Fridays in October Part 10

I hope everyone has enjoyed their Halloween festivities, whether it was at a party or simply rocking a solitaire movie marathon from the couch. I also hope that you all have enjoyed the month of October. I’m a little sad to see it go, as my Halloween decorations are slowly coming down and the jack-o-lanterns are rotting, but a lot of us horror enthusiasts live like it’s Halloween most of the year anyway. We just don’t seem out of place in the fall. That said, Fridays in October is also over. I watched the last Friday last night, while it was technically still October. However, I will be honest and say that I did not pay as much attention to the film as I normally would, since we were hosting a party while it was playing. Still, it’s a movie that doesn’t require undivided attention:

Jason X

What is there to say about the tenth installment? I love it. You know you love it. It’s terrible yet brilliant. It’s gaudy yet simple. It’s flakey yet fun. After Jason Goes to Hell, what is there left to do?  Send Jason to space of course! Freeze him up and thaw him out in the future—a future where women wear skanky clothes on spaceships and a future where nanotechnology is the answer for everything. The movie is completely over-the-top and the filmmakers know it. What makes it work is that they spare no details in making sure almost every moment is rendered in some form of ridiculousness. We get lots of dead bodies (including one of the best kills ever), a new look for Jason, tons of campy one-liners, and we get some truly memorable scenes. Sure this film is responsible for stripping away any ounce of seriousness the Friday the 13^th franchise had left, but it really couldn’t have gone in any other direction successfully.

I applaud you film, I applaud.

Quotes. We love quotes, right? Trivia. That’s always fun. Quotes and Trivia, that’s what this retrospective will be comprised of because I really don’t feel like discussing Jason X in great detail and I’m sure you would rather watch the film than read it.

TOP 3 QUOTES:

Janessa: “Oh, this sucks on so many levels!” (Before being sucked out of the ship through a small hole)

Virtual Teen #1: “Hey, do you want a beer?”
Virtual Teen #2: “Or do you wanna’ smoke some pot?”
Virtual Teen #1: “Or we can have premarital sex.”
Virtual Teen #1 & #2: “We love premarital sex!”

Rowan: “Jason-fucking-Voorhees, that’s what’s going on!”

MIDDLE 3 QUOTES:

Professor Lowe: “Guys, it’s okay! He just wanted his machete back!”

Brodski: “It’s gonna’ take more than a poke in the ribs to put down this old dog…(Jason stabs him again)…Yeah, that oughta do it.”

Crewmember: “He’s screwed.” (after someone falls on a giant drill/screw)

BOTTOM 3 QUOTES:

Dr. Wimmer: “His unique ability to regenerate lost and damaged tissue, it just cries out for more research.”

Rowan: “Not nothing. You don’t just say “Oops.” What “oops”?

Kay-EM 14: “I’d clap if I could” (her severed cyborg head speaking)

Jason goes to the trendy salon...I mean space.

TRIVIA:

The screenwriter oh-so-cleverly used Alien as a basis for his space horror film. One of the characters is even named Dallas after Tom Skeritt’s character.

Apparently, the screenwriter is an even bigger nerd than we all suspected. He named several characters after his online friends’ on EverQuest.

This Friday has the highest death count at 28. Well played guys, well played.

The devils over at the MPAA were easier on Jason X than other installments. It is the least mutilated of the series in terms of cutting down violence.

The producer is Noel Cunningham, the son of Sean Cunningham. I’m sure he’s proud.

With a budget of $13,500,000, the film didn’t quite make its money back at the box office (about a mill shy). The opening weekend brought in $6,649,006. Now, I kind of feel bad for not showing my support back in the day and heading to the theatre.

The actor who plays Sgt. Brodski, Peter Mensah, also plays the Messenger that gets kicked into the pit in 300. Haha. Madness. He also does some voice acting in Dead Space.

BFG! There’s a reference to the “Big Fucking Gun” from Quake and Doom.

Kane Hodder was paid $100,000 to reprise the role of Jason. Well worth the money.

Hodder has said that Jason X is his favorite Friday, but he sometimes changes his mind. He loves the look of Uber-Jason.

"Say wha???"

