Friday the 13th Remake: The Killer Cut DVD Review
Friday the 13th Remake: The Killer Cut DVD Review
Second slash at the rehash.
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Jason's got an ax to grind — not to mention a few other types of deadly weapons. When I first saw the Friday the 13th remake, I had a few problems with it (as any longtime fan might — personally, I longed for the accidental goofiness of the original franchise and I also thought the machete-man did a few uncharacteristic things), but overall I liked it. Taking the whole vintage Friday the 13th legacy out of the equation, and just looking at this as a horror movie, it was a very good big-screen experience.
Upon second viewing, in its "killer cut" extended version (about 10 minutes are added), I liked it just a little less. The theatrical edition may be minus some gore, but it is brisker. Those few shorn minutes really added up, sizzling the suspenseful aspects of the film. There are many moments of apt suspense in Friday the 13th, and most of the kills don't disappoint: Jason, as embodied by Derek Mears, is at his most brutal and menacing. (Read Horror.com's Counting Down The Jasons article here.)
The well-acted, slick story follows Clay (Jared Padelecki), a 20-something orphan on the hunt for his missing sister Whitney (Amanda Righetti) in the remote, woodsy town of Crystal Lake. Teaming up with a new friend, Jenna (Danielle Panabaker) and her companions, Clay & Co. manage to stay just one step ahead of Jason Voorhees… for awhile, anyway.
Read my theatrical review for plot details and other thoughts on how this bloody mortality play unfolds, then check out my thoughts on the DVD extras below.
Warning: MAJOR SPOILERS ahead!
The extended version draws out a few of Jason's kills (more shoves, stabs, and violence in general) and maybe some of the sex scenes (difficult for me to recall, but the one between "Travis" and "Bree" did grow a tad tedious this time around). There's also a scene showing Jason sharpening his memory (ah, Mommy!) as well as his machete.
In spite of the fact I prefer the more succinct theatrical version of the movie, I have to say I loved the extended, individual alternate takes in the Special Features section. There's a different showdown sequence in which Jason's neck just quietly snaps in its chain noose, and I found that to be more chilling and effective than the big struggle and mask mutilation in the movie. And while on the subject of masks, there is a funnier, gorier, and more fitting scene about how Jason finds and embraces his iconic hockey mask (actor Kyle Davis will be happy to see this restored, no doubt!). There is another interesting, but rightfully excised scene showing the Crystal Lake Police Department and what goes on there.
There's a making-of featurette entitled The Rebirth of Jason Voorhees, which runs just a little over 10 minutes. It's fairly standard stuff, but the actors and filmmakers are engaging enough, Mears is funny, and fans of makeup magic will adore the behind-the-scenes footage of how the killer was created from creepy childhood to abominable adult menace.
Friday the 13th: The Killer Cut is available on Tuesday, June 16, 2009 on DVD or Blu-ray. Both editions come with a digital copy of the film and the Blu-ray has other exclusive special features (I didn't get that one). You can also watch it On-Demand starting on June 16th through Digital Cable, Satellite TV, X-box 360 and Playstation 3 and it can be downloaded for rental or purchase on iTunes and Amazon Video On Demand. If none of those options work for you, I think you can also have Freddy Krueger deliver it to your dreams.
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Reviewed by Staci Layne Wilson