Friday the 13th Part 2: Deluxe Edition

Director: Steve Miner,
Starring: Amy Steel, John Furey, Adrienne King, Warrington Gillette, Kristen Baker, Stuart Charno, Walt Gorney,

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DVD Review

Not surprisingly, Paramount Pictures was quick to capitalize on the success of the first Friday the 13th (1980) film with a sequel. Unfortunately, the creative madmen behind the first film – director Sean S. Cunningham, writer Victor Miller and make-up effects wizard Tom Savini – decided not to return and instead Steve Miner, a key crew member from the previous effort, took over the directorial duties. Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981) adheres pretty strictly to the formula of the first one only making the kills gorier and plentiful.

With mom dead, son, Jason, appears (I guess he didn’t drown after all!) to continue on with her work, punishing kids for having pre-marital sex at summer camp. Alice (King), who was the only survivor of the first one, returns understandably tormented by what she saw. This gives the filmmakers an excuse to rehash footage from the first one in order to bring all the newbies up to speed (this would become a practice for subsequent films in the series). She is then quickly killed off a la Janet Leigh in Psycho (1960) as if to say all bets are off on this one. Jason is a chip off the ol’ block as he dispatches some poor guy in a wheelchair with a machete and skewers a young couple with a spear.

Part 2 is a pale imitation of the first film but it is certainly well shot with a couple of effective jolts, most significantly the much celebrated bit where Jason comes flying through a window to nab one helpless victim. However, it’s missing that special something that Cunningham, Miller and Savini all brought to the first film.

Special Features:

If you already have the box set that came out a few years ago your decision to double dip with this new version may hinge on how big of a fan you are of the films. The supplemental material is pretty good and not included on the box set.

“Inside ‘Crystal Lake Memories’” features an interview with Peter Bracke about his book on the Friday the 13th series. He talks about his approach to writing it and his intentions. Bracke speaks very eloquently and knowledgeably about the films, which almost makes up for the incredibly annoying interviewer.

“Friday’s Legacy: Horror Conventions” takes a look at the popularity of horror conventions and what draws people to them. Cast and crew from the first film talk about what they get out of them.

“Lost Tales from Camp Blood – Part 2” is another annoying installment of this Friday the 13th wannabe.

“Jason Forever” features a reunion of the four actors who have played Jason in the Friday the 13th films on a panel at a Fangoria Convention. They all talk about how they were cast and share some of their memories of working on the films. Actor/stuntman Kane Hodder, the obvious fan favourite, comes across as the most entertaining as he tells some amusing stories.

Finally, there is a theatrical trailer.

J.D. Lafrance

J.D. is a freelance writer who is currently doing research for a book on the films of Michael Mann. He likes reading anything written by Jack Kerouac, James Ellroy, J.D. Salinger, Harlan Ellison or Thomas Pynchon. J.D. is currently addicted to the T.V. series 24 and enjoys drinking a lot of Sprite. This is not a blatant plug for the beverage but if they ever decided to give him a lifetime supply he certainly wouldn’t turn them down.
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Rating: 74%

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