1981 was really full of great horror movies. The Evil Dead, An American Werewolf in London, The Howling, Halloween 2 and Friday the 13th: Part 2. Director Steve Miner takes the opportunity with this feature to tell the continuation of the lore that we had from the first film. He expands upon it in pretty great detail. This isn't just another F13 movie. This is the episode that introduces Jason Voorhees as the series antagonist that we all fear.
A new person comes in to bankroll the reopening of Camp Crystal Lake after the events of the first film, Friday the 13th. We get a great deal of backstory and a quick recap of the events leading up to this point, including the decapitation of Mrs. Voorhees. New young adults means new blood and this time the old lady isn't doing the killing. Jason is awake and he wants to kill.
Apparently this film franchise was going to be like that of Halloween and they had meant for this to be an Anthology series. However, the popularity of Mrs. Voorhees and Jason spawned this sequel and many others. We get a ton of the same elements that made the first film really good. The slow and intimidating hunting, the first person slasher views and the setting are all key elements to the franchise.
This is a great feature and important addition to the franchise. The ending is a bit odd, but it's a horror movie. Those lapses in continuity can be excused. If you aren't familiar with the franchise then this isn't a bad starting off point. However, you should really watch the original to get into the groove. Keep in mind that this is a film in the F13 series and is considered to be a bit extreme. It's definitely for late-teens and up.
Directed by: Steve Miner
Produced by: Steve Miner
Written by: Ron Kurz, Phil Scuderi
Starring: Amy Steel, John Furey, Adrienne King
Music by: Harry Manfredini
Distributed by: Paramount Pictures
Release dates: May 1, 1981
Did ya know: The first Jason scene in the movie is a shot of Jason's legs walking across the street toward Alice's house. This is the only time in the series Jason was played by a woman. Jason's legs belonged to Ellen Lutter, the film's costume designer.
This is a great feature and important addition to the franchise. The ending is a bit odd, but it's a horror movie. Those lapses in continuity can be excused. If you aren't familiar with the franchise then this isn't a bad starting off point. However, you should really watch the original to get into the groove. Keep in mind that this is a film in the F13 series and is considered to be a bit extreme. It's definitely for late-teens and up.
Directed by: Steve Miner
Produced by: Steve Miner
Written by: Ron Kurz, Phil Scuderi
Starring: Amy Steel, John Furey, Adrienne King
Music by: Harry Manfredini
Distributed by: Paramount Pictures
Release dates: May 1, 1981
Did ya know: The first Jason scene in the movie is a shot of Jason's legs walking across the street toward Alice's house. This is the only time in the series Jason was played by a woman. Jason's legs belonged to Ellen Lutter, the film's costume designer.
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