Friday The 13th part 12
Alright folks, Mike is back with a new post for your reading/viewing pleasure. Hope you enjoy!
~Rob
Friday the 13th part 12
By: Michael Kennedy
Comments?
Michael Bay is back with another reboot, remake, do-over, up-date or whatever you want to call it to a classic horror franchise. A few years ago he rebooted the Texas Chainsaw Massacre story line and introduced a whole new generation to Leatherface. Now he has helped bring the new Friday the 13th film to theaters and with it he has tried to bring the classic feel of Jason to a generation that only knows Freddy vs. Jason and Jason X (Jason in Space) which are hardly in the spirit of the first nine films.
As a whole the new Friday the 13th movie does a good job updating the look and feel of a Jason movie. The progression of Jason is there, a quick review of the original film is there and of course the different styles of kills are there, some for gore and some just for comedic value. The film mostly keeps with the subtext of the original Jason films such as if you do drugs or have sex you are probably going to wind up dead. This was always below the surface in slasher films of the 80’s due to the spread of the HIV virus at that time. But that’s another article “Horror Films: Their Metaphorical Social Commentary on the HIV” or something like that. I’ll write that when I get around to winning my Pulitzer.
For as much praise as I’m giving Friday the 13th I did have a few qualms with it. Don’t get me wrong this is a good slasher flick and I’m glad that we’re finally getting some decent horror movies to go check out. (Even if they are all remakes) But the Michael Bay style in this movie was very reminiscent of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre reboot he did previously. The lighting and the filters all gave a feel that reminded me more of that remake than the original Jason movies. Also, Jason flicks were always about camping or a cabin in the woods something of that nature. But, when I left the theater after watching this movie I wasn’t scared of going out into the woods like the first films would have made me. I was more annoyed with stuck-up rich people and their expensive lake houses.
Maybe it’s a pet peeve of mine but the title also makes me twinge a little bit. You remake a franchise film and give it the exact same title as the original movie. But in your remake you only briefly reference the original film? That doesn’t make sense to me, I thought maybe it was because this was the 13th film in the series and that sort of made it clever. But it is not the 13th Jason movie it’s only the 12th, so why use the original 13th film name? Did they forget that Jason wasn’t actually in the first film? He’s doesn’t even get a hockey mask until the third movie. But all minor flaws aside (and pet peeves) this is a solid slasher flick that I would recommend any horror fan should go see. It’s not hard to watch like The Last House on the Left, but it won’t haunt you as long either. It’s a fast paced evil carnival ride that will have you jumping out of your seat one moment, then cracking a devilish grin the next. So as far as horror movies go I give this film 4 out of 5 stars.
~Mike
March 5th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
great review. you touched on many of the same things i thought while watching that movie. nice to read a review by someone who just takes it for what it is… keep it up
March 5th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
Thanks man! "You know that's exactly the look I'm going for, a dark and ominous Neil Diamond." Seriously though, thanks for your comment and check back at http://www.troubleticketcomic.com for more comics, reviews, articles, and news about my site http://www.armchair-critic.com
March 19th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
I definitely didn't think he was the Jason we all know and love. What happened to looking behind you and seeing a creepy man walking slowly, only to turn around the next time to find him directly behind you. Jason doesn't run. The end.