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House (1986)
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A mounted fish moves, household objects levitate, and monsters haunt a troubled novelist (William...
Sean S. Cunningham Harry Manfredini
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Friday the 13th (1980) in Movies
Jul 14, 2020
Friday the 13th is great to look back on. It's full to the brim of cheesy over-the-top acting, weirdly boring sections and dodgy dialogue, but knowing how the horror and in particular slasher genre developed in the decades following, it's an easy film to love.
Following hot on the heels of Halloween, Friday the 13th is the slasher genre stripped down to it's bare bones - a group of horny teenagers isolated from the rest of the world, a relentless killer hunting them down one by one, until we're left with a lone final girl.
Tropes that have since become iconic, much like the setting of Camp Crystal Lake.
The summer camp setting has been aped and parodied for years following the films release back in 1980.
The practical effects used by the now legendary Tom Savini are still great. They may be showing their age, but I would take it over sub standard CGI any day. Throw in a frantic and memorable musical score courtesy of Harry Manfredini, a gleefully sinister performance from Betsy Palmer as Pamela Voorhees, and one of the greatest "Gotcha!" endings in horror cinema, and you have a title that's deserving of the love it gets.
Following hot on the heels of Halloween, Friday the 13th is the slasher genre stripped down to it's bare bones - a group of horny teenagers isolated from the rest of the world, a relentless killer hunting them down one by one, until we're left with a lone final girl.
Tropes that have since become iconic, much like the setting of Camp Crystal Lake.
The summer camp setting has been aped and parodied for years following the films release back in 1980.
The practical effects used by the now legendary Tom Savini are still great. They may be showing their age, but I would take it over sub standard CGI any day. Throw in a frantic and memorable musical score courtesy of Harry Manfredini, a gleefully sinister performance from Betsy Palmer as Pamela Voorhees, and one of the greatest "Gotcha!" endings in horror cinema, and you have a title that's deserving of the love it gets.
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981) in Movies
Jul 19, 2020
After the runaway success of the first Friday the 13th a mere year earlier, Part 2 is the first of many sequels spaffed out in a short space of time. The sequels are mostly ok, certainly watchable, with only a couple that I would say step into crappy territory.
Part 2 is one of the half decent ones, and for better or worse, I actually quietly love it.
Not too dissimilar to its predecessor, it's overflowing with over acting. This time around, the dialogue is pretty much balls awful and cheesy, but it's not enough to stop me from enjoying what is a damn fun horror sequel.
It set the stage for what slasher follow ups would become known for - more gore, more victims, more nudity, more silliness. It's just the way these things go and Friday the 13th Part 2 arguably introduced these sequel tropes to the world.
Of course, this is our first proper introduction to Jason, pre hockey mask, and I've always found Part 2 Jason to be quite intimidating. The hockey mask is undoubtedly iconic, and cemented Jason as a horror icon, but here he dons some dungarees and a potato sack over his face. There's something truly unsettling about a big dude in that get up, chasing people with a massive pick axe.
The closing moments of the movie boasts a memorable 'gotcha' moment once again, whilst showing off the decent make up and effects work, and a returning Harry Manfredini is present once again to provide a jarring music score.
Part 2 is trashy in parts but I can't help but love it. 💀
Part 2 is one of the half decent ones, and for better or worse, I actually quietly love it.
Not too dissimilar to its predecessor, it's overflowing with over acting. This time around, the dialogue is pretty much balls awful and cheesy, but it's not enough to stop me from enjoying what is a damn fun horror sequel.
It set the stage for what slasher follow ups would become known for - more gore, more victims, more nudity, more silliness. It's just the way these things go and Friday the 13th Part 2 arguably introduced these sequel tropes to the world.
Of course, this is our first proper introduction to Jason, pre hockey mask, and I've always found Part 2 Jason to be quite intimidating. The hockey mask is undoubtedly iconic, and cemented Jason as a horror icon, but here he dons some dungarees and a potato sack over his face. There's something truly unsettling about a big dude in that get up, chasing people with a massive pick axe.
The closing moments of the movie boasts a memorable 'gotcha' moment once again, whilst showing off the decent make up and effects work, and a returning Harry Manfredini is present once again to provide a jarring music score.
Part 2 is trashy in parts but I can't help but love it. 💀
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989) in Movies
Jan 11, 2021
Maybe I'm a little numb to this franchise being bad in anyway at this point, because I low key loved this. It's unencumbered nonsense, but dammit it's entertaining.
