Friday the 13th (2009)

Sunday, 15 February 2009 00:00

Reviewed by Carol Sullivan

Genre: Horror
Released: February 13th, 2009
Rating: R

Director: Marcus Nispel
Starring: Jared Padalecki, Derek Mears, Amanda Righetti, Danielle Panabaker, Travis Van Winkle, Aaron Yoo, Arlen Escarpeta
Studio: Warner Bros. / Paramount

Welcome back to Crystal Lake... The ominous and frightening Jason Vorhees is back and more than ready to slice and dice! For us older fans of the original, this new Friday the 13th will breathe fresh life into a series that died a sad, horrible death many years ago. For the new fans that are sure to be created by the release of this film; there's now a new villain to love. Yet another generation will never look at a hockey mask the same way again!

Having just re-watched the original Friday the 13th, and with high hopes, I went to the theaters to see how they would manage to pull this new one off. To my delight, the filmmakers have taken Jason and his history back to the beginning; almost rewriting-it so the story makes sense in the present time and sets up the possibility for sequels later.

The movie begins as a herd of rich kids head up to a Crystal Lake summer house for a few days of boating, sex and partying. They seem to have no idea about the history of the area but waste no time getting naked and wasted.

But, a mere six weeks earlier, a young lady and her friends had disappeared; never to be heard from again. Her handsome brother, Clay ('Sam' of TV's Supernatural) shows up at the summer house; looking for his lost sister and passing out fliers. But, the rich kids can't be bothered with Clay's problem, save for a pretty young Jenna (Danielle Panabaker) who sets out into the dark woods with Clay to help him look for any signs of his sister.

Soon, the two stumble onto the crumbling remnants of Camp Crystal Lake, abandonded since the murders back in the 1980's. (The filmmakers made the old summer camp look pretty darn creepy, folks, and unlike the other movies, Clay and Jenna find Jason's childhood home; complete with his old bed, toys and trinkets. A nice touch!)

The two become worried when they find evidence that someone is still living at the camp and, just as they are about to leave, Jason shows up, toting his latest victim. Running for their lives, Jenna and Clay make it back to the summer cabin just as Jason catches up with them.

And Jason is carrying his famous machete.

See, Jason wants revenge on the young and beautiful; like the ones who killed him and his mommy.

I have to say how much I enjoyed this movie. Sure, it's a slasher; complete with some loud and almost expected Boo-Factor and Oh-How-Is-He-Gonna-Kill-This-Guy? But, that's what we love about the slasher flick, right? There's always plenty of seven deadly sins to go around; beautiful people having sex, drinking, drugs and all the while being completely oblivious about the problem they are about to find themselves in. It's perfect!

Director Marcus Nispel does a nice job with Friday the 13th; respecting the original, ignoring its terrible sequels and delivering a frightening combination of both humor and horror. I can't wait to see the next one!

Overall Rating: 3 1/2

MORE | Film Info & Stills Premiere Trailer | Official Trailer | Trailer 2 |

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Last Updated ( Friday, 20 February 2009 14:58 )