Conclusion:

I'm glad to be done with Fridays in October, but also a little sad that it's over. I'm thinking that I may do a "Halloween in Christmas" and review all of the Halloween films for the month of December. That should be fun. It will be like Christmas in July, but not really. Hmmmm....

Fridays in October Part 9

This is the Friday I have been looking forward to revisiting the most. Why Becky, why would you look forward to such an abomination? Great question. Thank you for asking. I am attracted to the unattractive. I love this movie because everyone hates it. It’s not that I’m trying to be different or rebellious, but I frankly find the ninth entry to be quite the enjoyable movie experience despite the anger it stirs up in Friday fans. I’ve decided to give this film some love in place of the hatin’!

Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday

In an effort to keep this organized, I’m just going to create little subheadings for everything. It’s a lot easier than you know…planning or outlining ahead of time. I’m just gonna’ write as I go, just like the screenwriters did for this movie.

A Yarn from Film School:
Firstly, I’m going to begin this by stating a personal connection I have to this movie. One of my cinematography professors from film school was the Director of Photography for Jason Goes to Hell. Oh how I considered asking him questions about this movie numerous times. You see, he wasn’t the friendliest of professors. In fact, he made it quite clear that undergraduates were not as talented (or worth his time) as graduate students in the program. Ostentatious, confrontational, demanding, and stubborn he was, but every now and he may have shared a pearl of wisdom. He acted like cinematography was the science of gods and he insisted on putting “ASC” (American Society of Cinematographers) after his name on every single document, including power points and tests. Whenever he challenged me about something, I felt like asking, “So how did Jason Goes to Hell work out for you?” I never did though, but then again, he was never as mean to me as he was to the other students that he made cry and quit cinematography forever. Anyway, the cinematography in Jason Goes to Hell isn’t good and I’m sure he knows it.

It's Jason's turn to make the "Oh shit" face.

The Insane Plot:
So everyone’s all pissed off about Jason’s evil spirit (or whatever) jumping from body to body. Yeah, this movie doesn’t have a lot of the hockey-mask wearing villain, all because some coroner decides to eat his pulsating heart. Why? Who Cares? Cool. Like I said before about Part V, it really doesn’t bother me that Jason is missing from a Friday the 13^th film. It’s the 90’s...horror is dying…they gotta’ pull out something new, right? It wasn’t time for his space adventure and he already went to the hoods of New York. I have no problem with a completely crazy, nonsensical plot. They’ve done it before and damnit, they’ve done it again—only this time its way more crazy! It’s a bold choice to completely gib Jason within the first ten minutes and then continue to his autopsy, which reminds me of Saw IV’s autopsy. Yes, he’s dead, he’s really really dead! Get over it. Oh wait…never mind. He’s only kind of dead. We kid, we kid.

Nope. This didn't happen.

What Sucks?
Now, I’m not going to sugarcoat this write-up. This movie has lots of suckage. Almost all technical elements are disappointing, ranging from epic failures to sorta-kinda working. Even Harry Manfredini’s score is not selling it. It’s way too dramatic and cued at some of the worst times.  And of course, the writing is ridiculous, to be polite about it. Things just don’t make a whole lot of sense and it’s completely out of fashion with the rest of the films. Lastly, life does suck without Jason Voorhees.  I do miss him, despite my appreciation for an attempt to explore new territory.

STFU, I like this movie.

What is there to LOVE?
Plenty! I have three letters for you: KNB. They deliver on some awesome gore and demon(?) EFX. My personal favorite is a camper who gets a metal post shoved through her chest and then split in half.  Go HERE to see it. Beware there is nudity and extreme violence, which is why I am not posting a picture. In addition to the wonderful blood and guts, we get an all out LAWLFest. If there were a Becky laughtrack for this movie, it would never be silent. I just giggle and guffaw my way through this entry. From the quirky diner owner to the ordinary-people-turned-badasses, there’s a good share of campy dialogue and off-the-wall moments to keep you happy. I even like the minor plot point that the FBI is now after Jason. After all, it makes sense. With well over 100 kills to his name, I’m pretty sure the federal government would be sending in aerial support to take him out. Despite being sad to see Jason disappear from the screen for a while, I’m actually quite fond of watching him explode before a hail of machine gunfire.

