Our guest review today comes from Scene-Stealers reader Jake Yadrich from Shawnee, KS, who was one of the 50 winners who saw an advance screening of the new Michael Bay-produced franchise reboot last Monday night. He is a big fan of the series, and brings all the insight that can only come from someone who owns the “Friday the 13th” DVD box set. Soon, everybody will be able to share quick quotes and reviews with our upcoming Scene-Stealers redesign, so thanks to Jake for sending in this review, and thanks to everybody else for their great comments!
Here’s Jake:
To say that “skeptical” was my feeling leading up to the screening of “Friday the 13th” would be an understatement. Anyone with an appreciation of horror will tell you that a majority of the remakes in recent years pay little homage to their predecessors (anyone remember “House of Wax”?) However, I was pleased with director Marcus Nispel’s resuscitation of one of horror’s classic characters.
This new “Friday the 13th” spends little time rehashing the story most of us already know:
1. Jason drowned.
2. Mom is pissed.
3. Counselors die.
4. Mom loses head.
5. Jason is pissed.
Within minutes, it is present day, and hormonal campers are already settling down for a weekend at beautiful Crystal Lake, a place where nothing bad EVER happens. Cue the hockey mask!
From then on, the film weaves homicides, inexplicable nudity, and comedic dialogue in a manner that would make Betsy Ross proud. And unlike the last few chapters in the series, there are no telepathic nail shots, Times Square beat-boxers, or androids with machine guns … just simple, homicidal tendencies carried out by an angry masked man.
But what makes this installment of “Friday the 13th” more appealing is Jason Voorhees’ rebirth as a somewhat cunning/methodical psychopath. No longer the man who “walks down” his victims, we now see Jason using tunnels, tripwires, and homemade alarms to track his victims. Seeing Jason actually running down a few of these kids provided some of the more intense moments of the movie. And of course, our co-eds meet their demise in a variety of ways. Some are rather simple, some are more creative (it wouldn’t be Jason otherwise).
Rather than tread the waters of backstory like Rob Zombie’s “Halloween” or Nispel’s previous remake, “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” “Friday the 13th” lays out a simple storyline. Despite a few minor plot twists here and there, the film stays on target and will entertain both horror fans and the curious alike. By taking a few aspects from the original film(s), and adding current elements to the characters, “Friday the 13th” delivers on its purpose: to reintroduce a horror icon to the modern world and maintain credibility among the horror faithful.
The franchise is based on a series of toys from what toy company?
Eric is the Editor-in-Chief of Scene-Stealers.com, a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, and contributor for The Pitch. He’s former President of the KCFCC, and drummer for The Dead Girls, Ultimate Fakebook, and Truck Stop Love . He is also the 2013 Air Guitar World Champion Mean Melin, ranked 4th best of all-time. Eric goes to 11. Follow him at:
{ 20 comments }
Could be that my expectations for this was zero but I was presently surprised. It was as expected, the characters were all pretty much run of the mill slasher flick clichés, the dialog was laugh out loud funny at times, lots of half naked women & drunk guys running around waiting to be hacked to bits. Between this and My Bloody Valentine 3D last month I am really starting to enjoy the 80’s horror film resurgence.
On a side note the crowd at last nights, screening was GREAT, every one seemed really into it. Laughing at the corny dialog, cheering for some of the kills, this is the type of film that must be seen with such an audience, or your experience will be severely lacking.
Could be that my expectations for this was zero but I was presently surprised. It was as expected, the characters were all pretty much run of the mill slasher flick clichés, the dialog was laugh out loud funny at times, lots of half naked women & drunk guys running around waiting to be hacked to bits. Between this and My Bloody Valentine 3D last month I am really starting to enjoy the 80’s horror film resurgence.
On a side note the crowd at last nights, screening was GREAT, every one seemed really into it. Laughing at the corny dialog, cheering for some of the kills, this is the type of film that must be seen with such an audience, or your experience will be severely lacking.
The main character is named Whitney! Yay go people named Whitney!
SPOILER ALERT: The other main character is named Jason.
The main character is named Whitney! Yay go people named Whitney!
SPOILER ALERT: The other main character is named Jason.
This horror film re-boot was just Slashtacular. I loved this film. I had very high expectations for this one, and I was not let down. The way the film was re-imagended was great for the simple fact it had a great begginning, middle, and end. I think this is a guys, guy film. The perfect date movie if you will. I took my girlfiend with me, and all I have to say is I have no feeling in my left arm.
The blatant nudity, overt sexual situations, high quality kills, the goar, and in-your-face drug use in the movie are just great. I mean who doesn’t like to see beautiful woman having sex, drinking, doing drugs, and still look great after they have been killed by Jason. lol
I also like how they even mixed in a couple of the other films into this one. They made Jason FAST! In this movie. Not like in the other movies were he moves all slow, and is still able to keep up. I mean he runs after his victims. He should join track or something.
***** SMALL SPOILER ALERT*****
The only thing I didnt like was the fact that Trents father is a hunter but only has a damn pistol in the house, or after the cop get killed why didn’t they take his gun? Other then that no complaints.
