It is now years after the events of Friday the 13th and audiences have become completely accustomed to what Jason Voorhees (and his mother) are capable of. A group of friends, at a location all too familiar to audiences, has set out to have some fun (both sexual and drug related) at the start of the summer. As the teens begin to enjoy themselves Jason (Richard Brooker) begins to terrorize the camp and make them regret the fact that they have come here to have some fun. Potentially, for one final time, Jason terrorizes these campers, and these campers will fight back, hoping to regain any sort of symmetry in their lives.
We are three films in, and Friday the 13th Part III is next in line to frighten audiences and continue the story of the terrifying Jasonn Voorhees. One should think that after two complete films, now developing the third, filmmakers would be wise to what frightens audiences and figure out how to use that to their benefit. Director Steve Minor, who is back for a second time, and writers Martin Kitrosser and Carol Warson, fail to move forward from what had taken place in the first two films, and creates a product very similar to the first two. The results from the first two films are great, but there comes a time when a franchise needs to make changes and give audiences a chance to start fresh and, in some ways, erase the past.
It is always exciting when films make references back to the earlier installments of the franchise, and there is one particular scene in Friday the 13th Part III that makes reference to the original installment. The writers and Minor make a major callback to the infamous snake scene from the first installment of the Friday the 13th franchise. This particular scene (considering the fact that I’m terrified of snakes), chilled me to the bone, and bringing it back up two years later, I am sure, brought chills to audiences once again.
It seems that Minor wanted to change things up a bit and branch out, and, like I said, it seems that it is time to do so. Minor, however, seems to take steps backward rather than move forward with his production and with the story. He introduces characters that run parallel (but eventually perpendicular) to Jason, in an attempt to intrigue audiences and find new ways to develop his story. Minor introduces a group that audiences might consider gang members, and these gang members are primarily black. These gang members appear both racists and take away from the plot. There seems to be some novelty when introducing the first black characters in the Friday the 13th series. I can’t blame the writers for feeling some type of way about expanding their cast and introducing new characters, but the fact that these particular characters take the role of bad guys is a bit racist and underwhelming. Furthermore, the audience finds the introduction of characters that play little role in the actual plot to be a bit cumbersome and overwhelming.
In a film that tries to compete with its predecessors and branch out at the same time, Friday the 13th Part III fails to deliver and leaves audiences on a veritable island as they try to comprehend what director Minor tries to accomplish. Audiences feel incredibly underwhelmed with what Minor does and feels as if he both veers from the parts that are important, but clings to the aspects that need to be changed. Friday the 13th Part III does not live up to the hype of the first two films, but it does enough for audiences to consider it relevant amongst the ranks of the demented horror films of the ‘70’s and ‘80’s. I am less than impressed with the overall product, but I cannot say that Minor completely missed the mark.
Comments