KNB saves an otherwise disastrous day.

Badasses:

Duke—He breaks fingers instead of getting paid off. He knows the secrets of dispatching Jason and isn’t afraid to confront him.

Steven—Although he wears glasses and a letterman’s jacket, which are normally signs of death in a Friday the 13^th film, this guy pulls out the stops. He jumps over his arms when handcuffed behind the back, smacks around some cops, gets his fingers broken by Duke to obtain information, and faces Jason off in hand-to-hand combat.

Vicki—This is one BAMF of a waitress. She whips out a double-barreled shotgun and blasts the Jason-possessed dude. Out of bullets? That doesn’t stop her. She grabs the BBQ skewer and goes to town. It’s too bad she’s not in this movie more.

Pure Gold.

Homages , Cameos, and Connections Galore:

Evil Dead II – The same Necromonican from the film appears in the Voorhees house.

John Landis—A character named Sheriff Landis, coincidence? I think not.

From Dusk Till Dawn – Jason’s heart was later used for the “Monkey Man.”

Cunningham County –On the police uniform. Uhhh, self-homage?

The Birds – The same jungle gym is used at the end of the film.

Creepshow – “The Crate” can be found in the Voorhees basement.

Kane Hodder – Security Guard, who calls out Jason.

Nightmare on Elm Street—Do I really need to explain the amazing ending?

Halloween—Someone mentions the “Myers house.”

Why Jason, you're just glowing! Is there someone special?

Best Quotes:

Coroner’s Assistant: “Yes, that’s a probe.” And then he is killed with it.

Security Guard (Kane Hodder): “He was nothing but a big ol’ pussy anyway.” Referring to Jason. Bad Call.

Duke: “She’s only your girl cause she hasn’t had a taste of the duke yet.”

Steven: “Planning on smoking a little dope, having a little premarital sex, and getting slaughtered?” At the Camp Crystal Lake Campers.

Conclusion:

You know you want to give this film another chance. Come on, you can do it. Just forget that you're watching a Friday the 13th and there's some prerequisite to see Jason, because it really is a fun, silly, crazy, campy movie.

Fridays in October Part 8

When I first started doing Fridays in October, I watched a whole bunch of Fridays at once and then I realized “Wow, I have the whole month. I better slow down.” Now, it’s suddenly nearing the end of the month and I have some work to do. I’m actually pretty good with time management, but I’m not very good with temporal relations. For instance, I can never remember if something happened 5 or 2 years ago, 2 months or 8 months ago, 1 week or a couple days. Some days I will be involved in what I’m doing and not realize that I have spent 8 hours in the same position without food or drink. But I digress from…

Friday the 13^th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan

As we’ve been going through the Fridays together, many of us have revealed “soft spots” for unpopular entries. Although I feel like saying I have soft spot for the series as a whole, I guess you could say Part VIII is my soft spot. Manhattan is so damn gimmicky and so self-aware that it is a Friday the 13^th film it makes some people sick. However, I just love it. The gimmicks of Part VII didn’t work for me because it took itself seriously. The self-reflexivity of Part VI seemed to use its awareness as an excuse not to try at times. In contrast, Manhattan, knowing exactly what it is, throws the Friday series around like a beach ball. It delivers on some unique kills and actually shows them occurring onscreen. It brings us a new location—I love Camp Blood, but this is numero ocho and the idea of Jason in Times Square is so suiting of the postmodern attitude that the Fridays developed. While the film spends most of the time on a cruise ship, it provides an excellent variety of set pieces for Jason to explore. Hot coals through the stomach in the sauna. A young Kelly Hu thrown on the colorfully-lit dance floor like a rag doll. Nightmare-style steamy machines rooms for teenagers to explore. What’s not to love?

There are three scenes in particular that make Jason Takes Manhattan so damn loveable in my eyes. When Jason first arrives in New York, he spots a billboard that has a large hockey mask on it. He tilts his head and then turns towards the camera, juxtaposing the billboard and his masked face in such a blatant way. Another scene I adore is when Jason is chasing Rennie and Sean through Times Square and he kicks the radio of a group of punks. They get pissed and pull out switchblades on Jason. He stops, turns around, lifts up his mask, and they stumble away, petrified of the monstrous sight before them. The fact that we don’t see Jason’s face here makes it even better. Although we all would have loved to see Jason rip the street kids apart, this was a welcome comedic change of pace.

