Sometimes magic is hard to recreate. It feels like we’ve been living in this age of sequels and reboots for decades now. Every now and again, you get those types of movies which are just astonishingly good that create an appetite for more. Unfortunately, the studios know that appetite as well. They see how much a movie can make and they instantly try to recreate that history. Heck, even what got us Friday the 13th in particular was actually the success of 1978’s Halloween. The first entry into the Friday the 13th franchise still stands as one of the greats within the slasher genre. Legacy aside, the film was a major success for the studio. 11 months after Pamela Voorhees terrorized Camp Crystal Lake – the franchise set its’ sights towards new victims.

Fast forward five years after the events of the first film. Friday the 13th: Part Two tells the story of multiple camp counselors coming to train for their summer responsibilities at a neighboring camp near Crystal Lake. I really want to emphasize that this cast has multiple counselors at once. Throughout the duration of its’ short ninety minutes, the first two acts we spend the majority of the time with roughly a dozen teenagers. Towards the transition from act two to three, the group eventually splits into two groups of six. Given the vastness of the cast and the short runtime – there’s virtually no time at all to develop these characters. Even the final victims that end up facing off against the new franchise murderer, Jason Voorhees. We’re left with no reason why we should root for them? Is it because Ginny Fields is what the genre calls the “final girl”? Is that the only reason I should care if she lives or dies?

Honestly, the feminine element of this movie is one of two major driving forces for it. The opening sequence showcases how the survivor of its predecessor, played by Adrienne King, is coping with being the only survivor. It’s raw and powerful. Though, it’s honestly displaced a bit within the film. It feels as if they didn’t know how to open the film and someone came up with the idea to open up the film with something that should have existed within the first film. While it is one of the strongest sequences within the film, it’s also one of the strangest. Ginny Fields is also another force for this film. Her sarcastic charm gives you reasons to root for her throughout the duration of her traumatic strike with Jason during the films climax. Honestly, this film is crucial for the foundation of the franchise’s mythology.

Overall, Friday the 13th: Part II, is a massive misfire. Overstuffed with too many characters, no development and a boring plot – this movie should have been one of Jason’s victims. The film has little to no saving graces. Though, its feminine factor gives it points. Thanks in part to Ginny Fields and a powerful opening sequence featuring Adrienne King’s protagonist from the film’s predecessor. Part II is crucial for the mythology of the franchise. Creating an extremely humanized version of the film’s villain in Jason Voorhees. There is just little to love here.

RORSCHACH RATING:

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Credits: Friday the 13th: Part II is property of Paramount Pictures. We do not own nor claim any rights. Music by Beggars. Promo by Podcoin & The Brook Reading Podcast. Amos SFX interview recorded live at Creature Feature Weekend Podcast in Gettysburg, PA.