I typically don’t watch horror films and haven’t been interested in seeing one for many years now. Until recently, I couldn’t really tell you why. It’s not that I’m against violence and gore in films, hell I’m a huge Paul Verhoeven fan for crying out loud. Three DVDs I recently watched for review helped me finally figure it out. Horror films of the last ten years or so have essentially thrived on showing us the ugly, vile and sadistic side to humanity (yes, I’m looking at you, Saw and Hostel). In doing so, they’ve stripped out all of the fun and perverted the way god intended horrow films to be: hokey, gruesome and giggly fun. The Scream trilogy was probably the last hurrah in that style and it’s a real shame. The first three Friday the 13th films have reminded me how things used to be.
Friday the 13th Uncut
The first and original is the best, as they say. While Friday the 13th didn’t necessarily begin the genre (Halloween preceded it by two years), it certainly set things in motion. Not quite there as far as the full tone of it’s sequels, this film did teach us the valuable lessons of the consequences of poor decision making and how promiscuous, premarital sex will get you killed. It’s readily apparent, both by the acting and sets that no budgets were harmed in the making of this film, but that gave it it’s charm and also elevated the whole ‘How did they do that?” mystique lost in modern filmmaking thanks to those wonderful computers. Those were the days.
On this new DVD edition, Friday the 13th cleans up pretty well. There’s enough grain and film defects to give the feel of the original release, but it’s not murky or unwatchable at all. And it’s presented in anamorphic widescreen. The sound has been remixed into 5.1 surround and makes every “Ki-ki-ki…ma-ma-ma” that much more spooky. Of the three, this disc gets he best extras. First, there’s a commentary hosted by Crystal Lake Memories author Peter Bracke and featuring director Sean S. Cunningham, writer Victor Miller, Adrienne King, Betsy Palmer, composer Henry Manfredini, and other crew members. It’s definitely worth a listen. The jewel of the featurettes is a sixteen minute “A Friday the 13th Reunion”, a panel discussion with Tom Savini, Ari Lehman, Adrienne King, Betsy Palmer, and Victor Miller. The panel reunion is supplemented by a fourteen minute “Fresh Cuts: New Tales from Friday the 13th”, which is more interviews with Savini, Manfredini, Lehman, Miller, and Robbi Morgan, who is the first onscreen victim in the film. Then there is a nine minute “The Man behind the Legacy” interview with Sean S. Cunningham. I liked this feature a lot as it really got into the whys and wherefores of how the film was created and the basic philosophy behind the good fun that is the Friday the 13th franchise. There is also a seven minute “Lost Tales from Camp Blood – Part 1”. This is a short film that draws inspiration from the series and continues another installment across the next DVD. Lastly, there is a two minute theatrical trailer.
Friday the 13th, Part 2
Except for the possible dream sequence at the end of the first film, this is the first time we see Jason Voorhees in the present day in the franchise. Here we see the basic pattern for the rest of the franchise and, to me, one of the funnier aspects of the film. Part two starts off with the lone survivor of the first film enjoying the quiet life at home – only to get summarily offed by, presumably, Jason. She survived against all odds the horrors of the first film only to get pwned in her own kitchen. Disturbing, yet funny. Again, we get an anamorphic transfer and eerie, 5.1 surround sound.
The extras are less here than the first film’s disc, but still impressive. We get an eleven minute “Inside Crystal Lake Memories”, an interview with author Peter Bracke about his book inspired by the series. Then we get seven minutes of horror convention footage with “Friday’s Legacy”. “Lost Tales from Camp Blood – Part 2” is a nine minute companion short film continuing thematically fro mthe one presented with the first film. The best feature here is the twenty-nine minute “Jason Forever” featuring a panel discussion with four of the actors who have played Jason: Ari Lehman, Warrington Gillette, C.J. Graham, and Kane Hodder. Last, but not least, is the two minute theatrical trailer.
Friday the 13th, Part 3 3-D
Nowadays, it is impossible to image Jason Voorhees without his trademark hockey mask, so it’s surprising to be reminded that it wasn’t until this film that Jason first acquired it. This film was originally released in glorious 3-D and, happily you get the option to view it as such here. They even include two cardboard 3-D glasses for you and a viewing partner to share in the experience together. Corny death and mayhem, all flying towards you from the TV, what more could you want? Sadly, the glasses are the only “extras” you get with this barebones disc. The sound is rendered in 5.1, however I strongly suspect this is not a new transfer of the film.
Overall, I highly recommend these discs for those who love the hokey, cheesy modern horror film. There is no so-called “torture porn” here, only good old fashioned hack-n-slash courtesy of Mama Voorhees and son. Good times.