Friday the 13th, Part III (1982)

“How come you never scream when we have sex?"

"Give me something to scream about..."

 I've said it before, and I'll say it again because it's still very relevant; watching the Friday the 13th films after the Scream films is probably not for the best. Once you've seen all those slasher tropes deconstructed time and time again it's a little bizarre to see them played with a straight bat, as they are here. As it happens the film is well made (the hilariously unconvincing popping eyeball aside...), and probably the best so far, but still...

We get a bunch of teens headed to a cabin by the lake in the woods. We get a weird old man warning them off. People do genre unwise things like having sex, smoking dope and carrying out practical jokes about being gruesomely murdered. There's no subversion of the cliches at all, just constant leaning into them. But, you know what? It works. Well, mostly.

This is the third film in the series and the first to feature (with no explanation) the hockey mask, which is a good idea and rather effective. As, on the whole, are the set pieces. I like the dart in the eye. The characters are a bit generic and blend into each other, but you expect that. But some of them are likeable and, like poor doomed virgin Shelly, some even have pathos. There's sex in a hammock, and a shower scene which probably counts as misdirection. It's an entertaining 90 minutes that holds the attention. But, well, surely in 1982 this had been done a million times or more? Three films in (after a bit of a hiatus) and I'm still concluding that the films are, yes, perfectly decent, but it's hard to understand what makes them so iconic.

Friday the 13th: Part 2 (1981)

“I told the others. They didn’t believe me. You’re all doomed!”

This film is rubbish. Normally, it wouldn’t be much fun to watch a rubbish film. But, for me, the knowledge that I can administer a good spanking to it in this blog makes it a perversely fun experience. Expect much slating and slagging off. How do I hate thee, Friday the 13^th: Part 2? Let me count the ways.

It has to be said, the first film was surprisingly “meh” for such a well known title. With the sequel being so weak, I’m astounded that the franchise survived, let alone achieved lasting fame. The opening minutes immediately warn the viewer of the ineptness to come. We begin with flashbacks which are just slavishly taken from the original film with no attempt to do anything fresh or creative. The plot itself is non-existent, and the structure of the film makes no sense. Half way through, a large chunk of the characters leave the site of the killings to go out drinking (this being the early ‘80’s, they naturally drive). We follow their conversations in the pub, after which they are never heard of again. This leaves just a handful of characters to be gradually bumped off by Jason. Sadly, the deaths are nowhere near as fun or imaginative as they were in the previous film.

At least Jason himself, a silent and semi mysterious presence, is highly effective, or at least he would be in a better film. It is surprising to see that he is not yet wearing his iconic mask. The franchise can consider itself very lucky that it survived long enough for this to happen.

Of course, we get the usual clichés. Characters who have sex or wander off alone meet exactly the fate that those of us who have seen Scream have come to expect. But the film is too dull for these clichés to be much fun. There is some mileage to be had in the sheer ‘80’sness, especially the computer games, but this is slim pickings. More surprising for the time is the film’s permissive attitude to marijuana.

The film ends suddenly and disappointingly, leaving you with the distinct impression that it never really got going. It is little more than a series of formulaic stabbings. I sincerely hope that the next film in the series is better than this.