Ignore the fact that this is the 12th film in the series. And don't be put off by director Marcus Nispel, who was responsible for the God-awful Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake. But most importantly, do not be put off by Michael Bay's (Transformers) name in the opening credits. Friday the 13th is worth watching.
The plot revolves around a young man named Clay (Jared Padalecki, Supernatural) who spends his time searching for his sister (Amanda Righetti, Role Models), who has been missing since she went camping with her friends around the remains of Camp Crystal Lake. Along the way, he meets up with a group of teenagers heading to the same area. Unfortunately for them, a machete-wielding madman named Jason happens to live in the area.
This movie is full of the horror-movie staples: underage drinking, gratuitous nudity and even a crazy old lady who has managed to live in the area for years despite the neighborhood psychotic killer. The film doesn't try to be anything it's not and stays true to the formula.
According to IMDb.com, this film's plot is a combination of the original four Friday the 13th films. Elements from the first and the fourth are used sparingly, but story elements and character deaths from the second and third make up the crux of this film.
Sure, these elements are recycled, but in a good way. They are not overused to the point of bastardization, but serve more as a way to pay respect to the earlier films. Also, not every element is a simple retread of the past; writers Damian Shannon and Mark Swift (Freddy vs. Jason) showcase their creativity by not having certain familiar elements play out the same way as before.
The characters (i.e. teenagers who are future machete fodder) are also well written. Most movies have a tendency to make college students sound scripted and unconvincing, but here they seem like an actual group of teenagers. Shannon and Swift must have learned from mistakes made on Freddy vs. Jason.
Another smart decision, which differs from the original, was to hardly focus on Jason's past. Fans of the series know of his alleged-drowning, disfigurement and his mother's death. All of these things are mentioned, but so briefly that they're hardly worth the screen time.
This all helps to keep the mystery surrounding Jason at an all-time high. The majority of the characters know nothing about Jason, aside from the fact that he's around and trying to kill them. It makes their fear seem all the more real and makes the movie all the more enjoyable.
One change that may disappoint fans, however, is how relatively tame Friday The 13th is compared to other slasher films. Sure, there are a few gory moments, but it never goes over the top like other films of its kind. Maybe it's the step towards realism that many recent horror flicks are taking, but here it seems like a step in the wrong direction.
While on the subject of wrong directions, it seems the filmmakers didn't bother to change a small annoyance that has permeated nearly throughout the entire film series: although Jason is virtually indestructible, killing numerous people without even flinching, for some reason at the film's climactic scene the main character is able to put up a huge fight, succeeding where everyone else has failed.
Again, it's a small problem, but it can be irritating. Sure, it makes for an exciting finish, but it conflicts with the realism that the rest of the film sets up. It is unlikely that Jason only gives Clay a sporting chance because he's looking for his sister.
Lately, it seems that the horror genre is like the bulk of its characters: dead. However, Friday the 13th gives the genre a spark of life. It's no masterpiece, but it succeeds on almost all fronts, giving character to the characters and paying due respect to the earlier films. It is a must-see for any horror fan.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
