Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)
- written January 2004
|
Alice is having nightmares about her experiences at Camp Blood and now they become reality. Jason appears for the first time in this film and begins with avenging his mother's death. We start 5 years after the first film with Camp Crystal Lake now a training center for Camp Counselors. Paul is the leader of this camp but he has his eyes set on Ginny. Paul tells the story to all counselors of what happened in part 1 and how Jason is now out to avenge the murder of his mom. The counselors eventually begin finding mates for themselves and have one last bash at the local pub. There Ginny gives a lecture to Paul and others about Jason - why he is killing, what he is missing, what they can do for him. After the others laugh in a drunken tone, they all head back to camp. But once they get there, they realize the carnage has begun. No one seems safe and Ginny must do her best to fend Jason off. She reaches the shack of Jason and then the real terror begins. Will she succeed in dealing with Jason or will he get full revenge?
Overall: Well, no Mrs. Voorhees in this film but Jason graces us with his presence. Unlike the later sequels we can accept the fact he's now alive and chalk up Jason Voorhees' rage and murderous tendencies to insanity. That way we can ignore the supernatural implications in a deceased child growing up to become a murdering adult. Or was he really dead this whole time? The film is quite unique in comparison to future films in that Jason does lot of running, jumping, wears jeans and has scenes with exposed flesh. You actually get the feeling Jason is a person who's a bit psychotic but still a human being. You also get to see Jason with a deformed head which goes to the idea of him as a human being - not a supernatural creature. Finally, Jason runs around for most of the film with just a hood over his head which reminded me of "The Town that Dreaded Sundown." It's funny then to watch the chainsaw being brought out and to see the various references, even if unintentional, to other horror movies. I think in many ways this might be the better of the first 2 films. Death Count = 10 My Title: Friday the 13th Part 2: Jason's Revenge 02/02/2009: So I've seen the movie more than a few times, including owning the original box set. However coming out tomorrow is the new Deluxe Edition DVD. I would have liked to have a commentary track here considering the first film's "Uncut DVD" had one. What makes the first 6 films so unique is that there was a new actor playing Jason every time. So that would make for new stories, new experiences. As for the extras for the disc, we get some neat stuff. We have an interview with the author of the Book Crystal Lake Memories. Pretty fascinating stuff. We also have "Friday’s Legacy: Horror Convention" as we see the impact the series has had on fans. And on the cast as well! :) Finally, we have "Jason Forever" which is basically a Q&A session with 4 actors who played Jason over the years. Kinda interesting to hear how they got the parts and frankly, how several of them were never even asked back and how they'd have just jumped at the chance!! Hell, Kane Hodder had to practically beg the producers. Oh and of course a nice rehash on how the "hockey mask" got added. Remember, it wasn't in either of the first 2 films. And yet it's the trademark of the series! And we get our next installment of the DVD series "Lost Tales from Camp Blood part 2." This is pretty much a short film shot in very much the same manner as the movies giving us a couple killed by what could be a "Jason-like" killer. |
Links to other sites at The Sinning Room
Friday the 13th Review Page
Friday the 13th Part 3 Review Page
Horror Films A-K Review Page
Horror Films Review Page
