Film was filmed in the suburbs of Los Angeles, California, and serves as the ninth installment in the Friday the 13th franchise. The story takes the series in a wildly different direction by essentially sidelining Jason Voorhees as a physical presence for most of the runtime. Instead, Jason's evil spirit jumps from body to body, possessing various people in the town of Crystal Lake while a bounty hunter named Creighton Duke tries to stop him for good. The FBI sets up an elaborate sting operation at the beginning to destroy Jason's body, but his demonic essence survives and continues to kill. The film introduces the concept that Jason can only be truly destroyed by a member of his own bloodline, adding new mythology to the franchise. Production took place primarily in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, using residential neighborhoods and local businesses to stand in for the fictional Crystal Lake setting. The movie is notable for featuring a Necronomicon from the Evil Dead series as an Easter egg, and its ending teaser — where Freddy Krueger's glove pulls Jason's mask underground — set up the eventual Freddy vs. Jason crossover that wouldn't materialize for another decade.

Filming locations:

Canyon Ranch Cabin

In the movie

Scene where the FBI agent Marcus stays in a remote cabin at the beginning of the movie, setting the trap for Jason Voorhees. The isolated wooden structure surrounded by trees provides the classic Friday the 13th atmosphere of a secluded woodland cabin where danger lurks just outside. This opening sequence leads to the elaborate ambush where Jason is blown apart by a military strike team.

In reality

The scene was filmed a private ranch property known as Canyon Ranch, located on East Carlisle Road in the hills of Thousand Oaks. The site has been used as a filming location for multiple productions including Sons of Anarchy. The cabin served as the rustic woodland setting needed for the opening sequences, and the ranch continues to operate as a film location rental property in Ventura County.