I really hope to see this do well so they we may see Jason again. I would like it to make atleast $50 million this opening weekend. I bet it will make atleast that, and be #1 at the box office. So go see this damn movie on friday the 13th…
This horror film re-boot was just Slashtacular. I loved this film. I had very high expectations for this one, and I was not let down. The way the film was re-imagended was great for the simple fact it had a great begginning, middle, and end. I think this is a guys, guy film. The perfect date movie if you will. I took my girlfiend with me, and all I have to say is I have no feeling in my left arm.
The blatant nudity, overt sexual situations, high quality kills, the goar, and in-your-face drug use in the movie are just great. I mean who doesn’t like to see beautiful woman having sex, drinking, doing drugs, and still look great after they have been killed by Jason. lol
I also like how they even mixed in a couple of the other films into this one. They made Jason FAST! In this movie. Not like in the other movies were he moves all slow, and is still able to keep up. I mean he runs after his victims. He should join track or something.
***** SMALL SPOILER ALERT*****
The only thing I didnt like was the fact that Trents father is a hunter but only has a damn pistol in the house, or after the cop get killed why didn’t they take his gun? Other then that no complaints.
I really hope to see this do well so they we may see Jason again. I would like it to make atleast $50 million this opening weekend. I bet it will make atleast that, and be #1 at the box office. So go see this damn movie on friday the 13th…
Loved the movie it was great!!! there was old and new friday the 13th fans out there….we had a big group of friends and family we had some as old as 70 years old there last night and enjoyed every minute of it.
Of coarse for alot of us its predictable jason killing,lots of sex,drugs and alcohol…but to sit and watch new people go that have never seen it was absoulutely hilarious…they squirmed in there seats and jumped but had a good time…..the beginning alot of people thought it was the end….of coarse those of us that know friday the 13th new it was only the beginning…..all in all it was great i love my scary movies.
Loved the movie it was great!!! there was old and new friday the 13th fans out there….we had a big group of friends and family we had some as old as 70 years old there last night and enjoyed every minute of it.
Of coarse for alot of us its predictable jason killing,lots of sex,drugs and alcohol…but to sit and watch new people go that have never seen it was absoulutely hilarious…they squirmed in there seats and jumped but had a good time…..the beginning alot of people thought it was the end….of coarse those of us that know friday the 13th new it was only the beginning…..all in all it was great i love my scary movies.
I liked the movie. The only thing I can’t understand why people need to constantly talk during the movie like they were at home. This is so rude to others who came to see the movie.
Thanks to Scene Stealers for the pass to see the movie.
I liked the movie. The only thing I can’t understand why people need to constantly talk during the movie like they were at home. This is so rude to others who came to see the movie.
Thanks to Scene Stealers for the pass to see the movie.
This was a great movie. I was a little worried about this but in the first 15 minutes all my prayers were answered. #1 box office hit movie of the century is all I got to say.
This was a great movie. I was a little worried about this but in the first 15 minutes all my prayers were answered. #1 box office hit movie of the century is all I got to say.
I loved it, so much fun and very true to the old school feel.
The only part I didn’t like was when those two douchebags made me go all the way back to my car to put my cell phone away because they were afraid I would take illegal still shots (it does not have video capability) with my crappy Samsung.
Oh, wait, I guess that wasn’t in the movie. FT13th ROCKS!
I loved it, so much fun and very true to the old school feel.
The only part I didn’t like was when those two douchebags made me go all the way back to my car to put my cell phone away because they were afraid I would take illegal still shots (it does not have video capability) with my crappy Samsung.
Oh, wait, I guess that wasn’t in the movie. FT13th ROCKS!
I thought the movie kicked ass! I was very entertained. Everything about looked great. Thanks for the free passes!
I thought the movie kicked ass! I was very entertained. Everything about looked great. Thanks for the free passes!
to Ruru, i will admit that i did talk at times in this movie, but i made sure i only talked loud enough for my sister or friend sitting right next to me, i know how annoying it can be to have someone talk during the whole movie.
now to the movie, i was somewhat impressed with it,it was a bit predictable, but i will admit that i did jump a few times. i was mostly pleased because i was able to make wise cracks about the movie, without seeing it befor that night.
to Ruru, i will admit that i did talk at times in this movie, but i made sure i only talked loud enough for my sister or friend sitting right next to me, i know how annoying it can be to have someone talk during the whole movie.
now to the movie, i was somewhat impressed with it,it was a bit predictable, but i will admit that i did jump a few times. i was mostly pleased because i was able to make wise cracks about the movie, without seeing it befor that night.
To be honest this movie was a huge let down the other Jason movies were so much better more creepier but this crap was so unbelievably predictable. I knew how he was going to kill the victims 10 secs before he did its like oh this chicks gonna get stabed through the head and this ones gonna get impailed on to a spike…
This guy needs to research his Jason lore before he does another failed mission on The Friday The 13 Movies and Jared Padalecki what a shitty actor I was bored to tears in this movie and will never see another movie from this Director again…
To be honest this movie was a huge let down the other Jason movies were so much better more creepier but this crap was so unbelievably predictable. I knew how he was going to kill the victims 10 secs before he did its like oh this chicks gonna get stabed through the head and this ones gonna get impailed on to a spike…
This guy needs to research his Jason lore before he does another failed mission on The Friday The 13 Movies and Jared Padalecki what a shitty actor I was bored to tears in this movie and will never see another movie from this Director again…
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