While it’s not as good as the first film, FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 2 is the movie that introduced Jason as the franchises leading man. Many don’t know this, but the first shot of Jason in the film is of his leg, that leg actually belonged to a women who was the production designer; the rest of the film the role was shard by two male actors. The film was made for one million dollars but grossed almost 22 million making it more than a success that would bring Jason into the elite horror villains club.
FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 2 begins five years after the first one, a new group of camp counselors from a nearby camp all know about the murders that took place at Camp Crystal Lake a few years back. The locals still refer to it as Camp Blood. The new group decide to take a trip down to Camp Crystal Lake to explore the area and try to find the spots where the terror ensued. All the local give them warnings to stay away from the camp, but they don’t listen. What they think is going to be so harmless exploring in the woods actually turns into a living nightmare. The group comes across a small hut in the woods, the home of Jason. In the hut are the bodies of the people he has killed, and his mothers served head. Jason is real, and is alive and kicking. Now he will do anything to keep his little secret a mystery and kill anyone who crosses his path.
The script for FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 2 is decent in certain respects. The film does have a repetitive theme that echo’s the first film, but the introduction of Jason and the first scene of the film which is a continuation of the first film in which our leading lady is taken out by Jason with an ice pick brings the first story to a close. The script is more of a vengeful revenge story where Jason is taking out his anger on everyone for his mother’s death. But the brutality of this burlap masked villain is more than just his sheer hate for teenage kids and camp counselors, his heart is evil and his mind is set on just killing as many people as possible. Like I said with the first film about it being a movie that help paved the way for the one after the other teen killing movies; PART 2 is similar in context, but it does develop the character of Jason more.
With the acting I’m just going to say that everyone in their respected roles did a good job. Amy Steel in the lead was wonderful as Ginny, Jason’s female rival in the film. You also had appearances from some of the first films cast. Most of it was archive footage from the first film with actress Betsy Palmer as Mrs. Voorhees. Adrienne King was asked to reprise her role as Alice, but only appeared in the beginning of the film where Jason gets his revenge on her for killing his mother. It’s said that the filmmakers wanted her to return for a full role in the film, but due to the success of the first film she was stalked by some crazy fans, and felt uncomfortable acting in large roles. Since then she actually has had a low key acting career. Pretty much the acting in this film is decent. It’s horror movie acting at the best it could really be.
Production value wise the film looks good, just as good as the first. What I do think PART 2 has over the first film is that it looks more polished and the photography is better. Better shots, lighting etc. The set design and all the likes still echo that of the first film, and the special make-up effects seem to be a little better than the first. One neat little thing I did learn is that at the end of the film Where Mrs. Voorhees decapitated head is on a table in Jason hut; was an actual actor’s head done up in make-up. They actually used the freeze fame to give the ending more of a shock value. Originally the script called for her eyes to open, but director Steve Miner thought it would ruin the whole tone of the movie, and I must say I agree. It’s almost expected that the eyes will open and because they don’t it makes it more creepier as you watch the credits role.
The Deluxe Edition DVD has a few special features such the Theatrical Trailer, Inside “Crystal Lake Memories”, Friday’s Legacy: Horror Conventions, Lost Tales from Camp Blood – Part 2 and Jason Forever where four of the original actors who played Jason got together at a Fangoira convention in 2004 talk about playing the killer.
Overall, I look at FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 2 as the introduction to the character of Jason. Although the he is a major part of the story in the first film, this is really the movie that birthed his sadistic killing spree. While I don’t see it as being the best film of the whole FRIDAY THE 13TH series, it’s still the movie that bought us Jason and was such a success that it was the film that catapulted the franchise into full gear where a new film was created almost every year during the eighties.
– Horror Bob
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- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
