Friday the 13th (R-2009)

The slasher movie is back. This is not a rave review, by any means, but with this kind of movie, if you get what you expect, you're halfway there. "Friday the 13th" is a re-start to the franchise that, along with "Halloween", defined the slasher genre for many years. In this edition, Jason's (Derek Mears) origins are left intact. A brief opening scene sets up the backstory: Jason's mother (Nana Visitor) goes on a murderous rampage after her son drowns at Camp Crystal Lake. She is beheaded by the only survivor, which Jason (unknown to everybody, he is still alive) witnesses. This sets the scene for the rest of the movie where groups of teens end up at Camp Crystal Lake, only to find they are lining up to be Jason's next victims. As is the norm for these films, the sex and drug use is prolific, which is a sure sign someone is about to be annihilated. Even for this genre, some of the sexual dialogue and nude scenes were a little over the top, bordering on ridiculous. When it gets down to Jason on the rampage, though, the effects, the atmosphere, the music all hit the marks perfectly. Let's face it: If you are going to see this movie, you know what you are in for. You just hope it is not SO stupid as to be unwatchable. Although there are scenes that are that bad (redneck looking at a dirty magazine comes to mind), the movie manages to keep from falling off the stupidity cliff. I happened to see this in a theater which was showing it with digital projection and the crispness of the picture and the sharp surround sound definitely helped add to the enjoyment level. This is not a classic movie and will not "define the genre" like its predecessor, but it is decent escapist entertainment that marks the return of the slasher film genre.

Grade: C+

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