Friday the 13th: Part 3

Starring: Dana Kimmell, Paul Kratka, Nick Savage, Rachel Howard, Richard Brooker, Larry Zerner
Directed by: Steve Miner
Rating: R
Genre: Horror
1982

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A group of teenagers is hunted by deranged killer Jason Voorhees.

Review:
Tim: Friday the 13th: Part 3 is an iconic movie in horror film history- this is the first film when Jason Voorhees dons his famous hockey mask. This moment is actually really cool, and I couldn't help but smile the first time you see Jason wearing the hockey mask. It is a great scene. Unfortunately, besides this thirty second moment, this is mostly a forgettable, terrible movie. I know this third sequel came out in the early 1980s, but this film was in desperate need of a bigger budget. This movie features some mindnumbing, nearly incomprehensible moments. The script is just awful, and the dialogue is even worse. My biggest problem is that the Friday the 13th movies all feel far too similar. Yes, the first movie is unique, but it's also the best one. The first sequel and this movie feel way too similar- a group of teenagers is hunted by Jason, killed off one by one, until only one remains (and chances are, it's a female). It is way too formulaic. This movie features almost no surprises. Jason kills people, one by one, before suffering some physical injury, and finally succumbing... or does he? Throw in a little twist at the end, and it's perfect. This film is boring because it is predictable.

The cast is awful. I can't believe director Steve Miner couldn't have found better actors for this movie. It might have been a good idea to test for actual acting ability, in addition to looks. The actors indeed have weak, silly, painful dialogue to deliver, but this doesn't excuse the pitiful acting. Nearly every line delivered is cringe-worthy. The normal humans in this movie make decisions which make absolutely no sense. We're supposed to buy these weak, one-dimensional characters, and then actually care when they expire. I couldn't do this, and so, I sat back and watched, unaffected, as our teens are mowed down. There was no emotional investment, no really terrifying moments (the movie makes the horror movie mistake of trying to fake out the audience too much), nothing to care about. This movie also mirrored back on the original way too much. I understand trying to pay homage to the roots, but this movie was way too similar to the original. It needed to differentiate itself, not blend into the franchise.

Friday the 13th: Part 3 is a silly, forgettable sequel. I really like the idea and concept of Jason Voorhees as a horror villain. However, I wish the movies surrounding him were of better quality. This film is a disappointment, and a further step down in quality. I have a bad feeling that things might only get worse.



Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Friday the 13th: Part 2, Halloween, A Nightmare on Elm Street