Jason Lives: Friday the 13th Part VI

Now I have a confession to make, I dont like these movies, for the most part I think they kinda suck. I love Slasher movies but The Friday The 13th franchise I have never been much of a fan of. The original film isn't even all that good to be honest and just feels like a poor imitation of John Carpenter's Halloween which is a far better movie. Jason Lives, the sixth entry in the franchise is a surprisingly good film, I got no idea how it took them 6 movies for them to finally make a good one but they did and it's a blast.

I love this one because it doesn't try to be a serious slasher like the original and some of the sequels did. They knew this franchise was trash when they made this movie and just went for it and made the most entertaining Jason movie you can watch. This is the film to watch around Halloween time or on any upcoming Friday the 13th's lol.

Maybe even the most entertaining of the sequels, part VI is the last one to be good, and should have been the last one in general. Like previous ones, there are some memorable scenes, and it is a lot gorier than the one before. Also, much more interesting kills. There are some funny scenes too, but not enough to be considered a comedy, which is a good thing in this case. Unlike previous few endings, this one was pretty good!

I love the Friday the 13th series, and after watching them all countless times over the years I have to say that Part 6 is my all time favorite, plain and simple, it is just awesome. Tom McLoughlin (he did another favorite of mine, One Dark Night) does an excellent job directing and really piles on the atmosphere (the opening shot of the misty forest is creepy) and Thom Mathews is the best actor to play Tommy because he is very heroic, attempting to save the lives of those around him and trying to kill Jason once and for all. Jennifer Cooke is appealing as the blonde (aren't they always blonde?) lead girl and CJ Graham's Jason is, plain and simple, awesome. Full of thrills, action, humor, gore murders, and Jason, what more could you ask for? This one is the best, no doubt about it.

From its spectacular, squirm-in-your-seat opening to its exciting finale, "Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives" delivers. Still haunted by his killing of the masked maniac two films ago, our hero Tommy Jarvis (Thom Mathews) ventures to Jason Voorhees' grave just to be sure he's really dead. When a lightning bolt strikes the metal fence post Tommy uses to puncture the corpse, Jason is resurrected (remind you of someone?) and ready to hack his way through another terrified group of campers and innocent bystanders. But with no one ready to believe that Jason is indeed back, it again falls to Tommy to put evil in its place.

The "Friday the 13th" series got back on track with this installment following a Jason-less fifth entry that remains a bitter disappointment for many horror buffs. Director Tom McLoughlin struck a magnificent balance between breathing a new life into the franchise and maintaining the look and feel of what fans have come to expect. The picture is fast-paced, smart and, at times, legitimately scary. Jason suddenly seems more evil and terrifying given his newfound strength as a member of the Walking Dead Club. McLoughlin's oft-praised attempts at humor are rarely successful, but at least he chose (wisely) not to mock the zombified star, as the most recent Jason films have.

"Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives" is not Hitchcock, but it is a highly-entertaining effort that never once reveals its low-budget limitations. Horror fans and those looking for a good scare will be pleased.

After the utter bust that was New Beginning the franchise finds its feet again and brings Jason Voorhees back from the dead starting a new chapter in his iconic rise to stardom.

Tommy Jarvis returns this time played by Thom Mathews (Who I can't take seriously after Return Of The Living Dead 1 & 2). Sadly it in no way explains his actions at the end of the last film, you'd think that'd be the first thing they'd address.

In a weird opening sequence Jason is resurrected and you guessed it, goes on a killing spree. Returning to Camp Crystal Lake Tommy seeks to end Jason once and for all! A blend of the early movies and the messy last chapter this is certainly a return to form even if it is nothing special.

With a dodgy opening sequence and daft closing scene the film is badly flawed but gets by with it's vintage Jason style killing action.

The Good:

Some interesting kills

Undead Jason > Living Jason

The Bad:

Weirdly comedic in places

Doesn't explain what happened since the last film

Ridiculous opening

Not that well made in places

All this recasting for the lead is very damaging

Things I Learnt From This Movie:

The groundskeeper is a farthead