Review of Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981) by Clem666 — 17 May 2021

This movie starts right at the end of the last one. We can count on some flash-backs to help us to relocate events and characters. I found it really cool that it involves same characters, same locations, same roads. Whatsoever the overall spirit and atmosphere of the film almost did not change that much. We can clearly imagine how cheesy this movie will be when we see the title of the movie explode in the most pathetic way possible.

Let's pursue on the good points! This 80's atmosphere is amazing. The soundtrack is terrific. It is very often too much with these shrill violins but yeah, I love it. They kind of made an effort when they tried to create characters that were not all gigantic clichés. A lot of them are really likeable and interesting. At least they had some potential. Thanks to the soundscape, the scenes are as intense as they can be silly and boring to create the endless crescendo of events that this film ends up being. Eventually we know a bit more about Jason's life and goals.

Now let's switch to the inconvenients. Hard to know where to start. There are way too many vulgar and perverted shots. Nothing but a flat plot can explain so much nudity and voyeurism. There is something really indelicate and uncomfortable about seeing all these young women undressing. I know hormones are playing a rough game at that age but wow I felt like I was watching something like 'American Pie' sometimes! There are a lot of couples at the start and those who are not always find a way to get laid. As I wrote I think some characters had an amazing potential that is absolutely not used. It's a shame. Some people are only defined by their huge sexual appetite. I've said enough about the omnipresent over-sexualization of the characters. But not enough about the average IQ level of this bunch of teenagers. There are several situations in which they are as dumb as a rock. First of all Jason always manages to get surprisingly close to them without they notice it. It's not that discreet though! Nor that fast. However we see him numerous times in this film, surely way too often and randomly. The concepts of space and time are totally distorted as everyone (especially Jason) is able to reach any place in record time. Murders happen so quickly that they become laughable.

In conclusion this movie takes back the formula of the first one but with more mistakes and clumsiness. The end (no spoil) is literally the same.