I'm not a horror movie fan at all. Just don't like that genre of movies. But I sat down and watched this documentary and really enjoyed it. Kane loves his fans and loves what he does no question about it. His story is pretty amazing.
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brett-7626029 September 2018
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BandSAboutMovies16 November 2018If you're seen a Friday the 13th movie from 7 to 10, you know who Kane Hodder is. He's pretty much the man that made Jason into an icon - even after stepping into the successful series after several films (you can argue that Jason doesn't appear in the first film and only appears in hallucinations in Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning, so Hodder only missed out on four chances to be Jason). But who is the man behind the iconic hockey mask and makeup?
After surviving a childhood filled with bullying and an early career near-death burning, Hodder worked his way up in the stunt game before getting the roles of Jason and Victor Crowley from the Hatchet films. There's a nice balance here, as Hodder faces the camera and explains how close to death he got, particularly being moved by how he upset a child when she saw his burns.
There's a lot in here that reminds me of pro wrestling, as Bruce Campbell remarks that most of the heroes from movies end up being the worst people and the worst villains, like Hodder, are the ones that treat their fans and other people the best.
There's also a wonderful little moment where Cassandra "Elvira" Peterson shares how she and Hodder bonded over their shared survival of being burned. I would have never guessed in her case and felt that was a pretty brave thing to do for this film.
For being the guy who has probably killed more people on screen than any other actor, Hodder comes off as a likable fellow, a great family man and someone willing to discuss his failing, like his OCD that nearly ruined his connection to his family. Plus, the fact that he's always willing to push himself into new roles and new places in his career is pretty inspiring. It's well worth a watch! -
funnyfaceking16 June 2018This is a surprisingly good movie. Kane Hodder is a very funny, compassionate all around awesome human being.
The stories he tells are the main force of this film. Starting with a tale of being bullied, through long, sometimes graphically excruciating accounts of a terrible full body burn stunt accident and onto the legends that made him the most iconic actor to take on the famous role of Jason Voorhees in some of the later Friday the 13th movies. The worst part was the incompetent doctors who almost killed him because they did not know what they were doing.
The film is full of great interviews with fellow horror icons Robert Englund, Cassandra 'Elvira' Peterson, Bruce Campbell, Sid Haig, Bill Moseley, directors Adam Rifkin, Sean S. Cunningham, Adam Green, makeup artists, tattooists, old friends and family member.
This is honestly one of the most thoroughly researched documentaries I've seen in a long time. According to the Q&A I attended with director Derek Dennis Herbert, they had thirty nine hours of footage with Kane alone.
They were even able to get Kane to revisit the San Francisco Burn Unit that saved his life over 40 years ago. This is not a fluffy nostalgic puff piece about a horror movie actor. There is real emotional healing in those scenes. I was considering sharing a trailer for some of the PTSD facebook groups I belonged to, but I don't think a trigger warning would be enough to prepare some of the members for the endless scenes of hardcore movie violence.
I enjoyed horror movies as a teenager a lot. But I've had to walk out of horror movies in more recent years because of my PTSD. This film is unexpected, and I wish there was more that I could do to help it get the attention and praise it deserves.
It does get a bit long towards the end, especially for a theatrical film, but I still have to give it my highest recommendation.
So Sayeth the King of Funny Faces. -
slharlem24 July 2019Such strength in the face of adversity. This guy is truely incredible.
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Michael_Elliott8 August 2018To Hell and Back: The Kane Hodder Story (2017)
**** (out of 4)
This here is an excellent documentary that has Kane Hodder talking about his career in front of the movie camera as well as the various tragic events that led to him getting roles in films like the FRIDAY THE 13TH series as well as the HATCHET series.
If you're a fan of slasher movies then you'll known who Hodder is but I'm not too sure how much of his story you'll actually know. I'll admit that I really didn't know too much about him outside of what I knew about the making of various films he appeared in and that's why TO HELL AND BACK: THE KANE HODDER STORY was so great. Not only do we get to know about his stunt work, which led to him getting to play characters like Jason Voorhees but we also get to know what happened before that.
A great portion of the running time is devoted to an event that happened to Hodder when he was twenty-two years old. I'm not going to ruin what happened for those who don't know but there's no question that the stuff dealing with this event is the highlight of the film. Not only do you learn about these things but it helps make more sense of how he handles his work on movies as well as how he deals with his fans.
