Never quite got around to get to re-watching many of the 80s slashers, which I had planned for during this summer, but well, it is far from over yet, and managed to see through a few Friday the 13th chapters the last couple of weekends:
Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985) by Danny Steinmann
"What the hell's going on here?"
In a attempt of trying to overcome the horrific events from Crystal Lake as a kid, the now older Tommy Jarvis (John Shepherd), has been moved towards a motivational camp, located at the countryside. The goal is to help the youths, to become their own bosses and work their way back to society, in a rewarding and meaningful manner.
Sadly, the traumatic events of the past, is just far too real, and it does not help out much either, when Tommy begins seeing Jason Voorhees, almost everywhere, that and when all of a sudden, a murderous lunatic seems to continue on, from where the Crystal Camp massacre ended, years ago.It has been a while since one got through the entire film series, and had some big plans for this, during the summer, and well, I did re-watch The Final Chapter (1984) during last years Halloween October Challenge, and felt one could just continue on, with the Tommy Jarvis saga, and in what has been my favorite film of the entire franchise, A New Beginning.
I guess I will always be one of those, who just cannot understand why this gets so much negative and hostile feedback, compared to way weaker or duller sequels, as it does try to change or at least do something a bit "new" or different, even if something very similar, already took place with the first chapter, but yeah, the problem was most likely that the producers got "trapped" not unlike as with Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982), and where it soon backfired big time, as the fans did not take too kindly, when the hit formula got tampered with, and sadly it seems that is why so many dislike or hate it, or so it often feels like.
Well, what is there to dislike? It has some of the most finest, cutest and surely sexy female characters of the franchise, all tucked together into one film, and where most of them, has a nice "talent" of suddenly loosing all of their clothes, again and again. Sure, the sleaze factor is very high, no surprise, as it was directed by the same guy who only a year before, did the vigilante exploitation film Savage Streets (1984), which also is filled up with big titted women, and lots of tits and ass shots.
But what really does it for me, is the pace, atmosphere, memorable characters, and also you have quite a mystery going on, about who is the real killer, and something about the entire re-watchability has made it stood out, at bit more, than the rest, even if it is surely not the best in quality, I just have always liked it the most.
Anyway, I kind of wished certain characters had stayed on a bit longer, such as the short tempered pyscho, Vinnie, or the cute new wave chick Violet, who does some awesome robotic dance moves, just before she is "written out", and then we have the main man, in Tommy who manages to be both vulnerable, yet intense and quite unpredictable, and sad that the same actor did not come back for another film.
The comedy is both very over the top, but also has a certain black humor to it, which I prefer with these kind of films, and where you get the absolute ridiculous Cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid) lookalike, driving around the woods, screaming and shouting his head off, well, that is until someone decide to shut him up for good, and of course his "charming" mother, who has a talent of some laughable one-liners and truly nasty looking cocking.
Another name that I felt got written out, way too earl, was Miguel A. Núñez, Jr. as Demon, who I guess maybe came straight from Return of the Living Dead (1985), at least it looked like it, but yeah, a bit too much spicy junkfood, and the poor fella almost runs down the nearest toilet, in which will be his final tomb, and yeah, some hiliarous stuff shortly before it all happens, with him and girl doing a "duet":
"Oh Baby, OOOOH BAAABY!"Sex or going to the bathroom, that is never a wise choice in these films, if one wants to survive a bit longer. But then again, if you gotta go, you gotta go.
All in all, no change since my last visit (summer of 2013), and while not the very best, it is still my favorite, and one of the few, I would reconsider as part of my top 5 favorite summer camp 80s slashers.
7/10Also, the film comes with the very catchy synthpop tune in His Eyes, by Pseudo Echo, a fitting title and tribute, as well:
SPOILER ALERT! If you have not seen the film, be aware that this video features lots of footage, but where I think is among the better made Friday the 13th Part: 5 tributes I have seen yet)Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986) by Tom McLoughlin
"I've seen enough horror movies to know any weirdo wearing a mask is never friendly."
