breakdownthatfilm-blogspot-com
It's one thing when a franchise becomes successful because of a formula. It's another to repeat that formula into submission and bring nothing new into the equation. The original Friday the 13th (1980) was not spectacular storytelling but it did captivate its audience with a character's mysterious past. Sure it was ripping off John Carpenter's Halloween (1978) but it was a flattering gesture towards it. Friday the 13th Part II (1981) although not exactly keeping its continuity together, managed to continue the story of Jason Voorhees to some degree. Friday the 13th Part III (1982) lazily rehashed the concept again. The only thing making it pop out was literally all of its 3D gags it had to offer. Friday the 13th Part IV: The Final Chapter (1984) attempted to bring fresh blood to the table but ultimately did nothing new at all. What exactly was this series trying to accomplish? There has been no story development on Jason Voorhees since the second sequel. Apparently nobody saw the downhill slope this franchise traveled because it happened again.Picking up several years after the last entry, Tommy who killed Jason Voorhees is now grown up (John Shepherd) but still scarred from his encounter with the masked assailant. After being relocated to a more liberal asylum that allows its patients outdoors owned by Pam (Melanie Kinnaman), people begin dying off again and Shepherd thinks Jason has returned. While this occurs the local sheriff (Marco St. John) thinks Jason is around as well although there are several other suspects that could be doing the killing, including a crazy neighbor named Ethel (Carol Locatell). As much as this could be interesting because almost all the characters are mental patients, nothing is ever done with them. The screenplay was written by Martin Kitrosser, David Cohen and Danny Steinmann, who also directed. One would think someone would know what to do with these characters, especially Martin Kitrosser who wrote for Friday the 13th Part III (1982) and Friday the 13th Part IV: The Final Chapter (1984). Not one character gets the attention they deserve.Corey Feldman who played Tommy from the first film is credit as appearing. He's only in one scene and that's it. This doesn't develop the current state Tommy is in. All audiences will get is that Voorhees haunts him. Why? No reason is given. John Shepherd as the older Tommy barely says anything and at one point vanishes for a good portion too. Assisting Pam attend to the patients is another boy named Reggie "the Reckless" played by Shavar Ross who doesn't add much either. He's probably the most likable of the cast but he's not given much to work with. Melanie Kinnaman as Pam is another waste of time. All she does is show up for the finale pretty much. There are a bunch of other cast members to the list but none of them stand out because they are by the numbers fodder for the killer. None of the dialog is witty, clever or memorable at any level. If Danny Steinmann wrote for Savage Streets (1984) and Martin Kitrosser was the script supervisor for big budget productions that belong to Quentin Tarantino like Pulp Fiction (1994), why isn't that quality here?Even for gore hounds this film is a disappointment. Understandably the first submission to the MPAA was bound have cuts but this entry barely shows a thing. All other films before it had some level of explicitness to it. Here, much of the kills are off screen hardly showing a thing. It's not that entertaining when characters are so poorly written and all a viewer is betting on is how good the violence will be and it's not even shown. There's a nice scene where Jason Voorhees gets attacked briefly but in the end it doesn't make a whole lot of sense either. Playing Jason was stunt man Tom Morga. This was Morga's only time playing Jason and for how he portrayed the character it was okay but nothing distinguishable. Many times its just Morga holding his machete up in the air for dramatic effect. Morga is better known for doing stunts in numerous films such as Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982), Ghostbusters (1984), Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (1985), The Texas Chain Saw Massacre 2 (1986), and Spider-Man (2002).The cinematography by Stephen L. Posey is possibly the only real credible aspect to this picture. Not a whole lot works here but Posey manages to at least keep the picture looking somewhat decent. When the shots are during the daytime, the picture is clear. Even the shots during the night hours have decent lighting so the viewer can see what is going on. Posey has done work on other horror films like Bloody Birthday (1981) and Slumber Party Massacre (1982). Shockingly not even returning composer Harry Manfredini's film score could save this entry. Although the full scores did not receive different treatments in themes, fans could always rely on Manfredini bringing back the iconic sound of the original film. Oddly enough Manfredini did not do that. The main theme sounds in the same vein as the original but sounds very sloppy this time around and it's a bit off putting. The assumption could be that because the title had "a new beginning" in it, Manfredini needed to make a slightly new theme? Why bother though, if a sequel is this bad, keep the good stuff.Camera-work is adequate for the entry but nothing else is here. The actors and their performances are as forgettable as they come. The music is bizarrely different from past film scores despite it being the same composer. The story doesn't make sense and the gore almost is non existent.
