Friday The 13th

Friday the Thirteenth

2009

Action (Horror)

Rated: R

Running time: 97 minutes

Starring: Jared Padalecki, Aaron Yoo, Willa Ford, Travis Van Winkle, Danielle Panabaker

Directed By: Marcus Nispel

Rating: 3 out of 10

Outline

This is a reimagining of the second installment of the Friday the 13^th series. A group of teenagers out enjoying a cottage retreat getaway get more than they bargained for when they are set upon by notorious cinematic killer Jason.

Review

The Friday the Thirteenth series is among the few horror franchises with cult status, and a built in following of the notorious killer, Jason Voorhees. With all long running movie series and especially with horror, the plot gets more diluted as the years and films roll by. Jason has killed people at the legendary Camp Crystal Lake for years. He then moved on to Manhattan for a spell, and then tragically moved into space. If space wasn’t the final frontier for Jason, then surely having to battle another horror icon in Freddy Krueger would be it? Unfortunately, here we are with another film to pay homage to the man behind the mask. This film does not do Jason justice in his 5^th should have been swan song. It somehow drove this series into such an apathetic state, that let us hope this series is done. This movie is as cliché as you can get with a horror. The recipe always goes like this. Take one part ridiculous plot scenario. Then take two parts drug references. Then add a few good looking teens, and finally sprinkle in a liberal dose of nudity and ta dah, you have your film. This film is a reimagining of the second film of the franchise, much like Rob Zombie did with the Halloween series. This film’s opening scene, which shows the final stages of the first film of this franchise, was a nice touch for Jason enthusiasts. And while it was not needed for most people, it did give respect from a historical perspective. The film quickly degenerates into a seen that before of horror films. Director Marcus Nispel, who remade the Texas Chain Saw Massacre with some success, just seems lost with a script that inspires no fear. The setting is the same (Camp Crystal Lake) and most of the players remain the same (scantily clad teenagers ripe for the killing.) Progressing through this film, just gets tiresome and played out. A group of teens are at a cottage, which is near to the old abandoned camp. They are partying it up when a guy, Clay, (Padalecki) comes by looking for his missing sister. From there they break off into little groups like clockwork, and Jason Kills them as if he is auditioning for America’s Got Talent. Somehow this deranged monster of a man has pinpoint accuracy in arrow shooting, axe throwing, machete wielding, and not to mention a host of other killing techniques that ruin this film. This type of film just needs gore provided by good old fashioned hacking. It does not need complex scenes of carnage involving obscure Olympic weaponry. Give me Jason and his machete, and have him run amok, and it would have been better then what this film did. Everything in this film is anticlimactic. We are supposed to get chills when Jason finds his hockey mask, but you do not. You are supposed to be on the edge of your seat when Jason is on the prowl, but you are not. You are supposed to remember why Jason is such a horror icon, but you don’t. Overall, this film has little imagination with even less story. I cannot recommend it, as it is more comical then horror, and hopefully this is the end of a franchise that should have ended like five films ago. One last thought, there are people living all around Camp Crystal Lake, including the cottage the teens were at. But for years and years, everyone seems to go untouched from Jason’s wrath. Think on it.

T Factor + If you like mindless gore then this could score higher on the rating scale.

T Factor – If you thought that this retelling would give you something more than the original, then this could score lower on the rating scale.

If you liked this film reel recommendations: Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Halloween.