Even Jason hates rap

I left my favorite scene for last...quite possibly one of my favorite scenes of all movies of all time. Julius’ fist fight with Jason is amazing. On the rooftop, Julius, who is a talented boxer, takes on Jason hand-to-hand. In tenth grade I wrote a report on the Friday the 13^th series and for some reason, I felt the need to include exactly how many times Julius punched Jason in the essay. I can’t remember for sure, but I believe it was 87 punches. 87!!! Damn. And Jason just lets Julius go at it until he has exhausted himself and tells him to takes his best shot. BAM! Jason punches his freaking head off. End Scene. Done. Greatest thing ever.

This is also an incredibly quotable film. There are two cast members in particular that give us the best lines: Julius—the badass boxer aforementioned, and Charles—Rennie’s jerk of an uncle who is out to blame everyone about anything that goes wrong. Let’s have a quote-off between the two to determine the greater orator.

Showdown:

CHARLES:

(suspicious and appalled simultaneously)
“Are you girls using drugs?”

JULIUS:

(after asked which weapon he will take to fight Jason)
“Nothing…but this gun.”

I have to give this point to Charles. There’s something about the delivery of his line that makes it so incredible. Julius may have been even cooler if he stopped at “nothing.”

CHARLES:
“I think we’ll be more productive if we split up”

JULIUS:
(to Jason)
“Go ahead…take your best shot, motherfucker!”

While Charles’ line is beautifully trite, Julius proves that he is the ultimate badass by standing up to Jason even though his happens...

CHARLES:
(not wanting to hear other people plan’s of survival)
“No conversations please.”

JULIUS:
(talking to himself before he fights Jason)
“Just use the combos, and keep the feet light."

Julius may have some good advice for himself, but Charles douchebagness wins here. It’s lines like these that make you want him to die so badly.

"I'm a douche...tell everyone."

So far Charles is in the lead. To settle this quote-off once and for all, I think we need to put Charles and Julius in the same scene to see who is the ultimate victor.

JULIUS:
“I say we regroup, and find this motherfucker before he finds us. Now who's with me?”

CHARLES:
“Watch your mouth, young man! And you'll do no such thing. I'm in charge here!”

JULIUS:
“School... is OUT, McCulloch! Okay?”

PWNED!!!1 Julius gets double the points for smacking Charles around with his verbal banter. Julius reigns as the champion of Jason Takes Manhattan and the primary reason why you should love this movie as much as I do.

Other Contributors:

DECK HAND: “This voyage is doomed.”
There’s a Crazy Ralph on every ship.

EVA: “He is soooo good looking.” (referring to Julius of course)
Not hot? Not sexy? Not even handsome? “Soooo good looking.”

Who could have done this to my hair?

RENNIE: “You don't understand, there is a maniac trying to kill us!” 
WAITRESS: “Welcome to New York”
Not contrived at all.

Most expensive shot in a Friday the 13th ever?

Conclusion:

I’m well aware of the many faults and horrendous moments in this film. The half-assed revival of Jason, the random visions of a young Jason, the question of Crystal Lake being connected to the Atlantic Ocean, the toxic waste fiasco, etc. These lame moments are more than overshadowed by some great scenes, campy kills, and a terrific performance by Kane Hodder. Whether you like the film or not, it’s a fun play on the iconography of Jason Voorhees and certainly marks the end of a fine decade for horror films. 

