A Legacy Revisited

Read Time:5 Minute, 35 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Friday The 13th (2009) [Limited Edition]
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Genre: Horror
Year Released: 2009, 2024 Arrow Video 4K
Runtime: 1h 37m
Director(s): Marcus Nispel
Writer(s): Victor Miller, Damian Shannon, Mark Swift, Mark Wheaton
Cast: Jared Padalecki, Danielle Panabaker, Amanda Righetti, Travis Van Winkle, Aaron Yoo, Arlen Escarpeta, Julianna Guill, Jonathan Sadowski, Ben Feldman, Ryan Hansen, Willa Ford
Where To Watch: available now, order your copy here: www.arrowvideo.com, www.mvdshop.com, or www.amazon.com

RAVING REVIEW: Marcus Nispel's reimagined Friday the 13th crackles with a dark allure that attempts to blend the old-school chills of the original film with a modern twist. While the movie dazzles with slick cinematography and a creepy atmosphere, it struggles to balance homage and reinvention. It often feels more like a glossy tribute than a groundbreaking revival.

As the movie develops, Crystal Lake reemerges from the mists of horror lore, bringing a new group of unsuspecting victims. Jason Voorhees reclaims his role as the relentless nightmare in this notorious setting. Amidst the expected carnage, the film introduces a personal quest as one of the characters searches for his missing sister, injecting a thread of human connection into the story.

The technical elements of FRIDAY THE 13TH are where the film genuinely excels. Daniel Pearl’s cinematography envelops Crystal Lake in a shroud of dread, turning the camp’s eerie woods into a silent force of nature. This mastery ensures that the reboot offers a specific visual journey, with each frame crafted to enhance the dark, ominous vibe that fans expect.

Yet, where visuals soar, character development plummets. The film’s cast members are penned more as horror clichés than as fleshed-out characters, serving more as machete fodder for Jason than as meaningful contributors to the story. This superficiality underscores a common critique of the slasher genre: a tendency to prioritize shock over substance, leaving the audience little to root for beyond the basic thrill of survival.

Jason's makeover in this iteration presents him as a mindless killer and strategic hunter. Derek Mears’ imposing physicality brings this new dimension to life with a layer of tactical dread to his character. However, this reimagining also strips away much of the enigmatic aura that made Jason a quintessential symbol of horror, tethering his terror too closely to the tangible world and diminishing his mythic status.

The screenplay attempts to streamline the convoluted lore of the FRIDAY THE 13TH series, making it accessible to newcomers without requiring a deep dive into its complicated past. While this approach makes the story more approachable, it sacrifices the slow-building tension that made the original so mesmerizing, trading atmospheric build-up for upfront action.

The film suffers structurally from its echo of the predecessors that came before it. This setup feels like a repetition of the climax, diluting the impact of what could have been a tightly wound tale of terror. Additionally, including a subplot in which Jason holds a victim captive feels out of sync with the lore, unnecessarily complicating the straightforward cat-and-mouse dynamic that defines the franchise.

In the end, this iteration of FRIDAY THE 13TH delivers what it sets out to offer—a modern retake on a classic horror formula, complete with all the requisite chills and thrills. However, it stops short of hitting the same level as its source material, offering a visually appealing yet emotionally shallow entry into the saga. Fans may enjoy the nods to the franchise's roots and its slick aesthetics update. Still, those searching for a more profound transformation of the iconic Jason Voorhees might find this chapter a well-trodden path through familiar woods. This ultimately stands as a testament to the difficulty of breathing new life into a story that has long been etched into the annals of horror cinema.

Bonus Materials:
4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS
Two cuts of the film, the Theatrical Cut (97 mins) and the extended Killer Cut (105 mins)
Double-sided foldout poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Gary Pullin
Limited edition Greetings from Crystal Lake Postcard
Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Matt Konopka and Alexandra West
Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Gary Pullin
DISC ONE: THEATRICAL CUT
4K (2160p) Ultra HD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) of the Theatrical Cut
Original 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio sound
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
Brand new audio commentary by director Marcus Nispel
Brand new audio commentary by writers Mark Swift and Damian Shannon
Brand new interview with director Marcus Nispel
Brand new interview with writers Mark Swift and Damian Shannon
Brand new interview with cinematographer Daniel Pearl
A Killer New Beginning, an exclusive video essay about why horror fans shouldn’t fear remakes, what 2009’s Friday the 13th remake gets right, and why the film serves as a perfect template for future franchise remakes by film critic Matt Donato
Excerpts from the Terror Trivia Track
The Rebirth of Jason Voorhees archival featurette
Hacking Back / Slashing Forward archival featurette
The 7 Best Kills archival featurette
Deleted scenes
Original teaser, trailer, and TV spots
Electronic press kit
Image Gallery
DISC TWO: KILLER CUT
4K (2160p) Ultra HD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) of the Killer Cut
Original 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio sound
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
Brand new audio commentary by film critics Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Josh Nelson

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[photo courtesy of ARROW VIDEO, MVD ENTERTAINMENT]

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