To Hell and Back: The Kane Hodder Story is a 2017 American documentary film co-produced and directed by Derek Dennis Herbert.
Production company Masterfully Macabre Entertainment provide the following synopsis:
“To Hell and Back: The Kane Hodder Story is the harrowing story of a stuntman overcoming a dehumanising childhood filled with torment and bullying in Sparks, Nevada.
After surviving a near-death burn accident, he worked his way up through Hollywood, leading to his ultimate rise as Jason Voorhees in the Friday the 13th series and making countless moviegoers forever terrified of hockey masks and summer camp.
Featuring interviews with cinema legends, including Bruce Campbell (Ash vs. Evil Dead), Robert Englund (Freddy Krueger), and Cassandra Peterson (Elvira: Mistress of the Dark), To Hell and Back peels off the mask of Kane Hodder, cinema’s most prolific killer, in a gut-wrenching, but inspiring, documentary.
After decades of watching Kane Hodder on screen, get ready to meet the man behind the mask in To Hell and Back – an uniquely human story about one of cinema’s most vicious monsters.”
The film features interviews with Danielle Harris, Sid Haig, Zach Galligan, Bill Moseley, Felissa Rose, Adam Green, Sean S. Cunningham, John Carl Buechler and many others.
Reviews:
“Hodder has a genially grouchy public persona, which he’s happy to trot out for the fans (who relish being choked by him, which some of his friends express mild concerns about). Here, he digs a bit deeper, and shows an emotional, almost inspirational side that suggests why he’s more liked than guys who play heroes.” The Kim Newman Web Site
“Towards the end, Hodder’s initial boast about on-screen murders is carefully modified: Hodder is the actor who has performed the most kills with his bare hands. Even now, he is celebrated at conventions for putting his hands around the necks of fans and gripping them in a hard chokehold. That approach – getting up close and personal, with a sparkle in his eye and a waggish hint of real danger – also summarises his persona in this documentary…” Jonathan Hatfull, SciFi Now
” …To Hell And Back is a must-watch for horror fans, and Jason devotees in particular. But it’s also a hugely moving, fascinating glimpse into the life of a very private, otherwise normal person with some great stories to tell. The amount of goodwill Hodder has inspired over the years is clear from fan and contemporary accounts alike.” Joey Keogh, Wicked Horror
“Kane’s humble no bullshit way of talking about his experiences and to the people who have enriched his life and career provides plenty of huge laughs, which go a long way to break up the agonising stories of his past, which are carefully and quietly told. To Hell and Back: The Kane Hodder Story is funny sad tragic and triumphant, and confirms Kane as not just an icon but a true legend.” Alan Simmons, Live for Films