Fridays in October Part 7

Apparently, a lot of you guys liked Part VI more than I was expecting. So I’m dying to see what you all think of the next entry, which is my least favorite Friday by far. Yes, I dislike it more than Jason Goes to Hell (which I actually enjoy more than I should). The films I like the least are those where it seems like studios were more involved in the production and post-production processes, where deaths are executed in a checklist fashion as opposed to a clever yet sick sense of humor. The more strange, awkward, random, and demented the better, but there is a hokey line that can be crossed. And the first Friday to truly cross that line is…

Friday the 13^th  Part VII: The New Blood

This is just one mess of a movie. I still love it out of a deep-seated requirement to love all Friday the 13^th films, but it’s a much different kind of love where pleasure is derived from poking fun at its nonsensical nature. Not only is a telekinetic Final Girl introduced, but the film just lacks general cohesion. This has to be the pinnacle of the following horror stereotypes: wandering into the woods for no reason, running the opposite direction that is safe, drugs and sex equal death, the use of random objects for murder weapons, and an overall void of logic. These stereotypes are a double-edged sword: they are reasons why I enjoy this movie but also reasons why it is truly a low point of the series, especially because the film seems to take itself seriously. In many ways, it’s very much like Halloween 5, but manages to not look quite as out of place in the series.

At least Jason has some backbone

Since I gave out awards for the best moments to the rebellious A New Beginning, I decided to change things up and give out awards to the worst moments for The New Blood. It’s sort of like the Razzies, but there is no mean-spiritedness here. This is more like a friend giving you a hard time because you did something stupid. Let’s give it a shot!

Worst Line
Nominees:

Narrator: “We have a legend ‘round here. A killer buried, but not dead. A curse on Crystal Lake, a death curse. Jason Voorhees' curse. They say he died as a boy, but he keeps coming back. Few have seen him and lived. Some have even tried to stop him. No one can.”

Nick: “It was a big pink elephant.” Making some horrible joke about a noise in the woods. Huh?

Tina: “You’ll probably turn out to be a delusion.” Referring to the newly found boy of her dreams.

And the Worst Line belongs to….

The Narrator! What the hell? Why is there a narrator in a Friday film? Who is this guy? It’s actually the voice of Crazy Ralph from the first two films, but this is never explained. It delivered more like Sam Elliot from The Big Lebowski, not at all like the Crazy Ralph we remember. You’d think this might be used instead of a recap, but no…we get that too.

"Shut up! I do not look like the girl from Poltergeist!"

Worst Kill
Nominees:

Tina’s Dad: Using her psychic powers, Tina accidentally kills her father by bringing down the dock.
 

Dr. Crews: Dispatched with a brush saw, but it’s mostly off screen.

Robin: Thrown out of the second story window and lands with a disappointing thump.  

Jason recommends Home Depot for their low prices and excellent customer service. 

He felt that he was not treated as an individual at Lowe's and Ace Hardware did not have a great selection.

And the Worst Kill belongs to...

Dr. Crews! There are two reasons why this death is bad. 1) We have been waiting to see Dr. Crews die the entire film. He’s a jerk, so we want to see a juicy kill. 2) The brush saw comes completely out of nowhere and is built up quite a bit. The murder weapon is not planted at all.  If Jason’s going to pull random tools out of an invisible shed (which I’m okay with), then at least show us what he does with it! Don’t cut away!

Yeah, cause I really just wanted to see this guy's face more.

Worst Use of the “Everyone thinks I’m crazy” Final Girl Motif:
Nominees:

Tina runs out of the house after an argument with Dr. Crews to the dock where she sees Jason come out of the lake.

Tina asks to see a picture of Nick’s brother and tells him that she saw him die in her mind.

Tina runs away again and steals her mom’s car only to crash it into a tree.

And the Worst Use of the “Everyone thinks I’m crazy” Final Girl Motif belongs to…

Tina informing Nick that his brother is dead! So she’s telekinetic, but she’s also psychic or something? I’m not sure what you call it, but Tina appears to have an array of supernatural powers whenever it is convenient for the plot. Aside from that, this scene is hilariously bad. Tina asks if he happens to have a picture of his brother with him and Nick goes, “Actually, I do.” He pulls one out of his wallet.  Ha. Ok. Then she says, “I’m sorry, but I think your brother’s dead.” At that point, I’d be like, “This girl is crazy. She’s either mentally disturbed and/or she actually killed my brother.”

