Plot
Months after Mrs Vorhees killing spree, the soul survivor from the Camp Crytal Lake massacre Alice Hardy is murdered in her home.
Four years later, a new manager at the Camp has reopened – and has a new recruit of counselors ready to train the next group of children soon to come around. But another masked killer is waiting in the wings, could it be Jason – Mrs. Vorhees long thought dead son???
Direction
Directed by Steve Miner, who made his directorial debut here. He would go on to direct several more films in the horror/thriller genre.
Cast/Breakdown
Starting with a ‘cold open’ where Alice (Adrienne King) returns, still struggling with what occurred in the first film… only to be killed off almost immediately – subverting expectations of the “final” girl.
Similar to the first film, the camp is re opening once again, with a new manager Paul (John Furey), and a slew of counselors such as Ginny (Amy Steel), Terry (Kirsten Baker), Vicky (Lauren-Marie Taylor) and Ted (Stu Charno) among others. Walt Gorney returns as Crazy Ralph.
The majority of the film is setting up these new characters, but it feels the same again from the previous film. These are just a bundh of cannon fodder – and there is very little character development in many of them.
The new ‘lead’ in Ginny – gets little to do until she comes across Jason in the final act – where he has the standard cliche “becomes clumsy” while trying to take her out – and then she toys with his mentality and his love of his “mother”.
There is a slow burn in the middle of the film, where not too much happens. A Sherriff and some of the counselors have some conflict, a few of the ‘couples’ have some moments together, terry misplaces her dog at one stage (and then goes skinny dipping instead of going looking… as you do). When Jason does have his kill spree – he does the ‘slow walk/stalk’ – which is the stock standard.
The third act, in which Ginny come across Jason is solid, with a tense score. His house of horrors where he keeps his ‘mother’ has a slight Psycho vibe – and it allows Betsy Palmer a chance to reprise her role as Mrs. Vorhees.
The hockey mask Jason has yet to take his full form (instead wearing a cloth mask) – and his unmasking is genuinely frightening.
Overall
Pretty solid slasher thriller, but it pales in comparison to the first film, by character, killer and even practical effects.
The “Jason” of future movies has yet to take its true form yet, and the ‘unmasking’ is genuinely frightening. A good second film in a long franchise!
3.5/5
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