We all know that cryptic sound of the machete wielding maniac only known as Jason Voorhees. In the latest “Friday the 13th” Jason is back and he still has his eye out for blood. After 10 sequels we see Jason slashing has not slowed down at all. Although not an exact remake the film is pretty close when it backdates to the original to make sure viewers are caught up on Jason’s background. After a quick recap we flash forward twenty years to the present date. Five friends have traveled to Crystal Lake in search of an abundance amount of weed rumored to be around the lake. Entering Jason’s domain becomes a deadly mistake for all.
One of the unfortunate victims of Jason’s wrath is Whitney Miller (Amanda Righetti), who’s brother Clay (Jared Padalecki) is searching for her after she failed to come to their mother’s funeral. While searching he runs into a group of College kids visiting Crystal Lake for the weekend. The group is taking lodge with rich kid Trent (Travis Van Winkle) at his immaculate cabin. Following an all day search Clay ends up at Trent’s who is unwilling to help him in his search, this is not so for his girlfriend Jenna (Danielle Panabaker) who takes off with the stranger.
Meanwhile Jenna and Trent’s friends are quickly being murdered by Jason. As they are picked off one by one the bodies are being stored at his camp. When Jenna and Clay wind up at this camp they see Jason arrive with the body of his new victim. As the terror sets in they take off to warn the others. Will their warning be taken seriously and does anyone have a chance at escaping Jason’s revenge without falling victim to his rage?
This “Friday the 13th” adapts ideas from the original and tries to improve them, however I felt as if they dumbed it up a bit too much. The sleeping bag scene was a version which was improved on and more outlandish. Everything in the film was predictable; I was not scared when Jason popped up because I knew he was coming. The audience loves to be scared, just as much as we love to laugh at the humorous murders, but what you see is borderline insulting because it is so unoriginal and predictable. I am sure, as I can tell from responses to my negative rating; the true horror and Jason fans will irregardless have high hopes and will most likely feel they have been met by this latest edition. Often remakes are a disappointment to say the least, and this one is no exception. This Valentine’s Day profit attempt has failed in my eyes, but I am sure someone will rave about the bloody killings and topless water skiing.
14 Comments
I don’t think the original (Friday the 13th) is worthy of being compared to Texas Chain Saw Massacre. The whole original series was a collage of decent ideas poorly executed. The new one is better than what is offered in the original series, but that is almost misleading to suggest.
Now for the reimagining, or F13 1,2, and 3 thrown together in 2009. Pretty much every adjective I can think of with an “un” preceding it would fit. The movie is so flat and predictable, that even us horror fans, who usually applaud the predictability, are taken aback by how insultingly obvious it is…
I am a die-hard horror fan; this was one of those movies I was really pulling for; I truly wanted to like it and love it. This left me marinating in the same feeling I haven’t felt since I found out the truth about Santa Claus!
I have not yet seen the 2009 version but it isn’t a remake of a classic. You must not have seen the original Friday the 13th otherwise you would have known that this one was not a remake of the original. Rob Zombie did a very good job with the remaking of Halloween so if this is better than that, I’m sure many of us won’t be dissapointed.
Hello Jo,
Everyone is entitled to their opinions but if your complaints about the new Friday the 13th (it is not a remake) are that there is average acting, graphic scenes and more nudity then an episode of The Girl Next Door (which is edited for cable) then I am curious if you ever saw any films from the original series.
Graphic Violence and nudity was a staple in the original series and you stating that the new film has both elements is only going ot push more fans into the theaters to see it this weekend.
I sm really excited about the new film. I grew up with the original films and it has been long overdue for a kick ass Jason Voorhees flick in my opinion.
I wouldn’t exactly describe the original “F13″ as a ‘classic.’ It’s a bad movie with terrible acting (Kevin Bacon, aside) and a stupid plot. The oly reason to see it are Tom Savini’s special effects, which are really quite tame compared to what we see these days. I am looking forward to the re-boot.
First off, I am a fan of the series and I thought the film was actually one of the better entries into the series. Lets face it, Friday the 13th films are only about the kills. It is not a remake at all. In fact the events int his film pay homage to the first three films without remakeing them.
Many aspects of this film justify the term remake. You have one scene in the trailer displaying the disguise before he infamous hockey mask, and his mother’s voice word-for-word from the original. It’s not a Vince Vaughn-Anne Heche Psycho-esque remake for very obvious reasons, then again neither were Halloween or Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
I have to disagree Brian, I really liked the plot in the first one. A mother seeking revenge from the son she lost. Of course it was bad acting, most low budget horror movies are but still doesn’t take much away from the film.
And Nate, Friday the 13th isn’t a remake. The other 3 movies you listed were however. They followed the original script with their own little twists and stories but for the most part it was a remake. Friday the 13th isn’t, Jason wasn’t in the first one (except at the end), didn’t get a hockey mask until the 3rd one so I don’t classify this as a remake but rather another addition to the series. Yes it goes back in time and he isn’t in outer space or anything but definitely not a remake of the original.
Have you seen the original lately? It’s terrible. Its only redeeming qualities are that it’s a mystery (hey, that dead kid’s mom is the killer!), and that Kevin Bacon is in it. All the other actors were talentless cyphers.
I just got back from the movie. I really liked it. It was not a remake!! It has mixes and moments of a few of the earlier films but it also throws in new stuff in between. I can think of four of the films that ideas come from. It had everything. Blood, gore, comedy, T&A (if that is your thing) and of course some good jumps. If you are a fan of these films I don’t think you’ll be dissapointed. Everyone in the theater was cheering and clapping.
Oh, come now movie fans, let’s not be cruel.
We need to let the drictor, actors, producer, fans, and reviewer all in on the big secret.
Psst….
Jason isn’t in Friday the 13th.
His mother is the killer
Way to watch a movie before remaking it, right?
F13 doesn’t deserve to be compared to the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre? Are you serious? TCM is a classic too but…if you really look at it, it’s pretty weak. LeatherFace is BY FAR the weakest of the horror icons and the rest of the movie is just a weird family messing with them darn outsiders. I love the original F13 and can’t wait to see this one. No points for saying this movie does a better job then Rob Zombie’s r@peing of “Halloween”. I’ve seen Sci Fi original movies that are far better then that.
As someone who has painfully watched every Jason movie ever made I can honestly say that this one was second only to the original. The movie takes cues from the sparse moments of originality throughout the series and pays homage to some of the best death scenes. (I.E. The infamous sleeping bag killing.) The movie doesn’t take itself too seriously. The audience I watched it with laughed as much as they jumped. All in all, it was a great movie going experiance. I encourage all slasher/horror fans to see it.
Bob- Umm yes, I believe everyone dedicated enough to post on this review is aware of that. They also show the gunny sack he wore before he got the hockey mask in part 3.
Kevin- They pulled the wool over the eyes of the audience with the true events thing. Even today people think that indicates somebody found a camcorder of the events and made a feature film. TCM’s mystique was nil by the time I got to it. Agreed!
I think you all need to get a life…seriousl are you really fighting about this??