Steve Miner returned to direct this third movie in the juggernaut that would become the Jason Voorhees. The script was written by Martin Kitrosser and Carol Watson but this movie wasn’t about the dialogue. Nope, by this point in the series people had begun to realise just what the fans wanted – a bodycount with a number of inventive death scenes. And, to top things off nicely, this instalment was released in 3D.
Here are 10 reasons why this instalment is one of the very best in the Friday The 13th franchise and why it gives even the likes of Avatar a run for it’s money in the 3D department.
1) It has Catherine Parks, Dana Kimmell, Paul Kratka and a load of other people that you’ve never heard of but it also has Jason. Killing people. In 3 ruddy D. You ruddy melon farmers have never had it so good and, if possible, do try to see it in that fun format for the best entertainment value.
2) This is the movie where Jason finally dons the hockey mask.
3) The cast members are all at least mildly irritating meaning that, as is preferable in slasher movies, you can’t wait to see them all get on the wrong side of Jason’s machete.
4) One of the potential victims fills his sad, lonely life by practising special effects. Oh yes, oh YES, you just know there’s going to be a top-quality fake-out followed by a supposed fake-out-but-genuine-wound moment. AND THERE IS!!!
5) As much as I love the sound/score of most of these movies, this one remains the absolute funkiest. It’s like Chic went on holiday to Crystal Lake and funked everything to the funking max before Harry Manfredini finished it all off.
6) Once we meet the cast that you’re about to spend the next 80 or so minutes with you may as well throw on Marilyn Manson’s “Disposable Teens” and sing along at the top of your voice. Characterisation is at a minimum but who cares because . . . . . did I mention the 3-frickin’-D?
7) This movie has the lamest “hard” bikers since Psychomania. Which, to me, is another plus point.
8.) The series had, arguably, become quite self-aware at this point and hints at a post-modernism only fully realised in later instalments and everything from Student Bodies (released the previous year) to Wes Craven’s New Nightmare to Scream et al.
9) While there is, for the series, an unfortunate lack of nudity when you do see some flesh on display . . . . . . . IT’S IN 3-BLOODY-D!!
10) Did I happen to mention the enjoyable and innovative use of a third dimension in this hack ’em, slash ’em work of art? Oh yes!
And there you have it. A fun, mindless horror that provides a lot more entertainment if you see it in the 3-D format but that also remains a good watch under normal circumstances too (though I would probably take 1 off my rating for the standard version). A great instalment for fans of the series. Please don’t let my lighthearted tone distract you, this remains the second best movie of the lot behind the original and is quite possibly the quintessential Jason movie.
DIRECTOR: STEVE MINER
STARS: CATHERINE PARKS, DANA KIMMELL, PAUL KRATKA, TRACIE SAVAGE, JEFFREY ROGERS, LARRY ZERNER
RUNTIME: 95 MINS APPROX
COUNTRY: USA
Film Rating: 
