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USA 2009
Director: Marcus Nispel
Cast: Jared Padalecki, Danielle Panabaker, Amanda Righetti, Travis Van Winkle, Derek Mears
Rating: R
Release Date: 13 February 2009
Running Time: 1 hour 45 minutes 22 seconds
The Movie Review
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FRIDAY The 13th
(remake 2009) |
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Evil never dies...They're just rebooted. A phrase that applies correctly to the ever-notorious Jason Voorhees from Friday the 13th. It all started in 1980 where Jason Voorhees is 'sunk' to the bottom of the lake in Camp Crystal Lake in Friday the 13th (1980) and then in Friday the 13th part 2 where Jason 'emerges' to avenge his not-so-kind-even-evil-too mom and it all continued until the 10th entry in a crossover film where he's finally destined to fight against another famous/notorious evil from Elm Street, Freddy Kruger in Freddy vs. Jason (2003). Eventually it took 6 long years before this evil entity reappears complete with his hockey mask in this 11th entry of Friday the 13th franchise.
And so the story starts with some dumb sex-crazed teenagers set up a camp near the Crystal Lake, since they got lost while looking for some weed to sell once they're back in the city. It seems that they finally fall victim to the mysterious burly figure who carries machete (Derek Mears). Then the story is fast forwarded to 6 weeks later where a sympathetic and mature-minded guy, Clay (Jared Padalecki), is looking for his missing sister on a gas station not very far from Crystal Lake. It turn out that his sister, Whitney (Amanda Righetti) is one of those aforementioned teenagers. It's not a very bright day for Clay, for the gas station attendant (Chris Coppola) refuses to post the missing-person pamphlets, informed by a cop that his efforts are fruitless and bump into another group of teens, a bunch guys and hotties equally high on sex hormones that are on their way to Crystal Lake presumably to do-you-know-what. And so Clay and the teens led by Trent (Travis Van Winkle) are heading towards the same direction, but will they find what they're looking for? And how's Jason by the way?
Marcus Nispel might not have directed many movies especially the high-profile ones, but the ones that he had, showed his good directional skills, with Pathfinder in 2007 and the remake of Texas Chainsaw Massacre in 2003. And dealing with a movie that already has huge 'n humongous fan base around the world supposedly should be a personal burden/challenge for him. I bet there are numerous fans out there ready to chop up Marcus with their angry words, and though taste is very varied and not a subject of a debate, I think Marcus Nispel has done a great job directing this reboot of Friday the 13th, and moreover to his personal note, I think his directing has improved.
But as good and evil living side by side. This slasher film has several aspects need to be improved... And first of all, the pace! It's too long and it spends too much time on the chasing scene. Don't get me wrong, who doesn't like chase scenes in a slasher flick, but still if it's too long it means tedious, and it's not good. I had to restraint myself from taking a look on my wristwatch, and it turned out it took only about 1 and half hours before the end credits role, but it feels like forever. That's only one flaw that I point. The characters should also be improved, make 'em more despicable or throw some emotional conflict more often. The only strong character is Trent who's a stuck up guy and that's not enough, when the killings occur, it's hard to feel anything for them, be it glad or sorry. I would even go as far as saying "Make 'em cheap!" but make sure to also "Make 'em gooood". The scene where the second group of teens is trying to have some fun and showing their idiocy is so forced, the shoe scene of Aaron Yoo made me even long for his character in Disturbia (2007). What about another naked monopoly scene as in the early Friday the 13th? Anyhow, almost every actors and actresses are on average acting quality here, except for Amanda Righetti and the brief menacing appearance of the old woman played by Rosemary Knower.
And by the by, Friday the 13th was released on Feb 13th, just one month after another remake My Bloody Valentine 3D (2009). Interesting enough Feb 13th was also the date of release of the original My Bloody Valentine (1981). It's hard not to compare these two remakes. Friday the 13th is more well-directed with great cinematography added with 3 scenes of nudity, while My Bloody Valentine is more raw, with uninteresting backdrop but is more shocking and gory. Anyhow, Supernatural series fans would probably curious to watch how 2 Supernatural's actors, Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki were playing in both movies respectively.
Nevertheless, let us just think of one thing, 'What do you ask from a slasher movie?' A freakin' lookin' serial killer figure? A creepy mask, women's flesh (thanks to America Olivo, Willa Ford and Julianna Guill), steamy scenes, gore (on-screen and graphic), blood, screaming, a bit of dark humor and the mandatory stupid teenagers? You got it! It's all here. Plus, the bonus is you got a high body count (though not as high as the last one in Freddy vs. Jason, which is 17). And so, if you're looking for another slasher movie with simple and easy-to-guess storyline (and ending), Friday the 13th is a movie worth watching, for Slasher and horror fans that is.
© iwan pranowo of Movielogy.com
posted: Monday, 4 April 2011 09:44 pm
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