Review of Jason Lives - Friday the 13th Part VI (1986) by [J.a.m] — 15 Feb 2009

I have to admit, I think this movie is pretty funny and it's probably my favorite from the series. Don't get me wrong, it's completly dumb but it's not mean-spirited like other entries in the series and it's definately fun.

After the movie's awesome opening sequence (which references another long-lasting movie series) the audience is introduced to a guy and a girl who seem like typical dead teens driving to Camp Crystal Lake (now renamed "Camp Forrest Green", to distance itself from the previous murders). Then, something strange happens - the girl driving hits the brakes abruptly. Her boyfriend inquires as to why she did this. Her answer is surprisingly smart for a movie like this: "Because I've seen enough horror movies to know that mask-wielding psychopaths are never friendly". Sure enough, Jason Vorhees is standing in front of them, machete in hand, looking menacing. I won't reveal how this scene plays out (you can probably determine the outcome), but I have to give the characters credit for displaying some thought patterns that are more sophisticated than the average teenage meatbag in slasher flicks.

Don't think that this movie is "Scream" with the plot of "Friday the 13th" because it's humor is a lot different. Honestly, I'd say it's kind of like a hybrid between your typical "Friday the 13th" flick and "Evil Dead 2" minus the latter movie's surrealism and the former movie's gruesome death scenes.

The two main characters are surprisingly sympathetic too - I believe it's the first time I've watched a Jason flick and didn't want a character to die. Thom Matthews and Jennifer Cooke have some good chemistry together (not exactly great, but it's a mile ahead of other movies in its genre) and there's some solid gags in here that make this movie a fun watch. I do have to admit that the movie really runs out of steam by the time the heroes return to Crystal Lake, but it's a great way to rejuvinate the series after the mean-spirited and overly-serious "A New Beginning".

Still, Jason fans might be a bit disappointed by the lack of inventive and brutal death scenes and the movie's more light-hearted and humorous tone.