That title is misleading too. It should be called "Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason on a boat, and then fucking around in a Manhattan sewer tunnel" but I absolutely commend the makers for trying something different with a new location. Jason on a cruise ship is actually a pretty neat visual.
This franchise has always been campy (pun fully intended) but Part VIII does really dial it up. Everything is so painfully 80s and over the top that not even Jason feel intimidating, which is doubly as frustrating considering Kane Hodder is back for another turn.
On top of this, the series strays even further from the formula of having at least one likable protagonist, with every character here just being plain unmemorable (apart from the boxing dude, that guy deserves all the praise for taking Jason on with his bare hands).
To drive the final nails into the coffin, the gore is once again really toned down, the make up effects on Jason's unmasked face are atrociously bad (his face looks like a soggy and battered piece of toast) which is a real shame after how fucking dope he looks in Part VII, and finally and arguably most importantly, this is the only entry in the core series that isn't scored by Harry Manfredini, which is just heresy in my book.
Despite all this, I still find Part VIII weirdly entertaining and enjoyable. Its doesn't get boring and should be watched knowing what's about to unfold - a tongue in cheek, 80s as balls silly slasher that has at least two instances of a girl doing extended electric guitar solos - it's better than Part III, fight me.
That title is misleading too. It should be called "Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason on a boat, and then fucking around in a Manhattan sewer tunnel" but I absolutely commend the makers for trying something different with a new location. Jason on a cruise ship is actually a pretty neat visual.
This franchise has always been campy (pun fully intended) but Part VIII does really dial it up. Everything is so painfully 80s and over the top that not even Jason feel intimidating, which is doubly as frustrating considering Kane Hodder is back for another turn.
On top of this, the series strays even further from the formula of having at least one likable protagonist, with every character here just being plain unmemorable (apart from the boxing dude, that guy deserves all the praise for taking Jason on with his bare hands).
To drive the final nails into the coffin, the gore is once again really toned down, the make up effects on Jason's unmasked face are atrociously bad (his face looks like a soggy and battered piece of toast) which is a real shame after how fucking dope he looks in Part VII, and finally and arguably most importantly, this is the only entry in the core series that isn't scored by Harry Manfredini, which is just heresy in my book.
Despite all this, I still find Part VIII weirdly entertaining and enjoyable. Its doesn't get boring and should be watched knowing what's about to unfold - a tongue in cheek, 80s as balls silly slasher that has at least two instances of a girl doing extended electric guitar solos - it's better than Part III, fight me.
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986) in Movies
Dec 30, 2020
If you were to show someone who had never watched a Friday the 13th movie, one single film from the franchise, then Part VI would surely be the one. It does everything that this series aims to do so well - it's easy to see why it's such a fan favourite.
Part VI marks the turning point into supernatural territory. Jason is back properly this time, risen from the grave, essentially a zombie, and even more unkillable than he was before. In the entries preceding this one, Jason has always been an imposing figure sure, but this time around C.J. Graham makes him feel like a proper tank (something that would be carried on wholeheartedly by Kane Hodder).
Most of the cast are typical slasher types purely here to up the kill count, but Tommy Jarvis appear once again to round off his trilogy of films, this time played by Thom Mathews, easily the most recognisable and iconic portrayal of the character.
The kills come thick and fast, and although certainly not the bloodiest of the series, it still has some memorable moments (a dude gets folded in half like a deckchair, which is suitably ridiculous) and the general pacing of the movie is well realised.
The comedic tone is just right as well. It's not quite as goofy as Part V, and the humourous parts are genuinely funny. The dumb script just adds to this. The paintball scene is a little too much though, silly music and all.
Talking of music, Harry Manfredini returns to score, and his work continues to be one of the best parts about the franchise.
Jason Lives is a good time, through and through. It's a shining example of what can be great about 80s slashers - it's fun, it's violent, just the right amount of hammy, and is simply one of the best Friday the 13th films out there.
Part VI marks the turning point into supernatural territory. Jason is back properly this time, risen from the grave, essentially a zombie, and even more unkillable than he was before. In the entries preceding this one, Jason has always been an imposing figure sure, but this time around C.J. Graham makes him feel like a proper tank (something that would be carried on wholeheartedly by Kane Hodder).
