Remember how, just yesterday, I was describing Friday the 13th part five as one of if not the worst of the lot? Well, here’s the interesting followup–we’re wrapping up our coverage of the Friday the 13th Deluxe Editions with Friday the 13th Part Six: Jason Lives Deluxe Edition. And Jason Lives is probably one of the best in the series. Truth be told? This is where it starts getting GOOD.
Once again, we’re back with good old Tommy Jarvis, who’s looking to be the longest-running protagonist ever. Tommy’s still the nutter he was last time, though not much is mentioned or even alluded to about what happened to him in part five. Anyway, Tommy wants some closure on the whole thing, and he figures the best way to get it is to go find Jason’s grave, dig it up, and set the whole worm-riddled mess on FIRE. For those of you starting to sputter, just hold on a second while I get through this. Anyway, Tommy’s out to find Jason, and in so doing, accidentally brings him back to life, whereupon he makes a beeline for Crystal Lake, now called Forest Green, where he kills everything in sight. Now Tommy, along with the local sheriff’s hot daughter, has to try and put Jason to bed once and for all (at least until the next sequel) before he exterminates the entire ZIP code.
It’s really for the best that we forget all ABOUT part five for a panoply of reasons, most of which have to do with the fact that parts five and six so blatantly and openly contradict themselves. For instance, back in five they claimed Jason was dead. Cremated, in fact. He never even showed up in the movie…and yet, in six, there he is, sunk in the ground and badly worm-eaten. Worse, you remember the ending in five? Well, Tommy sure looks different now. It’s like nothing ever happened! See what I mean? Loads of plot holes between the two, so just ignore part five completely.
Why, you ask? Simple–because in every way, part six is vastly superior to part five. There’s action in here, great horror effects, some downright comedy–the kids at camp positively steal the show sometimes–and just vastly more FUN than the previous installment could bring to bear. This one’s just entirely too good to pass up.
It represents a start in a whole new direction–this really is the Friday the 13th series’ “New Beginning”. Ignore part five; this one’s the real deal.
Oh, and a special note–this is the movie that will prove beyond any doubt that Damian Shannon, Mark Swift et al are complete bubbleheaded morons. Watch this movie and THEN tell me Jason’s hydrophobic. Assholes.
But all that aside, there’s one critical thing to remember here. This movie is great fun. There’s just no two ways about it. In fact, it’s one of the–quite possibly the very–best in the series. It has everything you need in a good horror flick and precious little you don’t. Great for parties or just a night in, Friday the 13th Part Six: Jason Lives Deluxe Edition will be all the slasher joy you need in life.
