Movie Review: Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)

It's 5 years after the massacre at Camp Crystal Lake when Mrs. Voorhees lost her head, and quite literally too, and murdered a group of counselors trying to re-open the summer camp where her son Jason died by drowning over 20 years previously. Or did he?

A new group of counselors is setting up shop at the summer camp next door to the now mythical Camp Blood. Campfire tales abound about what happened to young Jason as his body was apparently never found, and what he might be like if he did survive. Well questions will be answered as someone is stalking the counselors.

Released just short of a year after the first Friday the 13th movie and several months before Halloween 2, they were in a hurry to take advantage of not only the success of the first film but also the burgeoning slasher craze they set off. Amazingly with that short of a turnaround they aren't lacking anything in this follow up.

In an unusual twist in sequels, this is actually better than the first film. Right off the bat what it has going for it is a more threatening killer. Mrs. Voorhees was just too ridiculous of a killer in the first one to believe she did all of that. The Jason character is a natural extension of the first film and bringing him into the series kicks off a litany of sequels for which this film is responsible.

Part 2 connects with the viewer more in not only having some actual characters on screen compared to the cardboard cutouts they used in the first film but in working more of the summer camp experience into the story. The campfire story, swimming at the beach and a hike through the woods are just some of the story elements that will strike a chord with anyone who as been to summer camp. Many of the elements that became staples with the rest of the sequels including the late night skinny dip are here as well.

And as I mentioned, the more threatening presence that Jason is. Early on he stalks, like any good psycho/slasher kinda guy does (it's in the rulebook), but is not fully revealed in costume until later. But the moment Jason is shown in full attire, mask included, is an unforgettable and scream inducing moment.

Better characters, more tension, more connection with the audience, a more threatening killer, and arm clenching scare scenes make for an all around better movie and one of the more, if not the most, influential slasher films on future slashers to be made.

I do recommend this film.

Get Friday the 13th Part 2 on DVD, Blu-ray or Instant Video

Check out: That Handheld Game in Friday the 13th Part 2