Most of the cast are typical slasher types purely here to up the kill count, but Tommy Jarvis appear once again to round off his trilogy of films, this time played by Thom Mathews, easily the most recognisable and iconic portrayal of the character.
The kills come thick and fast, and although certainly not the bloodiest of the series, it still has some memorable moments (a dude gets folded in half like a deckchair, which is suitably ridiculous) and the general pacing of the movie is well realised.
The comedic tone is just right as well. It's not quite as goofy as Part V, and the humourous parts are genuinely funny. The dumb script just adds to this. The paintball scene is a little too much though, silly music and all.
Talking of music, Harry Manfredini returns to score, and his work continues to be one of the best parts about the franchise.
Jason Lives is a good time, through and through. It's a shining example of what can be great about 80s slashers - it's fun, it's violent, just the right amount of hammy, and is simply one of the best Friday the 13th films out there.
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988) in Movies
Jan 8, 2021
Fair play to this series, it's took 7 movies to get into telekinesis superpower territory, and it's predictably silly.
Part VII suffers from a few mishaps - like earlier entries such as 3, 4, and 5, it takes a little while to get going. Whereas Part VI was extremely well paced in comparison, this follow up feels like a step back in that regard. Final Girl Tina (Lar Park Lincoln) is kind of Interesting, and has a bit of backstory for padding, but everyone else just kind of sucks. Another bunch of boring unlikable teenagers - a far cry from Tommy Jarvis and Megan from Part VI. Also, The New Blood is yet another 80s horror that fell victim to the MPAA, resulting in an entry that has toned down gore - ashame as that's what half the fun is about!
With all that said, there are a load of positives here as well. The main plus is of course Jason. This is the first film with Kane Hodder under the mask, and it shows. His Jason isn't just intimidating, but takes an absolute beating. Being a stuntman before playing the iconic villain paid off. The final showdown between Tina and Jason is genuinely entertaing as hell. Her powers are more than a match for Jason, and Hodder shows off some astonishing stunt work as he gets set on fire, thrown through a staircase, thrown through the floor, electrocuted, trapped in a house that gets blown the fuck up - it's pretty brutal and it's great to watch. He also looks fantastically gruesome. The make up work and design is top tier, possibly the best Jason appearance wise in the whole franchise.
The final showdown also portrays how fucking absurd Part 7 is - from Jason inexplicably having increasingly exotic weapons in each scene throughout the runtime, to the ridiculous final moment (no spoilers, but it made me laugh out loud with how stupid it is).
Some memorable and creepy shots here and there, paired with another great score by Harry Manfredini also help to make Friday the 13th Part VII a stupidly enjoyable, if hugely flawed slasher. Trashy, but hard not to love.
Part VII suffers from a few mishaps - like earlier entries such as 3, 4, and 5, it takes a little while to get going. Whereas Part VI was extremely well paced in comparison, this follow up feels like a step back in that regard. Final Girl Tina (Lar Park Lincoln) is kind of Interesting, and has a bit of backstory for padding, but everyone else just kind of sucks. Another bunch of boring unlikable teenagers - a far cry from Tommy Jarvis and Megan from Part VI. Also, The New Blood is yet another 80s horror that fell victim to the MPAA, resulting in an entry that has toned down gore - ashame as that's what half the fun is about!
With all that said, there are a load of positives here as well. The main plus is of course Jason. This is the first film with Kane Hodder under the mask, and it shows. His Jason isn't just intimidating, but takes an absolute beating. Being a stuntman before playing the iconic villain paid off. The final showdown between Tina and Jason is genuinely entertaing as hell. Her powers are more than a match for Jason, and Hodder shows off some astonishing stunt work as he gets set on fire, thrown through a staircase, thrown through the floor, electrocuted, trapped in a house that gets blown the fuck up - it's pretty brutal and it's great to watch. He also looks fantastically gruesome. The make up work and design is top tier, possibly the best Jason appearance wise in the whole franchise.
The final showdown also portrays how fucking absurd Part 7 is - from Jason inexplicably having increasingly exotic weapons in each scene throughout the runtime, to the ridiculous final moment (no spoilers, but it made me laugh out loud with how stupid it is).
Some memorable and creepy shots here and there, paired with another great score by Harry Manfredini also help to make Friday the 13th Part VII a stupidly enjoyable, if hugely flawed slasher. Trashy, but hard not to love.