Stopping by the rave before work

Worst Attack on Jason:
Nominees:

The swinging bulb that knocks Jason out

Trees grabbing Jason and his electrocution in the mud puddle

The resurrection of Tina’s Daddy, who pulls Jason into the water

And the Worst Attack on Jason belongs to…

Daddy saves the day! Are you kidding me? You all knew it was going to happen, but when it did, you just groaned and shook your head. Am I supposed to feel that alcoholic, wife-beating Daddy is a hero? Ummmm. No. I never want to see anyone busting out of a dock from beneath Crystal Lake that isn’t Jason ever again.

Another victory for domestic violence

Wrapping Things Up in a Nice Way

I’ve always thought that if you’re going to criticize something or someone, you should probably accompany your harsh words with some good things to say. So here are three things I did like about The New Blood.

1. At least we get one of the best deaths in the series: the infamous sleeping bag slammed against the tree… with a girl inside it of course

2. Kane Hodder! I’m always happy to see his portrayal of Jason on the screen. If only he had the chance to be in some of the better films.

3. There are 2 mullets in this movie and that’s always a plus. One belongs to Tina’s mom and it is atrociously great. The second is sported by a paramedic’s brief appearance.

1

Fridays in October Part 6

I guess this is at a good point during the Fridays in October series to diverge and briefly explain my unconditional love for Friday the 13^th films. I really do enjoy and see value in every entry. Whether Jason is in it or not, whether Tommy is a likeable young hero or batshit crazy, I just love watching these movies. That’s why I couldn’t bring myself to actually critiquing or formally reviewing these films. Not only am I completely enveloped in nostalgia for them, but I wouldn’t enjoy applying a critical eye to technical flaws and careless plots. We all know what we’re getting into when we watch a Friday, which is why I am using October as an excuse to revel in their campy, bloody, kooky goodness.

Friday the 13^th  Part VI: Jason Lives

I would argue that this is the campiest of all Fridays, but it’s a tough call to make. What this entry lacks in scares and seriousness, it tries to make up for in laughs and outrageousness. I say try because it only works about half the time. I’m not saying I don’t like Part 6, but it’s definitely on the bottom of the totem pole somewhere near its successor and Jason Goes to Hell.

Can you say Money Shot?

Although this film marks the return of Jason (and the return of a more omnipotent, invincible Jason), it’ s not really very memorable. As I was watching the movie, I was surprised at how little I actually remembered from the last time I watched, which was probably a couple years ago. So to talk about a rather forgettable entry, I’ve decided to share why it is memorable. First, I’ll highlight the major scenes cemented in my brain before watching it again and then I’ll talk about the moments that will surely be looked on fondly in the future.

Old Memories:

A Unique Kill

I remember the death of Nikki, who gets her face pushed into the mirror/wall in the motor home bathroom and then you can see the impression of her face through the other side. It reminds me of a Nightmare on Elm Street gag. It always stuck out, but I wouldn’t say the kill is actually anything special because we really don’t see much of it.

She should have read the warning on the plastic bag...

Who’s Playing Tommy Now?

Three different actors have played Tommy Jarvis. The first change is workable since he is older, but Corey Feldman and John Shepherd look nothing alike. The second change in cast is quite jarring. According to IMDB trivia, Shepherd became a born-again Christian and would not reprise his role. This makes the previous entry’s numerous Tommy beat-down sessions even more humorous.

Lock him up! This guy can't be Tommy Jarvis! He hasn't punched anyone yet!

Wait! There’s Kids

This installment is one of the only Fridays to prominently feature children actually attending Camp Blood (or a nearby camp). We all knew that the filmmakers wouldn’t go so far as to kill a kid, but it’s great to see Jason’s bulky frame watching tiny girls and boys sleep.

Praying for the deaths of Mommy and Daddy who sent her to this place...

Paintballing!

I’ve always called this the Friday with the paintballing, even though it’s a very small scene in the film. Still, it gives us a handful of kills, though none of them are particularly great. Watching this made me want to watch Severance again.

Have a nice day!

Newly Formed Memories:

Voorhees, Jason Voorhees

No memory of the James Bond-inspired opening titles. Huh? Where did that come from? I love it. Terrible, cheesy, and simultaneously brilliant.