During a horrible mistake of getting rid of Jason Voorhees, once and a for all. Tommy Jarvis instead, manages to resurrect the murderous beast from his "eternal" sleep. And this is very bad news, not just for him, but also in which Camp Crystal Lake, has tried to overcome its past, by ending up with a new name, in Forest Green. But yeah, this helps very little, as the bodies soon starts to pile up, and some old habits, are very hard to kill.Another re-watch, and sadly one which I realized very early, would not benefit by another go.
As for me, the drop from part 1-5 and down to the 6th film, is just a bit too steep, and it feels like here the producers panicked, trying to ignore the events of part 5, and just carry on from part 4, which is kind of frustrating, as they just ditch the dramatic cliffhanger of the former sequel, where it is beeing hinted that:
(Oh great, now the spoiler function button does not work with me either. Well, I cannot waste more time to try to make it work, so I just leave it like this):
SPOILER ALERT:
that Tommy might pick up, where Roy left off, as the new "Jason"
SPOILER ALERT: ENDS
but yeah, as with Halloween III, the people behind, should realized that tinkering with these beloved horror icons, usually is bad business.
Anyway, Jason Lives is anywhere near the former films wild use of sleaze, cheese and use of tits and ass, but instead feels more like a parody of the series itself, which is most likely meant that way, and you get a James Bond lookalike intro, with Jason as the main star, and where random characters end up talking directly to the viewers, or lines which feels more at home in one of the Scary Movie films, and you kind of expect that when Jason takes of his mask, it will be Leslie Nielsen behind it.
So those expecting lots of gore and such, might be in for a disappointment, not sure how badly it was cut, but at least I have always enjoyed the autumn feel it got so much of, with lots of foggy atmosphere and a rather nice change, from the usual summer themed adventures.
Sadly, the actor who takes on the role of Tommy Jarvis in this one (kind of reminded me a bit of Michael Dudikoff, but turns out it the guy who played Fred, from Return of the Living Dead) has none of the intense and unpredictable personality of Shepherd, and just seems like any other random high school jock, at least there is a few cute girls in this one.
Another positive, is the great use of not one, but three Alice Cooper songs, where the most famous, has to be The Man Behind the Mask.
All in all, I really hope it would do me good, by giving it another go, but yeah, no changes in how I rate it since last time:
5/10
Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981) by Steve Miner
"I told the others, they didn't believe me. You're all doomed. You're all doomed."
Five long years has gone, since the blood bath at Camp Crystal lake, and this time, a 2 weeks get together, and get ready for the kids course, is on for the camp counselors, but yeah, horny and curious teenagers, deciding to snoop around, at places they should keep far away from, is never a wise choice.
As the punishment soon arrives, which goes hard on everything from old timers, to the handicapped, as Jason Voorhees is back for vengeance! The very first Friday the 13th film I saw, all on my own, during a very chilling summer night, back in 1999, when a Norwegian tv-channel, did over a 8 weeks period, send all these enjoyable and exciting late 70s and early 80s horror and slasher titles.
Anyway, part 2 is without a doubt, one of the best and most memorable films, as one of the main reasons, is that it contains a way more effective and unsettling use of jump scare scenes, that and Jason had still not found the iconic hockey mask, instead sporting a cheap potato sack hoodie, which along with him coming off as quite "clumsy", instead of just being portrayed as this unstoppable killing machine, it all made Jason more scary or frightening, maybe because you felt there was a real human being in there, not some supernatural force, that gets stronger from each film, more or less.
Another thing, is how many likeable people there is in these early films, at least compared to the much later ones.
And of course, some very fine looking women as well, even if I guess one was most likely underaged (at the time of filming), but yeah, I guess my 13-14 year old myself, is doing the talking, as yeah, these films included some very memorable female entries, and where little is left to the imagination, and also a skinny dipping scene, along with sex scenes, which in returns mean instant death.
Sadly, not even the best teenage memories, can save the final act, as with many of these films, I tend to loose interest, when more or less every character that I either like or wished would be among the surviving or last standing, ends up getting written out, one after another, and yeah, the last part, dragged on, way too long.
