Summer of slashers continues at CotF. ![]()
Back in the beloved 80s, the slasher film enjoyed it's best days. In the earlier part of the decade, there had been a rebirth of 3D in the cinema. We were "treated" to the likes of Jaws 3D, Amityville 3D (which I haven't seen) and one in particular that I have seen many, many times: Friday the 13th Part 3D, as it was originally called. By no means a masterpiece of the genre, Part 3 can take solace in being one of the best horror films to be in 3D. The film has for sure, one of my favourite posters of all time, and how could one not like it? Friday the 13th IS an 80s franchise. The first two were released in the 80s, but they had a 70s-80s transitory feel to them, though they ultimatley come out 80s. Regardless, when one views part 3, they will see the 80s more than in the previous two films. Of course, the 80s was not yet in full swing and was still establishing itself as a decade, much like the young slasher film was establishing it's rules. Somewhere between Part 2 and 3, the rules were truly set. Smoking pot, having sex, being mean in any way, these things bought you a ticket to being viciously murdered.
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Back in the beloved 80s, the slasher film enjoyed it's best days. In the earlier part of the decade, there had been a rebirth of 3D in the cinema. We were "treated" to the likes of Jaws 3D, Amityville 3D (which I haven't seen) and one in particular that I have seen many, many times: Friday the 13th Part 3D, as it was originally called. By no means a masterpiece of the genre, Part 3 can take solace in being one of the best horror films to be in 3D. The film has for sure, one of my favourite posters of all time, and how could one not like it? Friday the 13th IS an 80s franchise. The first two were released in the 80s, but they had a 70s-80s transitory feel to them, though they ultimatley come out 80s. Regardless, when one views part 3, they will see the 80s more than in the previous two films. Of course, the 80s was not yet in full swing and was still establishing itself as a decade, much like the young slasher film was establishing it's rules. Somewhere between Part 2 and 3, the rules were truly set. Smoking pot, having sex, being mean in any way, these things bought you a ticket to being viciously murdered.
Part 3 commits a sin that early Friday films were notorious for: Showing the end of the previous movie. Somehow, given that these films were meant to be viewed just once, I forgive it. The opening credits begin, in tacky 3D and with creepy disco music, something that today is just funny. The film opens around a convenience store, where Jason is hiding after the murders of part 2. Here, the movie is really slow in getting started as it takes Jason forever to murder the husband and wife owners. Finally they are murdered and we meet a new group of teens. Up for slaughter, among others, is Shelly the nerd, his room mate Andy, the room mate's pregnant girlfriend, Debbie (this caused controversy back in 82) and a spoof of Tommy Chong. We even get to see a gang of bikers offed at one point. With the Chong character on board, It quickly becomes obvious that marijuana plays a more prominent role in this third film than in the previous two. Rarely does a scene go by with this character not smoking a joint.
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Obligatory "final girl" Chris Higgins takes them all up to her cottage, "Higgins Haven" where she meets her boyfriend Rick, a character who is reserved to handle the film's worst dialogue. He succeeds. Obviously, the kids are all knocked off one by one and the J man even acquires his trademark hockey mask in the process. While her friends are being stabbed, speared in the eye or stomach, electrocuted, or having a knife shoved through their throat, Chris tells Rick of an earlier time when she was attacked and possibly raped, in one of the creepiest scenes in cinematic history, or at least in the 80s. Too bad it is a flashback sequence. Or maybe too good. Rick is killed of course, and the final chase scene lives up to expectations. Tense, relentless and full of energy, it's all over too quickly. Jason is dead and Chris is the only survivor. After a horrifying dream sequence, we see Chris has gone mental. Completley, in her most convincing piece of acting throughout the flick. A total nervous wreck.
The quality of film in part 3 is poor, probably due to the 3D process. The main fault I have with this otherwise perfect slasher entry is that the pre-murder pacing scenes are somewhat drawn out. It often takes Jason too long to murder these little bastards. It's not annoying to the point we'll see in some other films, but is noticabley longer than in 1 and 2. The film contains a few pointless and dull scenes that only beef up the running time. An alternate ending was filmed in which Jason decapitates Chris and emerges victorious, but that is now considered lost footage. What I would give to see that.
I haven't nearly as much to say about this chapter as I do about the next two, 3 just doesn't have as much fun trivia behind it as the others. Virtually everything in this movie is a step down from 1 and 2 and for that, it is worse than it's predecessors, but still better than Avatar. Richard Brooker fills the bill as Jason, and at the end of the day thats what we want. So, to this movie I rate: THREE STARS OUT OF FIVE
Obligatory "final girl" Chris Higgins takes them all up to her cottage, "Higgins Haven" where she meets her boyfriend Rick, a character who is reserved to handle the film's worst dialogue. He succeeds. Obviously, the kids are all knocked off one by one and the J man even acquires his trademark hockey mask in the process. While her friends are being stabbed, speared in the eye or stomach, electrocuted, or having a knife shoved through their throat, Chris tells Rick of an earlier time when she was attacked and possibly raped, in one of the creepiest scenes in cinematic history, or at least in the 80s. Too bad it is a flashback sequence. Or maybe too good. Rick is killed of course, and the final chase scene lives up to expectations. Tense, relentless and full of energy, it's all over too quickly. Jason is dead and Chris is the only survivor. After a horrifying dream sequence, we see Chris has gone mental. Completley, in her most convincing piece of acting throughout the flick. A total nervous wreck.
The quality of film in part 3 is poor, probably due to the 3D process. The main fault I have with this otherwise perfect slasher entry is that the pre-murder pacing scenes are somewhat drawn out. It often takes Jason too long to murder these little bastards. It's not annoying to the point we'll see in some other films, but is noticabley longer than in 1 and 2. The film contains a few pointless and dull scenes that only beef up the running time. An alternate ending was filmed in which Jason decapitates Chris and emerges victorious, but that is now considered lost footage. What I would give to see that.
I haven't nearly as much to say about this chapter as I do about the next two, 3 just doesn't have as much fun trivia behind it as the others. Virtually everything in this movie is a step down from 1 and 2 and for that, it is worse than it's predecessors, but still better than Avatar. Richard Brooker fills the bill as Jason, and at the end of the day thats what we want. So, to this movie I rate: THREE STARS OUT OF FIVE
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