KILLER FRANCHISE: FRIDAY THE 13TH 3-D

In celebration of my current obsession which has turned me into a 13 y/o boy Friday the 13th the game. I have decided to marathon my beloved childhood franchise of which I have grown up on. And with that I have decided to blog some reviews of them. So without further ado let's continue part 3 aka the one in 3-d where Jason gets his mask.


FRIDAY THE 13TH 3-D
Paramount
1982 Color
95 Mins.
Horror-Thriller
Dana Kimmell, Paul Kratka, Catherine Parks, Gloria Charles, Jeffrey Rogers, Nick Savage and Larry Zerner
Written by Mark Kitrosser and Carol Watson
Directed by Steve Miner
Rated R for language, violence, gore, sexuality, nudity and drug use.


After a slight misstep with the sequel Part 3 goes another route and decides not to take itself all too seriously. There are moments in this film in which it feels like a straight out comedy. But the execution from Miner is what makes this entry work oh so well. As for the plot a young woman returns to her family's cabin trying to overcome the trauma of being attacked years ago. She of course brings her stoner, hornball friends and the violence ensues as Jason hunts them down. Let's see where do I start.

NEW BLOOD: IT COMES AT NIGHT

IT COMES AT NIGHT
A24
2017 Color 
91 Mins.
Horror/Thriller/Drama
Joel Edgerton, Caren Ejogo, Christopher Abbot, Riley Keough and Kelvin Harrison Jr. star.
Written and Directed by Trey Edward Shults
Rated R for language, violence, gore and sexuality.

We've seen this movie before. Something's happened to the world, a virus has seemingly taken out most of the population and a family resides in the woods trying to survive. Until one day a mysterious stranger shows up and things begin to fall apart. I know you are probably rolling your eyes. I mean how many of these movies are they gonna make. It's true the concept feels a bit tired but "Night" proves there are still new ways to revisit it that make it feel fresh and relevant. This film is so great. I would just like to warn people upfront that this film is a slow burn and to be honest it's more of a drama filmed as a horror movie.

Shults effectively builds a potent, dread filled atmosphere you can cut with a knife. Every moment from dishes being washed, family dinners and staring into the woods is gorged with an uncomfortable sense of impending doom and anxiety inducing paranoia that makes it all feel nightmarish. It's the type of movie where they stare into an endless void horrified at something we cannot see but we are witnessing the horror that is happening on there faces. I mean there are a few scenes that take place in this long, dark, black hallway with a red door at the end. The camera moves slowly through it penetrating your psyche and inducing a subtle, prominent fear. I swear I was so creeped out I just wanted them to stop doing it. 

 In addition to the atmosphere, the performances are very strong across the board. Edgerton is solid as always, Ejogo has never been better and Kelvin Harrison is a real stand out here. He lends his character a sense of relatable desperation surviving in a bleak world not worth surviving in. The film is filled with disturbing imagery that was hard to forget long after I saw it, the cinematography is really impressive making the most inanimate objects seem downright creepy and the score is simplistic and haunting lending the proceedings the feel of a nightmare you can't wake up from.

 In fact I had a bit of trouble sleeping that night. I wanna say that it's not a perfect film sure it could have used a bit more character work. As well as some fleshing out concerning the story. But maybe that's the point maybe the simplistic nature of the film and all of it's subtext is what makes it so darn effective. It's sure to divide audiences, the movie is just not for  everyone. There's no big payoff and most of the events that happen are ended on an ambiguous note which will feel unsatisfactory to some. But it's all intentional because in the end it's a character driven piece about human nature in which the title refers to the horror that comes when all hope is lost. ****.5/5