There are a lot of familiar faces who show up for interviews including Adam Green, Robert Englund, Danielle Harris, Bruce Campbell, John Carl Buechler, Sean S. Cunningham, Sid Haig as well as others including some of Hodder's family members. All of the interviews are extremely good and entertaining but a the same time there's no doubt that the highlight are the interview clips with Hodder who gets to tell his own story.
Throughout the story there are countless clips from his movies and this here is a major plus. There's no doubt that horror fans are going to love this documentary but I think Hodder's story is strong enough to where even outsiders will be entertained by this film. -
nightwishouge16 April 2021To Hell and Back ought to be required viewing for any adult who tolerates bullying as a necessary part of childhood, to prepare children for the adversity of the "real world". Kane Hodder has battled and survived life-threatening injuries and prospered in a career that sees him falling through staircases and setting himself on fire; nobody can argue this is not a tough man. Yet to see the very real, very raw pain in his eyes when he recounts a childhood spent as a misfit, when he lays out precisely how constant bullying drove him to a sense of worthlessness and guilt that nearly led to him taking his own life, I think any empathetic adult would have to see that bullying is not "necessary", not some obligatory rite of passage that builds character and encourages self-reliance. It's just abuse--hollow, cruel, purposeless abuse, and it shouldn't be excused.
That's not all the documentary covers, but it's the part that affected me the most. The rest of Kane's story is powerful as well. The filmmaking style is straightforward, with talking heads and movie clips, and it encompasses the fun of a career in horror movies alongside the pain of Hodder's particular traumas. Seeing his growth both in ability and self-confidence as an actor is fun and touching as he flexes his range to take on emotional roles as well as comedic ones, stretching beyond the standard silent killer roles in which many might be tempted to typecast him.
The only problem I had is that occasionally the movie does start to feel a bit "puffy" in certain moments just to bulk up the running time. A hardcore Hodder devotee might appreciate a condensed rundown of his filmography, but I don't really feel the need to listen to filmmakers take the opportunity to pitch their low-budget horror films to me, even if Kane Hodder did appear in them. -
Reviews_of_the_Dead2 January 2019This was a documentary that I heard about for some time and was intrigued in that I'm a fan of the person it focuses on, Kane Hodder. He is the Jason Voorhees that I know from the Friday the 13th films that came out when I was growing up or the ones that always seemed to be on television when I would seek them out. I didn't really know his life story, but heard some interesting stories in regards to him. I was quite interested to learn more. The official synopsis is the emotional story of Kane Hodder who survived a harrowing childhood and near-death accident to become one of films biggest and most beloved horror icons.
As the synopsis states, we start off learning about Kane's childhood. I knew that he was bullied and that it was something that really took a toll on him. It is kind of crazy to think about, because of how such a physically opposing guy he is. He did grow up on a military base in the pacific, which makes it also quite interesting. He does reveal that he was a daredevil, even in his youth. Listening to him as he dealt with bullying was good and I think it is a solid message for those that have to deal with it. It also has a message for those that think they are helping when they might not be.
What really got to me in this though was the accident that Kane survived. He attempted to do a fire stunt and it ended up going wrong. This left him burnt and trying to get over the damage he did to his body. The physical and mental toll was quite emotional for me as a viewer. It was really touching for him to open up, allowing the viewer to get to know the person behind the man on the screen.
This documentary also does a solid job in that it interviews his friends in the industry and outside of it, fans, those he works with and things to this effect. I do find it interesting to hear things from the person themselves, but also to get the other perspectives. Now I don't expect to hear people talking about bad about him in that it's a documentary about him, but the people that were interviewed all seem to generally like him. I find it interesting that I've never heard anyone I've interacted with who have met him say anything bad and that he truly loves his fans. It is good to hear despite some of the bad things that have happened to him in Hollywood that he has become such an icon of the genre.
Despite the film's almost 2 hour running time, it really doesn't feel like it. The film goes through many of his major roles, giving some stories from the sets of them. It also goes through the major disappointments of his life in the industry and outside of it. Regardless though, I was captivated from beginning to end and this really did move quite fast. I will say that I don't necessarily know if I believe 100% everything that is stated, but there isn't much I questioned either.
