This will contain SPOILERS!
So the movie begins with a nice montage of the events of the first 3 movies, tied together by Paul's telling of the tale from Part 2.
I think it works really well to get the audience up to speed and showcases some of the more interesting deaths. I'm not too keen on the explosion when the subtitle appears but that is something that they've been doing since Part 2 I think.
We then pick up directly from the events of Part 3 with Jason's body being packed off to the morgue. I really like the lingering shot in silence on the barn after all the emergency services have left. After all the events that went on there it is now back to being just a barn.
The hospital sequence has become a bit of a horror trope, especially for sequels. The killer wakes up in the morgue to continue his killing spree in a new location. Most recently it has been used in See No Evil 2 (2014) and a similar situation in Cold Prey 2 (2008). Even Michael Myers went to a hospital in Halloween 2 (1981) (although making his own way there) but that preceded this movie.
The first death of the film is pretty impressive. Axel the Coroner has his neck cut into by a bonesaw and then wrenched around. The second death of Nurse Morgan is less effective, it is pretty much just a stabbing while Jason holds her up. He does seem to then try to cut her in half with the scalpel but the scene ends abruptly.
After this detour we are back on familiar territory. Lakeside with horny teens but this time we also have a family thrown in.
The first notable character is Tommy Jarvis, most likely now because it is Corey Feldman. It is the first time I think we have a child in the main cast. I've always like Feldman he never comes across as an annoying child actor. His reactions at watching Sam and Paul through the window seems pretty authentic of a kid that age, excited to watch but not quite knowing how to express it.
After this we meet another familiar face, Jimmy played by Crispin Glover. He is lamenting his poor track record with women.
The group stop to check directions to see a very clear gravestone for one Pamela Voorhees. I do wonder who erected this, I don't think it would have been Jason. Also is it complete, is the head we see in part 2 now in there?
Jimmy is accompanied by 5 friends so our pool of victims is building nicely. Ted seems like a bit of a cock, I did find his computer impression pretty amusing though.
They do also run into a hitchhiker who is quickly dispatched by Jason for kill number 3. It's a bit dull but I guess stabbing through the neck from behind harks back to Kevin Bacon's death in the first movie.
The group then run into twins Terri and Tina with Jimmy and Ted seeing the possibilities. It seems like Jimmy does eventually join in with the skinny dipping as we see him stripping down just before Trish and Tommy arrive (what is it with this movie and characters beginning with T?)
Sam's trick on Sara is pretty good as we have seen deaths below piers before in the series and her eyes as she float by are pretty effective. It does seem, especially when it is used for Rob Dier's arrival, that the violin screeching is being used at every opportunity.
Dier is interesting, he clearly has a mission from the beginning, showing great interest for who is around the lake. I do like his interactions with Tommy. He seems really impressed with Tommy's masks and Tommy enjoys showing off his kit.
Jimmy's dancing must be the most played clip from this movie. I think it works and makes sense, it is clearly music only he is into by the reaction of the others. I imagine that is how he dances to it on his own in his room, rocking out. Terri doesn't seem to mind and joins in to some degree. He also shows he can do the slow numbers later on.
It does make it odd that in the next scene he is looking so glum in the kitchen. He does come off as a bit of a cock when he moans to Ted that he didn't get "the hot one", of the twins. Though I am glad he finally shuts Ted up, shoving his computer shtick back in his face.
He does end up going upstairs with "the hot one" Tina. I guess once Paul leaves to seek out Tina she just goes of the next guy who was being shown female attention.
Sam has decided to go for a swim on her own (I am not complaining) leaving Paul to Tina. It's been about 25 minutes but death number 4 is ok, we know Jason is going to pop up, I guess bringing the knife from below makes it a bit different as does Sam's face. The discovery isn't particularly well done as it could have give us a chance a great reveal. The fifth killing, of Paul, is at least a bit memorable as Jason decides to fire a harpoon gun point blank into his crotch.
Dier goes investigating the scream carrying a machete. I couldn't help thinking this might not end well for him given that is Jason's now iconic weapon. But death number six turns out to be Terri, killed in silhouette and then pushed against a door. It's a crappy death.
Quickly following this Tommy's mum Tracy (more T's) goes out in the rain to search for their dog. It's dark and it's raining and she doesn't even take a flashlight. I can't remember when or if she dies at this point so I am going to guess her surprise is the dog is dead.
Like mother like daughter Trish also goes for a wander in the rain without a light. It makes even less sense with her as she gets to Dier's tent and just stops, I don't she really went looking for her mother at all. Dier decides to ruin his own tent assuming Jason has to be the one sitting there perhaps with a wig on. I had to go back to find out who Dier's sister was, she was the one that got turned into a kebab with her boyfriend Jeff while having sex in Part 2.
Continued in Part 2.....