ironhorse_iv
Set in the year, 1989, the film follows the recurring character from 1984's 'Friday the 13th: the Final Chapter', Tommy Jarvis, now played by John Shepherd. All grew up and still constantly afraid that Jason (Tom Morga) would return. Tommy tries to set up a new life, after spending most of his, in mental health institution. However, his sanity begins to slip away again, as new series of brutal murders have been occurring by a mask killer at his halfway house, who seem to want Tommy dead. Is it a copycat killer, or is Jason really back from the dead!? Watch the movie to find out! Without spoiling the movie, too much, while "Friday the 13th: A New Beginning" seem tamer than the other films, it was very surprising to see, how much gratuitous nudity & violence, there were in this film! Honestly, what was the point of the minor character like the waitress, Lana (Rebecca Wood) flashing her boobs at us!? I don't mind it, but be a little cleverer on how you show sex, movie! Also, some of the murders like the punks, doesn't make a lick of sense, after seeing who the killer is, in the end. What did the killer have against Pete Muldrow (Corey Parker) & Vinnie Manalo (Anthony Barrile)!? Does he hates 1950's greasers!? Also, how did the killer find a similar mask with the same axe mark that to Chrissy Higgins (Dana Kimmel) put there in "Friday the 13th: Part III'!? Aside from its violence, the film has become known for notorious production problems with director fighting with actors, MPAA forcing cuts to sex scenes, and backstage frequent drug use. It must had been a stressful movie to film. Still, much contrary to popular belief, 1985's "A New Beginning" was not a box office bomb, as it did well in theaters. However, it was nowhere near as popular as the last four installment. In my opinion, this movie in the 'Friday the 13th' film series was in a no-win situation at the time. Movie critics hates it for its familiar, yet tiresome concept of rebellion teenagers getting murder by a hockey mask assailant, yet die-hard fans of the slasher franchise really hate this movie for departing from the Camp Crystal Lake setting and allowing somebody else to take on the mantle of the killer. It's lose-lose situation. Still, in my opinion, this film directed by Danny Steinmann, is surprising, not that bad as people think it is. I really don't dislike this movie as much as the others. Don't get me wrong, the movie, is nowhere near good, but I do enjoy few horror ideas, it was presenting, like how it was just continuing, what was establish, by 1984's 'Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter' and the previous movies, rather than killing the film series off, with contradiction and film inaccuracies like 1986's 'Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives' did. Another, was adding more suspense and mystery. It wasn't prediction, who the killer was, this film. So, it made it a lot more thrilling to watch. Plus, the murderer was a lot more creative with the kills, in this movie. That was one thing, missing in the previous three installments. It felt like, in those movies, the slash and dices moments were use too repetitive. Also, I know, it's a bit nitpicking, but how in the hell, does the murderer travel around, so fast and knows where everybody is? Does he have teleporting powers, now or something? It's just seem odd. Despite that, the characters/victims in this film, were a lot more likable, as they were given a little more character development here. Seeing some of them, get hack off, left some emotional impact on me. However, I would like to see, more recurring characters like Tommy's older sister, Trish (Kimberly Beck), Chrissy Higgins or better yet, Ginny Field (Amy Steel). After all, 1982's 'Friday the 13th Part 3' was supposed to center around in mental institution to which she'd been committed due to emotional trauma. However, actress Steel declined to return, and the concept was shelved, until now. Yet, the psychological aspect of the film still didn't work for me. All of the flashbacks and dreams used in the film, seem more cheesy than scary. The film was originally written to have Corey Feldman as the star, reprising the role of Tommy Jarvis. However, he was already working on 1986's 'The Goonies', therefore the script was rewritten to have Feldman's appearance limited to a cameo. Still, John Shepard acting was alright for the most part. He really challenge, mentally disturb, well. I also, love the secret changes that they did with the music cords of the 'Friday the 13th' theme song. It was a great nod of foreshadowing. The ending twist of the film was a bit disappointing, but you kinda knew it was coming. Overall: I have to say the movie is mediocre at best. Not awful, but not good. In the end, it's no movie to really die over for.
