Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)

While the decision to retroactively resurrect the series' now iconic, somewhat supernatural serial-killer, who was entirely absent from the first picture and actually little more than a background plot device, was invariably a profitable one for the franchise as a whole and the reoccurring 'Jason' character has certainly been captured into the pop-culture zeitgeist, it makes for a questionable concept at best - even though consistency isn't something the series would become known for. Shoehorning in an entirely new mythology messes up the motivations of the prior title. It's a shame, then, that the filmmakers didn't use their newfound villain and his masked mug to their advantage in 'Friday The 13th Part 2 (1981)'. They didn't learn from perhaps the biggest mistake made in the first film, as the killer is still hidden for most of the run-time which restricts what is shown in the worst possible way because there's no reason for it. There's no mystery or suspense built from the omission, as was attempted previously, and the violence is also bizarrely restrained (in reality, due to pressure from the MPAA). This means that the flick can't even claim to have that real visceral edge that the original had, though. Another major problem is the distinct lack of plot. The feature essentially adds up to a bunch of teens going to a camp before a killer kills them all, which feels like it came from a half-written outline that was rushed into production far too early, likely the case considering it hit theatres only the year after the first, even though there are some decent sequences (like the ending) sprinkled throughout the brisk narrative. 5/10

'Friday the 13th' may have been panned by critics when first released but since then it is one of the most famous and influential horror films, the franchise containing one of horror's most iconic villains. The film is popular enough to become a franchise and spawn several sequels of varying quality and generally inferior to the one that started it all of. Of the sequels, 'Friday the 13th Part 2' is one of the better ones easily and one of the few instalments to be as good, even on par. It's not perfect, it's not what one would call great. It does however achieve its primary goals well, it is scary and it is fun. Plus it introduces Jason Voorhees as the antagonist, so it is an important sequel in the series in this respect. Like the first 'Friday the 13th', 'Friday the 13th Part 2' is far from the best when it comes to acting. The exceptions are appealing Amy Steel and a truly freaky Warrington Gillette. Everybody else ranges from average to dead-end.Nor is it the best when it comes to dialogue. Much of it is very crude and cheesy. Or character development, and what the film does worse than the original is that we don't sympathise with the characters here as much apart from Ginny. The ending is a head-scratcher and pretty nonsensical, not the truly unsettling one of the first film.Visually, on the other hand, it improves over the original 'Friday the 13th' quite drastically. It's still creepy but has more of a professional, slicker look and like more time was dedicated to it. Like 'Friday the 13th', 'Friday the 13th Part 2' is very gory and gruesome, though not pointlessly so, but it is also very frightening and suspenseful. This is apparent in the deaths, which are still very creative and shocking, and the hauntingly eerie music score. 'Friday the 13th' is assuredly directed and moves along at a lively pace. As said, Steel carries the film with a good deal of appealing charm and Gillette proves why Jason is often considered an iconic character in horror. Overall, pretty good sequel and one of the better ones of a variable franchise. 7/10 Bethany Cox

The first Friday the 13th sequel follows the formula with more camp counselors showing up at Camp Crystal Lake and being slaughtered one by one. This is the first of the series where Jason is the killer, although he doesn't yet have his iconic hockey mask. He wears a sack over his head instead. He also gets kicked in the nads. Pretty funny, honestly.The cast is full of young actors playing obnoxious teens and twenty-somethings. Adrienne King briefly reprises her role from the first film before Amy Steel takes over as the 'final girl.' Acting- wise, Steel's an improvement I think. This one also has more cute girls than the first movie and more nudity, which would become a prerequisite for the series. The tracking shot of Kirsten Baker's rear end as she walks through the woods is priceless. As with the first movie, I really liked the locations they filmed at. Gives an authentic atmosphere to the film without appearing cheap, like most of today's low-budget horror films do. If you like old-school slashers, you'll like this one. It's solid entertainment that you don't have to take seriously, despite the macabre subject matter.

For me, Friday the 13th part two is the best part of all. It combines a very creepy theme by Harry Manfredini -which, by the way, is in my opinion the best horror theme up to today - with violent killings and some good scares like Jason covered with a white sheet approaching his victim like a ghost, or trying to suddenly catch a victim thru the window glass. Also, the fact that they decided to show Jason's dwelling as gory as it was, is very original and creepy. And over all, it creates a chilling gory climate of suspense without being grotesque or showing the insides of the victims. Of course, up to today's standards, this movie would be seen like an almost naive flick, but it still remains kinda classy and slick thanks to the actors, the music and the director, Steve Miner. One of the most shocking scenes, for me as a teenager, was when Jason drives his spear thru a couple that had just had sex. That image stayed with me for a long time!R.I.P. Betsy Palmer