Friday the 13th: Part 3

This will always be my personal favorite out of the Friday the 13 th saga. Is it the scariest? Well, it has it's moments, but all in all it ranks as perhaps the lightest of the series. Is it the bloodiest? No, not by a long shot, though it had some pretty snazzy death scenes to it. So, why is this one my favorite? I like this one because it seems to be the most self-aware of what it is. It knew that nobody really cared about the story, nobody really cared about the plot, people just wanted to see bodies rack up in overly elaborate death scenes. Originally filmed in 3-D to coincide with the failed early 80's attempt to re-popularize the technique, the films standout shots are hokey to the max and all the more endearing. Overall this is probably what makes this the most fun entry of the series.

But, let's back up a bit.

Actually, wait, do we really need to go over the plot of this? I mean, look at it this way: this is a Friday the 13 th movie, and in 3-D no less. Does plot really matter when you have such a combination? Well, for those of you who do care about the plot, we got a bus load of teens/20-somethings going up to a farm on the other side of Crystal Lake for the summer, some pissed off local bikers, Jason, and a whole lot of blood. You'll see the sole surviving female coming from a mile away so there's no real surprise there, so instead of bogging ourselves down with further plot contrivances and nuances, let's get down to what makes this movie so damn fun.

First off, the cast is top notch among the casts of the Friday the 13 th films. There are very few generic characters in the mix and very few characters who seem to be screaming out that they want to die. Sure, it does go by the standard conventions of all stoners, sluts, jerks and practical jokers meeting quick and brutal demises, but they play their parts with surprising levels of sincerity that puts them a notch above the standard Friday the 13 th film that tends to look embarrassed to be in the movie (even though star Dana Kimmell has since denounced her part in the film based on her religious beliefs, she does not count since as the trend of the sole surviving female goes, she's dull as a fence post.) Larry Zerner has a particularly endearing role as practical joker Shelley, a guy who does not have a great amount of self esteem or people skills and uses jokes to get attention, even though in the end he winds up paying for "crying wolf."

But, the standout of this movie is without a doubt Richard Brooker's take on the masked serial killer Jason Voorhees. A former circus performer and professional stuntman, Brooker brings a great amount of energy to the killer, who had in Part 2 seemed to be a slow, Michael Myers wannabe. His Jason is fast, brutal and adds a great amount of character to the role unseen until Kane Hodder took the reins four sequels later. His more stout, stronger build than Steve Dash in Part 2 allows for his trademark brute strength to shine through better than ever. And of course, this is the one where Jason gains the trademark that all filmgoers, fan or not, know and know well: his hockey mask (the constant groove gouged in the top of the mask visible in all other sequels is also explained, but that I leave for you to find out.)

And what would a Friday the 13 th film be without dozens of creative deaths at the hands of Mr. Voorhees? Given that most of the deaths were designed to take full advantage of the 3-D technology, they are all delightfully over the top and add more to Jason's style than his previous standard stalk and slash technique. Spears fly at the screen, eyes pop out of heads and in this humble author's personal favorite death, a guy is cut in half while walking on his hands. Some of these things you have to see to believe, let me tell you.

Friday the 13 th Part 3-D is a unique beast; it's easily the most fun of the entire series, still knows how to put in a few scares and ultimately has some of the coolest death scenes. Not the greatest, that I'm willing to admit, but easily a personal favorite.