Somehow, I always thought it was Tom Savini who did the special effects, but I guess not.
Anyway, some of the killings were quite brutal, even if a lot where cut out.
Another thing which I really enjoyed, was how good the music of Henry Manfredini turned out in this one, which gives it a great and tight atmospheric grip, from the very first go, and almsot the entire way to the end.
All in all, surely among the top 3 of my favorite films, but I cannot ignore the last 20-25 minutes, that yeah, I have a feel this will come back to "bite" me when re-watching a few others.
6,5/10Friday the 13th Part: III (1982) by Steve Miner
"Would you be yourself if you looked like this?"
Another new round, with partygoing teenagers, and which somehow has not gotten wind of the gruesome stuff that happened at Camp Crystal Lake, but will soon be reminded, when a bloodthirsty serial killer, who is frightinly similar to Jason Voorhees, starts to take the kids out, one by one.Not unlike part 2, the film opens up with a "best of" from the dramatic evenings of the former release, with lots of flashbacks, and I guess none of the actors from that film, wanted to re-appear in part 3, so certain things got thrown out the window, and a new plot would be written out, and what I kind of like about this one, is that you do not have to have seen the former films, to kind of get things going, it just flows so naturally along, and works very well in that way.
Also this one comes with maybe the most catchy theme song, by Henry Manfredini, which feels like it might be heavily influence by Michael Jackson and his classic Thriller, in that funky horror vibes, that is very strong.
And yeah, around 82-83, I guess the whole industry where really trying to make 3-D into the next big thing, with Jaws 3-D, Amityville 3-D and this one, where certain killing scenes, most likely done in a manner, to make it look even more spectacular with your 3-D glasses on. But without, well, it kind of look goofy, but not in a bad way.
As with part 2, we get to meet up with some of the most likeable and memorable teenagers of the entire series, and where horror-fanatic and clown Shelly, due to his low self esteem, finds himself trying to disguise it, by attempting to use comedy as an act, and probably will be most reminded, due to his hockey mask, that eventually lands in the hands of Jason, who then gets his iconic appearance.
Sadly, as with part 2, the last final act, is just one likeable name being written out, until you have one left, that I could not care less about, and yeah, my third favorite of the franchise, but sadly, it just would not jump upwards on how I rate it, this time either:
6,5/10
Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988) by John Carl Buechler
"Happy fuckin' Birthday!"
In an attempt of healing the painful and bad memories of the past. A young female along with her family, returns to where it all went horribly wrong, years ago, in hope of finding some peace and relaxation. Of course, when her new "father" figure, in a sleazy doctor, who only wants to exploit her special talent, but one which will cause lots of other bad things happening, when they bring out an old ghost from the bottom of Crystal Lake.Oh man, now that is it, for now. After the first 5 films, more or less, the quality surely dropped big time on this one, and while I tend to think that Jason Takes Manhattan (1989) was a breathe of "fresh air", I wished they would let Jason take a rest, at least for another year, but of course, money talks and the esembly line never stand still, so this part 7, feels very rushed and cheap, from beginning until end.
By this time, the whole supernatural image of Jason, had just gotten bigger and bigger, so why not give on of the final girls, a chance of fighting back, with similar powers.
From the first go, you feel films like Carrie, Poltergeist and Firestarter, might have inspired this, but sadly, New Blood is no where near those.
It does not help much either, that this comes with some of the most annoying, unlikeable and damn awful characters in the entire series, and yeah, it just feels so dull and generic, from music, acting, and well, it also seems butchered due to having little or none memorable kills, not that would help out much either, but sad to see Kane Hodder ends up in so many weak films, but yeah, his performance and the films locations and atmosphere, is what "saves" it, from an even lesser rating:
4/10I might save the original and Jason Takes Manhattan (for a few seconds), later, or maybe add one or both to the upcoming Halloween October Challenge, as specially the latter, feels like more of a autumn release, than summer film.
Hopefully, I might get around to catch up with a few more 80s slashers, but yeah, beside maybe part 2, 3 and 5, there is not much chance of me, re-watching the rest of the recent Friday the 13th films, anytime soon.