A Bloody Cabin

Wow… the cabin where the girls are staying is a bloodbath! It’s completely over-the-top. Blood is literally everywhere: the walls, the door, the ceiling, the floor, the tapestries, etc. A lot of the kills lack gruesomeness and gore, but for whatever reason, the art department had fun with this cabin.

A Not-So Final Girl

While Tommy is the lead, he is accompanied by a girl (Megan) we know will not die, so she’s kind of a Final Girl.  Yet Megan doesn’t seem to be the type. She’s the sheriff’s daughter, which makes her the sidekick girlfriend or the sleazy hottie by Halloween’s rules. She is quite forward with Tommy—not the reserved, conservative girl we have come to expect. And the fact that her dad keeps telling her that Tommy is a psychopath from the mental hospital should give her at least some cause for concern.  Instead, this makes her even more attracted to him. Megan is so hot for Tommy that she’ll bust him out of jail, run from the cops, and shove his head in her crotch. Whoa! AND she’s kind of bitchy. She really isn’t very nice to her father, who is clearly just concerned for her wellbeing and she’s got that snide, sarcastic humor with her friends.

I like bad boys, but I'm not rebelling or anything like that.

Bend Over...

I had no memory of the Sheriff’s bending-over-backwards death, but it will now be cemented in my brain forever. It’s a nice gag, but could have been improved with better editing. This may have also been a forced edit job by the MPAA, which the Fridays are all too familiar with.

Jason shows the Sheriff a new yoga pose

Conclusion:

This would be a fun Friday to accompany with a drinking game since it’s silly and quickly paced. Normally, I would suggest a shot per death, but there are 18 kills (at least that’s what IMDB says) in this one…that could get ugly. I’m not saying you have to drink to enjoy Part VI, but it may enhance your experience. I will probably never try this myself, so who knows?

Fridays in October Part 5

Oh how I love the fifth installment in the Friday the 13^th series, otherwise known as the one where Jason isn’t actually the killer. Now, please don’t throw a temper tantrum over the absence of Mr. Voorhees. Halloween III had no Michael and the Saw franchise continues without Jigsaw. Since Jason isn’t even the murderer in the original film, what is there to get upset over? It’s a great entry, carnival tricks and all.

Friday the 13^th: A New Beginning

I once heard this film described as the most Grindehousey of the series by BC at Horror Movie a Day. I can’t think of a better way to describe the quirky style and sick sense of humor this Friday boasts. Awkward dialogue, punchy zooms, and plenty of miscreants to pad the body count. Not only does this have lots of deaths, but it has some of my favorite kills and some of the most memorable characters.

Since I’m not actually preparing legitimate reviews for Fridays in October, I’m going to stick with handing out little awards to the best moments in the film.

Best Line

Nominees:

Billy:  “That's just what the doctor ordered. Nothin' like a little prevented medicine. And, the forecast is; Cloudy in the mountains, sunny in the valleys, and snow flurries, up your nose!"

Matt: "I know this is hard for all of you...so let’s just have breakfast."

Ethel: “Holy shit! Who the fuck are you and what the fuck do you want?”

And the award goes to…

Matt! As the leader of Pinehurst halfway house, your half-assed words of wisdom and compassion is surely noticed by all!

Best Kill

Nominees:

Tina: Hedge clippers in the eyes while naked

Eddie: Leather strap wrapped around head and twisted with great strength

Junior: Closelined by a machete while zooming around on his bike

And the award goes to…

Eddie! After much deliberation, this was still a tough decision. I loved all of these deaths and I’ve remembered them since I was a tweenager when I first saw the film. However, Eddie’s death is a particularly gruesome one.

Best WTF Moment

Nominees:

Joey and Vic: The psychotic Vic hacks up Joey for no reason moments after their characters are introduced

Paramedic: Making fun of the onlookers like a total jerk, as they squirm at the site of Joey’s mutilated body

Robin and Jake: Jake confesses his love for Robin, who just laughs in his face

And the award goes to…

Joey and Vic! How could this end up any other way? This is not only the best WTF moment of this movie, but perhaps one of the greatest in the history of cinema. It’s so deliciously random and sick. It’s also accompanied by a fantastic zoom into the window, where people are watching the horrific scene.

