Post by slayrrr666 on Dec 14, 2005 14:03:41 GMT -5
"Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood" is one of the more imaginative entries in the series.
**SPOILERS**
After the events in Part VI, Jason is now trapped under water at Camp Crystal Lake. Figuring that the lake is now safe from Jason, Dr. Crews, (Terry Kiser) uses the lake as a medical retreat for teens. In his care is Tina Shepard, (Lar Park-Lincoln) a teen who has dark memories of Crystal Lake. Next door is another group of teens there to party. As Dr. Crews and Tina begin their session, Tina begins to exhibit strange telepathic abilities. Dr. Crews seems to want Tina more for her telepathic ability than to cure her, and she wanders off down to the lake. Feeling guilty over killing her father, she tries to resurrect him, but accidentally raises Jason from his watery grave. One of the teens from next door, Nick, (Kevin Blair) comes over and invites Tina to a birthday party next door. Jason slaughters the two of the guests (William Butler) (Staci Geason) and runs into more of the guests for the party next door to Tina's cabin. Even though nothing strange is happening to her, Tina begins to see the guests as they would be killed later in the movie. As Tina begins to have even more vivid delusions, she finally forces Dr. Crews to end her sessions at the lake. Jason begins to slaughter the guests for the party until only Tina and Nick are left. She uses her psychic powers to battle Jason to the death.
The Good News: One of the main reasons why I like this film is the high body count, and the various means to dispatch it. Simply some of the kills are an ax in the head, a metal spike stabbed into the chest, a butcher knife in the stomach, a sickle in the abdomen, a head crush, and being thrown out of a two-story window. There are a lot more, but these were done to the characters you had hoped would die anyway. It is one of the more variety-filled Jason films, and I think only Part VIII uses more variety. This is also Kane Hodder's first film as Jason, and that to me holds a bit of sentimentally value as well. I think this was his best turn as Jason, because his performance was very creepy and in certain parts of the film, you were afraid of Jason. His movements and mastery of the tools he used were nearly flawless. I still hold this as his premier performance, because of those reasons, but also for another more important one as well: Jason was only in the film in scenes of killing or stalking. He never had any unnecessary time and he was able to really come across as a threatening force when he was. I also want to give a final comment on Jason's suit that he wears. I think this is the creepiest jumpsuit that he has worn and it really adds a lot of menace to him as well. The mask is frightening, and the body parts exposed by the torn and tattered suit are the best ever. I still consider this Jason's creepiest hour, make-up wise. Even more important, I think, is that the film is one of the better-written films. You can tell that the "Freddy vs. Jason" influence on pre-production was heavily influenced on the final script. The battles between Tina and Jason very easily could've been Freddy fighting Jason in the dream world. Using technology of that time, I wonder how that would've been. The battles are very well choreographed by Kane and use both sides effectively. They never loose your interest and are very believable as well. By both sides having effective punches to the other, it isn't that unbelievable to see them both having good shots on the other and really inflicting pain on each other. Jason could've had a few more shots at Tina and it could've been a tad longer, but as it stands, this is still a very effective fight and remains the true highlight of the film.
The Bad News: One of the few Jason films that was hammered by the MPAA, this film isn't one of the gory films in the series. With all of the different types of possible gory deaths in the film, none of them is really all that bloody. The most blood for a death was the head ax, and even that wasn't as bloody as it could've been. Even when you sound off what happened to people, that is a shame. Perhaps the film would have a more positive reputation if it would've been a bit gorier. This is my only real complaint against the film.
The Final Verdict: Simply up the gore and I think this would be a better entry in the series. I still enjoy it, but it could stand a bit more improvement in the gore department. Jason fans will find it interesting, and slasher fans of the eighties will find a lot to enjoy here.
Rating R: Graphic Violence, Graphic Language, Nudity, several sex scenes, and drug use
