A few months back Paramount released “Deluxe Editions” of the first three classic Friday the 13th movies on DVD. Fast forward to now, the Blu-ray transfer of Friday the 13th: Part II finally rears its ugly, malformed hockey-mask-free head – only to reveal itself as nothing but a carbon-copy of its DVD predecessor. There are no exclusive Blu-ray features to entice the casual buyer into paying for the higher costing format. So what’s the draw?
Jason Voorhees and his mother slashed their way into the echelons of horror with the original Friday the 13th. The crux of Part II in the Friday series derives from the ending of the first. Considering Jason was established as dead in the first – how has he come back, as a grown adult, to terrorize a whole new generation? The Horror and Slasher genres, by default, require an immediate suspension of disbelief to make the audience more susceptible to the scary elements within – but they shouldn’t be required to turn a blind eye to the final 10 minutes of the previous film. Friday the 13th: Part II stretches this filmmaker/audience pact with this new twist of Jason’s existence; on the other hand it amps up the speed, body count and tension to an extent that it feels tighter and more thrilling.
Does different mean better in this case?
Forgive the pun, but in a slasher film quick cuts are inevitable. The first Friday succeeded thanks to its use of long tracking shots and the build-up making the eventual pay-off of gore all the more worthwhile. If the first was all about the build-up, Part II is all about the immediate pay-off. It doesn’t seem right that the sequel of the original be such a different animal; but it is, so a comparison is an injustice to both – but that’s the way it is here. Where Friday the 13th succeeded, Part II departed.
It’s been five years since the horrible events of the last massacre at “Camp Blood”, as it’s ominously called in town. To explain the plot for a movie such as Friday the 13th: Part II it’s easier to do so with short stuttered sentences consisting of one word.
Camp. Sex. Frivolity. Death.
Friday the 13th does its part to create a variety of grisly murders – some inspired and others just your typical dash to slash. The biggest gripe to be found here is that despite its faster structure it is, almost point for point, the first with a faster tempo. Nothing more, nothing less.
It’s the same movie and the same extra features (as you’ll soon read). Does the kick up in resolution sweeten the deal? Yes, but only slightly. The high definition was a real treat in the first Friday the 13th because the tracking shots across the pristine Crystal Lake were breathtaking – but Part II never takes the time to stop and smell the roses like the first. The film looks great – but that only helps a little.
Blu-ray Bonus Features
The only thing that’s changed from the DVD to Blu-ray transfer is the video quality of the features themselves. Bumped up to a high-definition resolution, the extras look good, but considering what they are it was hardly necessary.
“Friday’s Legacy: Horror Conventions”
This featurette gives a rather sentimental nod to all the fans of the series and their loyal efforts to the actors, directors and producers who’ve made it possible.
“Inside “Crystal Lake Memories””
Giving voice to the concern that Friday the 13th: Part II too closely resembles a faster version of the original this interview examines all of the thinking that followed the original into the sequel. How did the Directors explain Jason Voorhees’s resurrection? The questions posed and answered here make for a compelling featurette that anyone who has just watched the first two films back to back will want to watch.
“Lost Tales from Camp Blood: Part 2”
This is where I find the extra features to be somewhat bad. This amateurish tribute to the film was gut-wrenchingly hard for me to endure – but the less picky fans might find it an honorable effort. I for one did not.
“Jason Forever”
All of the men who have donned the disfigured prosthetic mask of Jason Voorhees make up a panel and field questions from the fans at a horror convention. Really cool to watch, the featurette allows for fun banter between the generations of Jason and some fun questions from the crowd. Interesting for everyone.
“Trailer”
Do we need to say more on this one?
"Friday the 13th: Part II - Deluxe Edition (Blu-ray)" is on sale June 16, 2009 and is rated R. Horror. Directed by Steve Miner. Written by Ron Kurz. Starring Adrienne King, Amy Steel, John Furey, Kirsten Baker, Warrington Gillette.
