’d rather check out some bad-ass Friday the 13th art, take a look at a phenomenal bloodbath of an art piece made by JJ Harrison!

Friday the 13th lawsuit

Image via IMDB (The current state of the Friday the 13th franchise)

 

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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