Project-Blu Friday the 13th Part II, by M. Enois Duarte

The Kite Runner

By: M. Enois Duarte, 6.18.2009

The Movie Itself:

"I told the others, but they didn't believe me. You're all doomed. You're all doomed. " ~ Crazy Ralph

The movie which introduced Jason Voorhees as one of the most popular masked killers in pop culture is also one which doesn't make much sense at the beginning. As far as moviegoers were concerned, the mentally challenged kid drowned at Camp Crystal Lake and his mother sought retribution by massacring the camp counselors in charge of his care. Her defeat at the end brought everything to a close, except for one final scare. But what started off as a last minute joke turned into one of the most memorable frights in horror movie history.

For the sequel, producers of the original decided to forgo logic and bring back little Jason, assuming his body was never actually recovered, survived the drowning, and has lived in the woods for some twenty odd years. Basically taking up where his mother finished, the not-so-big Jason suddenly turns detective and hunts down Alice Hardy (Adrienne King), the woman who viciously beheaded his mother (at least, from his point of view). Five years later, a counselor training center is opened near Camp Crystal Lake with a whole new batch of fresh, promiscuous, wanton fodder and, of course, poor Jason is quite agitated.

Bringing back one of the original writers - though uncredited - to script the sequel, Steve Miner takes over the director's chair for Sean S. Cunningham and provides a surprisingly amusing ride for a debut. Even if slightly choppy, Miner keeps to conventions like a bible but adds an invigorating pace of tension that makes the entire thing very enjoyable. Eventually, he goes on to also direct Part III, as well as the entertainingly fun House (1986), the tongue-in-cheek Warlock, and the stylishly atmospheric Halloween H20. Of course, this all countered by throwaways like Lake Placid and the straight-to-video remake Day of the Dead (2008).

Away at work on the slasher classics (and personal favorites) The Burning and The Prowler, gore-maestro Tom Savini also did not return to continue the blood-letting. However, the makeup effects team led by Carl Fullerton display some wonderful craftsmanship and do impressively well for Jason's big-screen debut. Along with some bigger-budget photography from Peter Stein (Pet Sematary), the movie truly enjoys a more efficient appeal than its predecessor, making it arguably one of the best in the series.

Despite some minor faults, Friday the 13th Part II remains a fun and entertaining slasher flick that aims directly at the throat. As part of a craze to develop creative ways for violently killing young adults, the movie is still a step above the recent trash which only seems to imitate it. Jason Voorhees may have been resurrected for the sole intention of exploiting a popular trend in the early eighties, but Part II marks the beginning of a long series of films which feature one of the most iconic figures in the horror genre.
Rating: 7/10

The Presentation:
Based on thousands of viewings on different formats, I wasn't expecting much from this high-definition version of Friday the 13th Part II. But after a turbulent and questionable start, especially in the flashback sequences, the AVC-encoded transfer improves with a bright, jovial, and sharp quality that looks almost freshly minted rather than the nearly thirty-year-old movie it is.

Of course, there are many moments of softness and scenes where the print shows its age. Still, the picture is a vast improvement over other standard definition equivalents with a vibrant and lively color palette and well-saturated secondary hues. A thin veneer of film grain is unobtrusive and adds an appreciable filmic quality. However, it appears heavier in low-lit scenes than daylight sequences. Contrast and brightness levels exhibit terrific clarity, punchy whites, and deep, stable blacks, providing the image with a surprising depth of field. While details and sharpness are quite excellent overall, shadow delineation is only above average with dark interiors holding up well and only a few instances of crush. Facial complexions are warm and natural with decent textural detail. On the whole, Friday the 13th Part II looks great on Blu-ray.
Rating: 7.6/10

While not as impressive as the video presentation, it is to the credit of Paramount's sound techs for not creating artificial, faux surrounds and allowing the original mono design do its thing. Surely, those recording elements don't offer much to work with, but this Dolby TrueHD soundtrack is a faithful reproduction of the film's sound quality and presented here as a very enjoyable stereo mix.

The front-heavy presentation feels wide and expansive with convincing separation and a clean presence. Atmospherics and acoustics are all located in the front, but provide some decent imaging where the random sounds of nature are clearly heard off-screen. Dynamic range is sharp and impressive, delivering a great deal of clarity and detail, especially with a musical score full of string instruments reaching some high-pitched notes. Vocals are well-prioritized in the center of the screen and intelligible throughout. Surround activity and low-frequency effects are practically non-existent in the track, but that much would be expected from a mono design. In the end, this is the best Friday the 13th Part II has ever sounded.
Rating: 6.0/10

Overall Presentation: 7/10

** 9 - 10 = Reference / 8 = Excellent / 7 = Good /
6 = Satisfactory / 5 = Average / 4 & under = Below Average **

The Extras:
Paramount Home Entertainment provides this Blu-ray edition of Friday the 13th Part II with a decent package of supplements that are entertaining to say the least. Unfortunately, none of them feature interviews with the cast or filmmakers, a making-of documentary, or a retrospect on the movie that introduced Jason Voorhees to the world of horror cinema. On the bright side though, most of the material is presented in high definition and interesting enough to watch on their own.

Inside Crystal Lake Memories (11 min)
A short discussion on the definitive book on everything Friday the 13th, featuring an interview with author Peter M. Bracke by "Dark Delicacies" owner Del Howes.
Friday's Legacy: Horror Conventions (7 min)
A look at the popularity of the Friday the 13th franchise in the convention circuit and featuring interviews with those who've worked on the films.
Jason Forever (SD, 29 min)
This is an interesting and informative Q&A panel session for fans of the franchise, moderated by author Peter M. Bracke. This is the same featurette that came exclusively with the DVD box set.
Lost Tales from Camp Blood - Part 2 (9 min)
This short fan-film is a continuation to the other short found on the Blu-ray release of the original Friday the 13th movie.
Theatrical Trailer
The original preview of the movie presented in HD.

Rating: 3/10

Final Thoughts:
One of the better entries in the series, Friday the 13th Part II is also the seminal slasher flick that launched Jason Voorhees's career as the iconic monster of horror cinema. Paramount releases the movie for the first time in high definition with a very satisfying picture quality and an entertaining audio presentation. Though supplements are on the weaker side, fans of the franchise should not hesitate to add this Blu-ray edition to their horror collection.
Rating: 6/10