Best LOL Moment

Nominees:

Demon (weird spelling huh?): Scurrying to the outhouse after eating enchiladas and then singing with his girlfriend while he is on the pot

Violet: Doing the robot up until she meets her demise with the Jason imposter

Reggie: Charging out of the barn in the tractor to save Pam as triumphant music blares

And the award goes to…

Reggie! I love children in horror films because they get scenes like this. He can be scared out of his little red pajamas one minute and then as brave as ever in the next.

Best “Oooo...Awkward” Moment

Nominees:

Tommy: After another guy scares him with one of his masks, Tommy flips out and beats the hell out of him in front of everyone at breakfast

Roy, the other Paramedic: His reaction to the dead body of Joey, backing up slowly and darting his eyes around

Tommy: When he encounters Junior, he also beats the hell out of him and it’s just weird

And the award goes to…

Tommy! For pulverizing another human being at breakfast. Man, they should make more movies where people randomly beat other people up. I laugh every time Tommy throws punches because there’s something painfully awkward about it, especially when other people are around to watch.

Well that does it for the award ceremony for Friday the 13^th: A New Beginning. Though some fans may feel betrayed by the twist ending, I adore this movie and wouldn’t have it any other way.

Fridays in October Part 4

The next Friday up for a little retrospective is another fan favorite. This write-up is going to be a trivia edition of sorts, featuring random facts and tidbits about the film and its filmmakers. So, without further ado, here’s the next Friday in October.

Friday the 13^th: The Final Chapter

Tagline: Three Times Before You Have Felt The Terror, Known The Madness, Lived The Horror. But This Is The One You've Been Screaming For

Which one is it?

-The one with Corey Feldman

-The one where Jason kills people in a hospital
-The one with the twins
-The one with Crispin Glover
-The one with the camper guy that hunts Jason
-The one with the 1920’s nudie films

Random Trivia:

In 1984, Director Joseph Zito brought us a great addition to the franchise. Zito doesn’t have a long directing career, but he is the man who helmed The Prowler, which gives him some nerdcore points straight away. He also directed Missing in Action and Invasion U.S.A—both starring the unkillable Chuck Norris. The latter film has one of the most amazing one sheets you will ever see.

In the chronology of the series, this film actually takes place on Sunday the 15^th, but who’s counting?

Shot for a measly $1,800,000, the film grossed $32,600,000. While blockbusters sometimes take years to earn back their money, these films tend to do it rather quickly.

Cinematographer Joao Fernandes began his career shooting pornography and sexploitation films under the name Harry Flex or Harry Flecks. His credits include the infamous Deep Throat, The Spy Who Came, Little Girl…Big Tease, and Love Toy.

When Ted’s character gets high, the actor is actually stoned. He thought he should employ some method acting , but realized that it was a pretty bad idea. Hitting marks, using the correct eye line, and remembering lines were probably difficult for him.

During Samantha’s death scene on the raft, the actress got hypothermia. She was naked, cold, and endured the pain for hours before someone did anything about it. It took Ted White, who played Jason, to stand up and threaten to walk off the set. Who knew that it would be cold in the middle of a lake in December?

Final Girl Trish did enough of her own stunts to receive a Stunt Performer’s Union Card. That’s how you know it’s a low budget production, when the lead actress is doing in her own stunts.

A scene was cut out in which Trish finds her mom’s dead body. Actress Kimberly Beck claims it was her best scene, but Zito thought that it was too offensive. Hmmm….I bet we would all like to take a look at that.

When Tommy is hacking Jason up with the machete in the end, you can hear him yell “Die!” over and over again. However, his mouth is not actually moving. It was dubbed in later.

Departing Thoughts:

I really like this entry. Ted White does a fantastic job as Jason and Corey Feldman is always a welcome face in my book. I love Tommy’s character. His reaction to the teens fooling around next door is priceless. I would imagine it’s kind of like an embarrassing baby picture to pull out today for Corey. Another feature I like about the fourth film is the dichotomy of the houses. On one side, we have the fresh teenage meat, primed for body count. On the other side, we have the happy-go-lucky family that we can root for. My favorite aspect of this film is watching Jason get the crap kicked out of him.