Friday the 13th
  

Produced by Paramount Pictures, New Line Cinema, Platnum Dunes, Crystal Lake Entertainment and MTV Films, 2009. Based on characters created by Victor Miller. Written by Damian Shannon and Mark Swift. Directed by Marcus Nispel. Starring Jared Padalecki, Danielle Panabaker, Amanda Righetti and Derek Mears as "Jason."

 
    By Stephen Pytak 
   While the trailers gave me the impression Derek Mears 
was going to do a pretty decent job as "Jason," I really 
wasn't expecting much from the 2009 reboot.
   But it threw me a few curves and wasn't too bad for a 
formula flick. Turned out to be one of the best entries in 
the series, definitely the most frightening since "The Final 
Chapter (1984)."
   Every reviewer is having fun trying to describe what this 
film is and how it fits into the series. Some call it a "remake." 
Then again, I think every "Friday" film was kind of a remake 
of sorts. Some call it a "reboot." I'll go with that. This is a 
way to kickstart the series again for a new generation of fans. 
Dracula did this kind of thing over and over again over the 
years. In some ways, it also feels like "cliff notes" from parts 
1, 2 and 3. Also true. The new "Friday" incorporates story 
elements from those films. The beheading of "Mrs. Voorhees." 
Jason as "baghead." Jason's introduction to his trademark 
hockey mask. A fight sequence in a barn, and so forth. And 
while this is a new "Friday the 13th," it's still a "formula" flick. 
Expect stupid teenagers getting high and getting naked (lots 
of fine looking girls here by the way). 
   Judging by some reviews I've read on the 'net, I think some 
reviewers were expecting something else from this. Can't 
understand why. I mean, the poster kind of tells you what you're
in for. The tag line: "Welcome to Crystal Lake." Under it, the 
film's anti-hero standing there, mean as ever. That about 
sums it up.
   BUT even though it's got a lot of the same kind of situations 
we've seen over and over in previous "Friday" flicks, the 
filmmakers have also come up with some new and interesting 
things we haven't seen before in any of the previous 11 chapters  
(I'm including "Freddy vs. Jason" here). 
   For instance, something major is revealed at midpoint. Don't 
want to give out any serious spoilers, but I will say it was 
something involving Jason and his love for his mother. Sure was 
an eye opener.
   The film kicks off with the beheading of Mrs. Voorhees. It's a 
quick series of shots during the opening credits. A chick with a 
T-shirt with the word "Counselor" on the back does the deed. A 
title card reveals this takes place on Friday, June 13, 1980. It ends 
with "Jason" visiting the murder scene. It's a quick scene, but kind 
of sums up the back story in a snap. Nice.
   Then we jump ahead to present day. Five hikers using GPS find 
the now closed Camp Crystal Lake, set up camp, look for a legendary 
marijuana garden, trespass through the old cabins and screw. 
   In no time, baghead Jason shows up and goes to work. There are 
some inventive and disturbing kills here. One with a sleeping bag 
packs a punch (it's not what you Kane Hodder fans are thinking). 
Holy mackerel!
   Six weeks later, a group of college students ride in for a weekend 
at a summer house on the lake, a mix of dopers and wing dings, a 
token black dude, a rich snob and at least one chick with brains 
(Panabaker). Riding in behind them is "Clay (Padalecki)," who's 
looking for his sister, "Whitney (Righetti)," one of the hikers who 
went missing six weeks earlier. 
   Jason wastes no time getting down to business. Mears is GREAT 
in the role. His Jason is raw and primal, and a little different than 
all previous incarnations; a real treat. 
   And expect a few other surprises as night falls in Crystal Lake. For 
once there's a dude who goes toe to toe with the maniac in the mask and 
lasts more than a few rounds.
   "Friday the 13th" films aren't for everyone. Honestly I think you either 
love 'em or hate 'em. They're formula flicks. And some directors and 
writers have made some better than others. This one's pretty good. It's a 
great afternoon popcorn movie with a few good scares, an interesting take 
on a classic character and a crazy-as-Hell battle at the climax.
   I'm sure they're planning the 13th "Friday" as I write this. I just hope 
Mears is in it, and it's just as rough and raunchy, if not more so.
Copyright 2008 By Stephen Pytak