This is going to be another shorter review as it is hard to talk about documentaries. This is the man that I think of as Jason even though he's some of the worst films in the Friday the 13th franchise. His life is quite interesting and listening to the stories he tells really had me feeling emotional and in awe of him. If you like to learn more behind the scenes of films or about actors in general, I would give this film a viewing. I think it is definitely worth it for fans of Kane, Friday the 13th or other films he has appeared in. It is one of the best documentaries I've seen in the genre for sure. -
ASouthernHorrorFan12 July 2018"To Hell And Back" is a deeply personal and intense account of the horror icon's journey through his darkest moments. From childhood bullying that reaches some truly violent, heart breaking episodes, right up to the gut-wrenching and harrowing experience as a severe burn survivor. The documentary is more than fangasm, it offers a level of realism and humanism that expands beyond the parameters of the horror genre fandom - all with Kane Hodder as the primary story telling offering a first-person account of his life.
Friends of the legend offer up moments and feelings of their relationship with Hodder. The selling point for me, and probably most fans, is the one on one feel you get as Hodder is center stage for the majority of the documentary, giving his story as only he could tell. Especially his recounting of being burnt severely during an impromptu demo with a standard fire stunt. An accident that nearly killed him, and as the title states- sent him to "hell and back". This is a documentary worth seeing and for any fan of Hodder, his work and his life, one to add to the collection. -
I've always been a big Kane Hodder fan -- even watched documentaries about some horror move franchises just to see him. I was excited to learn more about him and extremely pleased to find that the quality and production are FANTASTIC. This is one I'll watch more than once.
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dray_224 July 2018There really isn't any words to describe how incredible Kane's story truly is. This documentary will change your entire perception of reality, it will change what your worries are and you will leave with a new sense of gratefulness and drive to live a better life! Whether you are a fan of horror or not, this story will open your eyes to a whole new world. I am so grateful to the director and producers of this film and all of the work this took, to everyone who played a part and to Kane for opening up and sharing his story. It changed my life and will so many others!
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missdrac77717 July 2018This documentary is epic, telling the story of actor Kane Hodder. Anyone a fan of his should see it. It's just awesome watching the interviews of so many fellow horror actors supporting one another.
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thesar-29 May 2020Now, I'm REALLY sad I pissed off Jason. I mean, Kane.
What this man has been through...I can't even begin to imagine. Before seeing this, I knew he was a burn victim, but not to any extent as what he describes in this incredible documentary. How ANYONE could survive what he went through is a miracle. I even had to double back and listen to his ordeal a second time to get it all in.
(Side Note: I do, however, know of the twitching. I've had very bad back pains, sun burns, chicken pox, Valley Fever and stomach aches all while never being able to rest comfortably enough to sleep. He describes this, amongst many more painful experiences, and because I've also had the "FINALLY! Drifting off to sleep..." mode violently and immediately interrupted by "the twitch" or jerk, it was a connection I could make with his story to know how true it all was.)
When I say now that I haven't given you a tenth of his story above so you can experience his words and testimony for yourself, know I am being truthful. I do want you to hear from him in this great documentary.
I seriously thought the title of this movie was just a snappy, quick and recognizable phrase associated with Kane Hodder's career path. No. It's one of the most accurate titles I've ever heard. Bravo.
And bravo to this film as well. I learned so much and appreciated so much more about this man. The man behind the infamous mask. I even have his (and mine as well) favorite look/mask of Jason, the one from his Part VII: The New Blood, hanging at the end of my bed. Seriously.
This film's not so much his roles, though that does take a good percentage of screen time. You can learn more about those, but mostly Jason Voorhees, in the other awesome documentary: Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th. This would be a great companion to that film, though it's already a hefty 7 hours and adding another almost 2-hours here...yeah, I guess it's worth it.
Totally recommend this heartfelt story of a man who's made mistakes, lived to tell others about them and come out a much better person who can, and does, inspire others. And others did come; there were numerous clip conversations with so many more horror icons and welcomed faces and voices.
Despite all I've said above, I couldn't get past one "choice" made by the director: Kane's Cutaways. Mostly in the first half you'll witness the scenes quickly transitioning from people telling their stories/testimonials to Kane wandering around a hospital that's supposed to be sterile and in the desert. And not just wandering, he looks pretty much senile and not sure where he's at or how he got there. Sadly, these scenes were distracting and unintentionally hilarious right smack dab in the middle of a heartful speech or remembrance. After the, no joke, 15th time, I knew this would be a regular and I best get used to it. I wasn't wrong.
