Review of Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984) by Rachel N — 30 Jan 2009

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter.

Directed by Joseph Zeto.

Written by Barney Cohen.

Story by Bruce Hidemi Sakow.

Based on characters created by Martin Kitrosser, Ron Kurz, Victor Miller, Carol Watson.

Starring Corey Feldman, Joan Freeman, Crispin Glover, Kimberly Beck, Erich Anderson, Barbara Howard, Peter Barton, Lawrence Monoson.

It?s interesting to ponder as to whether or not Jason is afflicted by a type of blood lust that compels him to kill or if he is merely an opportunistic killer who takes advantage of whatever is presented to him. He clearly lives in the woods and must wait there patiently for a situation to develop that will allow him to hunt his prey as effectively as possible. He seems to have extra sensory perception that provides him with the ability to track anyone who dares to enter his sacred domain. He knows when they come in and he knows they aren?t ever going out. But what does he get out of his mass killings? It isn?t a sexual thing otherwise he?d be demonstrating a sexual release after each kill. Perhaps it is strictly revenge that motivates him but somehow this urgency has merged with the thrill of the hunt and he is left with nothing but the compulsion to follow his natural imperative.

Again, sexual hunger leads to almost instant death. Several of the characters in this film get it on and then get got. It?s a ubiquitous aspect of this franchise as Jason repeatedly punishes various characters for their sexuality for reasons that remain obscure. Why does he so punish the kids who take their pleasure wherever they find it? Also, he always seems to spare the least sexualized of the girls and they are the only ones who seem able to put up a legitimate fight. They scratch, claw, grab and otherwise keep Jason at bay long enough for something dreadful to happen to him.

In this film, the scope is a bit grander. Other persons are brought into the terror including a ratty little kid named Tommy Jarvis (Feldman), his sister Trish (Beck) and Mother (Freeman). The kids rent a house on Mrs. Jarvis?s property and Jason quickly works his way through each of them. The methods are similar to earlier films but they seem much more graphic and vital this time around. Mostly this has to do with sound which ratchets up the gore quotient in this film. One by one, as per usual, the kids are brutally hacked to pieces for Jason?s great amusement.

The film has a more vivid color scheme than in earlier films. The blood seems more intense and everything in the woods more threatening. There is much more tension and the characters are more developed. It?s the first time in the franchise that the victims feel like actual people rather the ciphers that deserve to have their throats slit or an axe driven into their skulls. Much of this has to do with the inclusion of the character of Tommy. The mere presence of a child seems to create a sense of innocence that rubs off on the other characters. Certainly there are those amongst this lot who are more grating than others and perhaps are more deserving of Jason?s wrath because of it. Still, the film manages to create personalities whose demise is actually felt as something of a loss. The character of Jimmy (Glover) is a case in point. Glover?s character is deeply sympathetic and fully rounded more than any other character has been in this series. His death comes as a shock and a terrible event that elicits legitimate emotion from the audience.

There are genuine moments of terror in this film as Jason systematically slaughters his victims with impunity. The film does a terrific job of setting up the scenes of mayhem as Jason works his way through the group of revelers. Also, the atmosphere creates a sense of imminent danger which has been missing for earlier films in the series. Director Joseph Zito captures all of the necessary ingredients in creating a viable slasher film. The mood is right, the setting is aptly fraught with terrible aspects, and the killings are ingenious and exceedingly well crafted. There?s just enough blood to appease the freaks and the energy is maintained throughout.

Overall, this film does everything it sets out to do. It creates necessary characters who are more fully formed than in films past, the fear factor is truly prevalent and there is a substantial amount of nudity which somehow is used to offset the otherwise brutal nature of the film. It articulates a simple fact that sex makes Jason exceedingly mad and might be a decisive factor in his reign of terror. Still, he exists outside of sex, outside of any human interaction that involves a certain amount of intimacy. He is the eternal other, looking in and not participating in the jokes and joys of other people who seem to have it so easy. It?s not hard to understand Jason?s anguish. He sees the kids happiness and laughter and it pushes him into a strict, venomous rage that he cannot control. He must destroy them because they are so foolishly carefree.