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'Friday the 13th' may have been panned by critics when first released but since then it is one of the most famous and influential horror films, the franchise containing one of horror's most iconic villains. The film is popular enough to become a franchise and spawn several sequels of varying quality and generally inferior to the one that started it all off.
People have cited 'Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives' as one of the best of the 'Friday the 13th' films. Having re-watched it since saying in my review for the fourth film that 'The Final Chapter' should have been the last, actually the film was much better on re-watch. While far from perfect, it is agreed that it is one of the series' better ones, perhaps the best since the second film and the best post-'The Final Chapter' instalment. Wouldn't go as far to say it's the very best though.
Starting with the strengths, 'Jason Lives' starts off incredibly well. The opening is creepy and there is also a witty James Bond parody credits sequence that one does not expect in a 'Friday the 13th' film. It is a highly atmospheric and stylish film visually, while not having the great effects and make-up work of the previous film 'Jason Lives' is still one of the best looking films in the series. The music is suitably haunting.
'Jason Lives' surprisingly is one of the better acted 'Friday the 13th' films and has some characters one cares for (especially Tommy) when they are not making illogical or stupid decisions. Thom Matthews is the most conflicted of the actors playing Tommy, while Jennifer Cooke has allure and CJ Graham has an unnerving presence when he is not made to act goofy.
There are some darkly funny moments, the deaths (not an overload this time like 'A New Beginning') are inventively elaborate, there is some creepiness and the pace generally cracks like a whip, 'Jason Lives' is certainly not dull.
However, the tone of 'Jason Lives' is rather unbalanced. There is too much of an emphasis on the humour, and while there are funny moments others are rather cheesy and stupid. While there is creepiness, the suspense in between is not enough and likewise with the scares, which were also pretty tame this time round.
Namely because there are some unintentionally goofy moments with how people are made to act (including Jason) and the writing-a-whole-novel-worth list of goofs. Some of the pacing is rushed, especially towards the end. The dialogue continues to evoke a constant feel of toe-curling cringe.
Overall, a resurrection worth checking out. 6/10 Bethany Cox
6/10
