Friday the 13th
Opening night “In-Theater Experience”:
Rating: 
Actual Movie:
Rating:
Directed By: Marcus Nispel
Starring: Jared Padalecki, Danielle Panabaker, and Derek Mears
Plot Synopsis:
After the supposed death of her son at a summer camp, a mother begins to kill the camp employees. After her death at the hands of the remaining employees, her son returns to continue her bloody work.
Review:
10:15pm, on Friday the 13th 2009 I sat in a packed theater filled with 75% black hoodie and T-shirt wearing males. The remaining 25% was comprised of high school guys with unsuspecting girlfriend in tow. Oh, and one parent who thought they could hid their infant (hearing a baby crying during a horror flick is really strange).
Anyway, we all were giddy with excitement waiting for the latest romp with Jason Vorhees at Camp Crystal Lake. Once the theater darkened, I think we all got what we expected and had one hell of a time!
Opening with a 15 minute title sequence basically re-telling the original Friday the 13th and it’s sequel (Part 2), Friday the 13th grabs hold and is relentless. The filmmakers decided to treat this story as grounded in reality as possible. Jason Vorhees is mutated and mute, but a smart and efficient killer. I prefer this Jason over the previous zombie-like Jasons (although they do have a special place in my heart, especially Part 7).
The plot is nothing special, the same thing we’ve seen in all 12 previous installments. Young people out for a weekend of debauchery meet their brutal end one by one at the hands of Jason. Who will make it to the end? That’s all we’re left to figure out.
The remake of Friday the 13th is by far superior to most of the earlier sequels. If you enjoyed the Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake, you know you’re in good hands with director Marcus Nispel. It’s also the most intense and the best looking of the series. Also, Derek Mears as Jason is totally badass and easily shows he’s not under Kane Hodder’s shadow.
If your a fan of the originals or a fan of scary movies, Friday the 13th is a good time. Make sure you see it in a crowded theater, that’s part of the fun!
Rated R for strong bloody violence, some graphic sexual content, language and drug material.
UPDATE:
I know this is kind of back-tracking, but now that I’ve had some time to digest Platinum Dunes’ Friday the 13th I have less good things to say about it.
Here’s why: It was brought to my attention that Platinum Dunes and Marcus Nispel were promising the fans of Friday the 13th an amazing re-imagining. Having seen all the Friday the 13ths, I can say that this IS NOT a re-imagining, remake or reboot. This is basically Friday the 13th part 13. They re-tell parts 1 through 3 within the first 20 minutes, but after that it’s the same old thing we’ve seen in the past 12 movies.
The biggest flaw is the lack of original and inventive kills that the fans have grown to love. There’s 1 in the beginning of the film, but it pays tribute to a scene in one of the earlier movies. There is nothing here that hasn’t been done already or in any other generic slasher.
So, upon re-visiting my thoughts, Platinum Dunes’ Friday the 13th is apparently less fun on any night other than opening night. I can admit we all had a good time, but I would rather re-watch any of the previous Friday the 13th sequels (even Jason goes to Hell or Jason X) before watching this one again.
See my updated rating, which rates the opening night experience and the actual flick.
