It is hard to believe it has been 29 years since, as a wide eyed 13 year old, I first watched the councilors at Camp Crystal Lake run naked and screaming from Jason’s wacked out mother. I wasn’t sure how I would take to them retelling the story that started it all. There is a nature to Jason, with his machete and hockey mask, that I was afraid once tampered with, would lose its history and nostalgia. I didn’t want some over the top adrenaline fueled gore fest that would be all effects and no character.  I wanted classic thrasher elements. I needed to jump at stupid things and cringe at what I knew was about to come. I wanted to relive my youth I guess.

Director Marcus Nispel does alright with this new telling. Since this is not a continuation of the story, rather a retelling of the facts he took some liberties while keeping true to the original plot. Set in current day we find a 30 something year old Jason who still follows the voice of his dead mother and kills anyone who wanders into the deserted area of Camp Crystal Lake. His latest pray being a young man in search of his missing sister and a group of fun loving weekend preppies looking for beer, bongs and debauchery. Little has changed in the style of victim from the 80’s though I don’t remember them being so obnoxious and vainly pretty; and that’s just the guys!

There is little in the way of creativity and surprises in this installment but that doesn’t make it less enjoyable. If watching silver spoon fed, sex crazed, young adults get gutted for their stupidity is enjoyable. And I have to admit, at times it was. I also liked this Jason character a lot. He was large and quick and focused. No lumbering about in the woods for this one. He attacked with a vengeance. Much went into establishing why Jason is what we have seen over the years. I appreciated that small attention to detail. Also, the addition of Aaron Yoo to the mix brought the perfect stereotypical funny character. Yoo has decent skills when it comes to timing and delivery. Along with Arlen Escarpeta they added a balance to the pretty boy and bimbo characters that are rampant in these films.

Friday the 13th is rated R for strong bloody violence, some graphic sexual content, language and drug material. Along with the graphic sexual content is enough naked silicone implants to float a barge full of camp councilors. Parents should be warned that these are not the days of brief, gratuitous, boob shots. Your youngster will get quite the anatomy education if you let them tag along. (Sorry guys, it is part of my job to tell them these things). The violence was campy and though graphic it didn’t feel the need for a splatter fest. This too gave it a retro feel to the original. I give it a solid 3.5 out of 5 backpacks. It is certainly for lovers of the genre and I think one of the better remakes in some time.

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