Friday the 13th Part 2

• Produced and Directed by Steve Miner (Directorial Debut)
• May 1, 1981

An unknown stalker is killing a group of camp counselors at a training camp near the infamous Crystal Lake. This sounds familiar.

For an 80s horror movie Friday the 13^th Part 2 does quite a few things very well that set it above the type of film this era of the genre is better known for. It has moments of a distinct unsettling atmosphere and creates a certain vibe early on even if that opening scene is just to get rid of the final girl Alice Hardy (Adrienne King) from the first film. Maybe then it was scarier but right now it is still unnerving.

This sets up relatively likable characters even if their acting is a little questionable. Not all of them are terrible, but some could certainly be better. Then again Steve Miner and pals were clearly aiming for a physically attractive cast since nudity in a horror film was practically a given at this time. Which connects to sex. What 80s movie with teenagers is complete without the unintended warning against promiscuous sex? Sex or the possibility thereof is a sure sign someone’s going to get killed in almost any Friday the 13^th movie.

It also engages in some other very 80s horror things. There are moments when there should be obvious signs of death and destruction and a character completely misses them just so a particular character can react to a corpse. I do not think Jason would ever engaged in some quick cleaning to surprise somebody.

Friday the 13^th Part 2 is certainly a very 80s film. Unlike some, this is more of a glimpse of life in the time. From clothing to a very clunky handheld game that some of the camp counselors, play you see what it was like then. This is not something that tried too hard to convince you these were cool kids or decided to engage in heavy product placement.

We have an attempt at social consciousness with disabled camp counselor Mark (Tom McBride) that is completely undermined by killing him. Maybe because I grew up in the time, but I felt so many shows and movies included something like this. You could also look at it as a very early attempt at diversity in cast or even representation even though McBride could walk in real life. I like his kill though. It’s a little dark humor and a little shocking.

Even though I lived it it’s still a surprising fact to me that a character known for wearing a hockey mask does not get the hockey mask right away in the series. Jason (Warrington Gillette unmasked and Steve Daskewisz masked) runs around largely wearing a burlap sack. Effective but also a little disappointing considering what he’s best known for now.

You actually care about the characters. These aren’t the stereotype of the ones that you’re waiting to see how they die. You’re actually kind of concerned about most of their fates. This avoids the trope which would occur later on (and did so before) where the cast was designed for you to cheer on their deaths like spectators at a gladiatorial contest. The gore is relatively mild. It’s mostly blood after a quick shot of a slice. Those lingering bits of grossness we get are mostly when Jason burst through the window and the girl. The camera goes into slow motion and you see the machete in his left shoulder.

I do question the make-up then. Jason looks less scary and more like an inbred hillbilly than he does deformed. Then again, this was his first unmasked cinematic appearance. Less is almost always more. What the audience can dream up is generally better than what those making a project come up with. A better move would have been to hint rather display.

Friday the 13^th Part 2 is a great film of the slasher genre. Maybe not as scary today but it works more often than it doesn’t and is a must see for horror fans.