Although Freddy vs. Jason was far from critically acclaimed upon its release, the 2003 slasher showdown originally had a much worse ending that viewers were thankfully spared. While Freddy vs. Jason’s original plans changed a lot during the movie’s lengthy production, the finished film was a surprisingly solid addition to both famous franchises. The Springwood slasher’s much-hyped faceoff against Camp Crystal Lake’s hulking killer was a bit campier than many fans expected, but Freddy vs. Jason’s fast pace and a streak of dark humor ensured it was relatively well-liked by most viewers.
However, this was not always destined to be the case. The original ending of Freddy vs. Jason was both too dark for the movie and utterly nonsensical in terms of storytelling, and could well have derailed the project if kept in place. In an example of test audiences changing a movie for the better, Freddy vs. Jason’s poor early screening reactions resulted in this ending being replaced by the far superior closing scene it has today.
