13th Child

If you are thinking of seeing this movie, I would think again. Living in Southern New Jersey, the Legend of the Jersey Devil really hits home. So when we heard of this movie, there was no doubt we were going to see it. So we paid $7.75 each at the local multiplex, and settled in. I was originally expected Blair Witch Project type filmography, but the video was actually better than I thought it would be. The movie on the other hand was absolutely dreadful! Not only was their a non-existent plot, but the author completely changed the legend of the Jersey Devil! No Mother Leeds? There were so many obvious errors in the movie, it was really an amateur production. The theatre booed loudly at the end. I heard no less than 10 people comment that it was the worst movie ever. I couldn't help but agree.

Bad acting was only one reason this movie sucks ass. What a complete waste of time to watch this dreadful piece of sh*t!! Who would have thought that "Benson" would stoop so low as to "act" in a crappy movie like this. And Christopher Atkins needs to go back to the Blue Lagoon. He sucked as well. Oh, and how many times did we actually get to see this Jersey Devil? Hell, he made probably about three appearances in the whole damn movie. Good thing though, it was totally comical when you did get to see him. And Michelle Maryk, she was absolutely awful. Her enthusiasm just overwhelmed me throughout this nightmare. She looked and acted just like what she drove around in, a dull, pale old VW Bug!! Avoid this one at all costs.

Living in New Jersey one becomes familiar with the legend of the Jersey Devil, it's a shame that the creative team behind this picture didn't brush up on that legend. The film has the fun stylings of those campy drive-in horror films, but aside from that, suffers from painfully long/slow scenes coupled with downright derivative imagery. THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, ALIENS, 12 MONKEYS, and even the EXORCIST all exist in this film. The film, for a low budget feature, actually shows decent production but the acting, script, and story all suffer so. Here's hoping a "Volume 2" isn't in the works.

If you were lucky enough to rent this stinker at Hollywood Video, where it is a new release, be sure to get it back ASAP for the dollar credit for early returns. That way it won't be a total loss. BTW what is with all the Jersey Devil stuff? I didn't see a single hockey player!

I am from South Jersey, and very familiar with the legend. I even worked as a tour guide at Batsto Historic Village, where the movie was filmed. Interesting fact, the outside scene of the hospital is actually the visitors center at Batsto. Also, one of my friends is a thirteenth generation decendent of the Leeds family, and her mother worked as a consultant on the film. The story of the Jersey Devil that most people know, the one of mother Leeds cursing her thirteenth child and causing him to become the Jersey Devil, is where the title of the movie comes from. Unfourtantly, that story is copyrighted, and the film makers of this film had to use an alternate story. So naturally it wasn't what most people expected, but it could have been saved. Unfortunately, the filmmakers tried to cover all of the holes in the movie, weak backstory, mediocre acting, and poor editing, with excessive gore. The only thing I could think of when I left the theater was, Yucky! It was a poorly made movie, that wasn't properly researched.