With that, and no real "other side of the story" - probably because Kane also executive produced this, I'd still highly recommend this movie.
***
Final thoughts: I said in the beginning that I pissed off Kane Hodder. Well, that did happen way back in 2014 when I first met him, sadly. Also previously stated, I was having a little issue with my back and I was in line to purchase Kane's book at the very first Mad Monster convention in Phoenix, Arizona. It was also my first convention, horror or any sort. Anyways, the Elvira: Mistress of the Dark Photo Op/signing I pre-purchased was coming near, the line was getting long for that, my back was acting up and Kane was entertaining fans in front of me, telling this what seemed like to me: a very long story and it tried my patience. Unfortunately, and despite me telling myself, he's not doing anything wrong, I still showed my discomforts. And Kane did not miss any of my body language.
I still purchased his (expensive to me) autobiography and autograph within, but he never seemed to recover his annoyance with my impatience. I did feel bad that's the one interaction with the man who would play one of my all-time favorite characters on screen.
And now, years later, after seeing this documentary and what he suffered in life, I feel even worse. Kane, if you do read this, please accept my apology. Though, hopefully, you won't remember this even happening. -
jo-broncos26 September 2023Excellent documentary. Do yourself a favour and give this one a watch. I don't usually watch documentaries but I'm so glad I chose to give this one a shot.
Prepare yourself for an emotional roller coaster. Kane Hodder really opens up about his life and his near death experience and his career.
I enjoyed seeing other famous horror actors and his friends and family speak about him. Kane is so well respected for his craft and his dedication to his work.
Being a major horror fan myself and an avid Jason lover I already liked Kane but after watching this documentary I have so much new found respect and love for this man. What a legend! -
chstad2725 September 2018This was an amazing documentary of a horror icon kane hodder from broken to triumphant. If you're a true horror movie fan this is a can't miss.
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samthinks-649885 June 2020I have a new found respect for Kane Hodder. The man has been through a lot and this is a story of much depth. More of a fan of his work after seeing this than even before!
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I'm so glad I watched this. I've always enjoyed Kane Hodder as Jason Voorhees in Friday the 13th Parts 7-10, and as Victor Crowley in the Hatchet series, but now we get to see how he started. He talks about how he was bullied a lot as a kid, and how he wanted to be a stuntman, but one of his stunts went horribly wrong and accidentally set himself on fire. He was in the hospital for six months, and it was truly awful for him. I actually cried. He later discusses how he was cast as Jason, and how disappointed he was that he wasn't asked to be in Freddy Vs. Jason. If you love Kane Hodder's work, I highly recommend TO HELL AND BACK: THE KANE HODDER STORY!!!
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I've been interested to see this since I first heard about. Kane is one of those Horror Icons that seems like an interesting guy. He's one of the best stuntmen in the business and been some of the biggest characters in horror like Jason Voorhees & Victor Crowley. I figured if anything it wouldn't be a dull watch. I'm a sucker for documentaries anyway. Combine that with my love of Horror and this was pretty much a no-brainer for me.
This was actually much more than I expected. It has a lot of heart. We learn a lot about Kane and how he came into acting/stunt work. The trials and tribulations he's gone through as well as the triumphs. There are loads of interviews with members of the horror community, friends and Kane himself.
I don't want to spoil anything so I will leave it at that. Even if you're not a big horror fan it's worth a watch. A must see for those of us who are horror junkies. It's a damn interesting view. We get a glimpse into the life of one of the people most synonymous with the genre. It's touching, funny, and as I said, has a lot of heart.
My Rating: 8/10 -
Android10 November 2022I met Kane in '90 at a toronto horror convention, it was a big deal for me at that time. He was really cool. Very friendly. I brought a sharpie knowing I might get a few autographs, he signed a photo, let me take pictures, and a bit later someone else was asking him for an autograph and he looks over to me and says "hey, *says my name*, can i borrow your pen?". That was the coolest. Such a small thing but even my girlfriend was like "hey he knows your name!".
This was a great documentary. I admit i teared up a few times.
Years later i would work on jason x. Never would have dreamed of that. Hope he does Jason again. -
harybobjoebob10 October 2020Learning about this man took me on an emotional roller coaster, didnt know if I should be sad, scared, happy, or all together. It's amazing what he went through and I recomend anyone watch it even if you dont like the friday the 13th movies