Jason 3-D: A Comprehensive Expose on Friday the 13th Part 3

Of the twelve Friday the 13th films (including Freddy v. Jason), the third installment rates pretty close to the bottom in my book. Yes, it will always hold a special place in my heart as the first Friday the 13th film I ever actually saw in the theater, having seen the first two movies on cable television.  Yes, I can still remember my Dad taking me and my best friend at the time to the small theater out on Dixie Highway in front of the K-Mart to see the film.  Yes, the 3-D effects in the films were done well enough that a couple of times in the movie I unashamedly raised my hand to ward off the clothes-line pole or to try and touch the handle of the pitchfork that was stick out towards me.  Yes, I did like the final girl of the film, who was not only pretty and smart, but she proved herself capable of overcoming her fear to brandish that final death blow to Jason Voorhees' head with an ax.  Despite all of that, the film just has too many plot holes, too many inconsistencies, and too bad of acting for me to consider it a great movie.  However, after author R.G. Henning's retrospective look at Friday the 13th, Part 2, I had to pick up his comprehensive expose on the third film to see if he could give me some idea as to why so many fans of the series seem to love this movie.

 

Jason 3-D: A Comprehensive Expose on Friday the 13th Part 3 provides considerably more details about the film, its actors, its directors, and its history than Peter M. Bracke's Crystal Lake Memories.  While Bracke's book does a fantastic job of looking at the first eleven films, with countless interviews from so many of the actors, directors, producers, and other behind-the-scenes people, Henning, in this book, narrows down the scope to just this one film.  As with his prior book (Sackhead), which dug deep into the first sequel, this book goes in-depth into the second sequel and its enormous impact on the series as a whole.  While Part 2 introduced film-goers and fans to Jason Voorhees as a somewhat crazed adult seeking revenge for the death of his mother, Part 3 established Jason as not only a one-man killing machine, but created the iconic look of the deformed, bald-headed killer hiding behind a hockey mask.  And just like in his previous retrospective, Henning gives readers story details for each of the characters, detailed descriptions of the various victims (and survivor!), interviews with many of the cast members, lots of photos and fun facts, and some well-thought-out answers to questions that have plagued fans for years.

 

I give Henning credit - he does acknowledge that this film, despite its fan-following and the love that so many seem to have for it, is the worst of the first four films (which all center around a more "human" Jason Voorhees, before he is revived as a zombie in Part VI).  Despite having some great looking actors, the actual acting itself leaves a lot to be desired, and the film seems to focus more on the visual 3-D effects that were the big thing at the time than on any of the acting skills of its cast.  He also acknowledges the number of plot holes and inconsistencies in the story (such as how Jason's attack on Chris in the woods several years prior shows him in the same appearance as he is in this movie - bald! - while in Part 2, which supposedly took place just two days prior to the events in this film, Jason had long hair; and how could Chris imagine/dream Mrs. Voorhees coming out of the lake to grab her, when she had no idea who Mrs. Voorhees was; and how come Jason's face changes visually throughout the film [thanks to three different face molds]; and so many other things).  So, since he notices the same exact things in this film that I did, how in the world can this be such a popular film in the series' mythos?

 

Henning answers that question in this book, and after considering everything he lays out amid the behind-the-scenes discussions, the fan reactions, and the cast interviews, it all seems to come down to this one fact - despite the bad acting, despite the careless story, despite the focus on the 3-D effects, there is one thing this film does manage to do very successfully: Part 3 defined Jason Voorhees in both look and character, firmly establishing his presence for the rest of the series.  And looking back at the film, I have to agree.  Despite all of its flaws, actor Richard Brooker's portrayal of Jason definitely cemented his character, defining not only the hockey-mask appearance, but also moving him beyond just the "young child in a man's body crying out for revenge over his mother's death" motivation.  In this film, Henning points out that Jason becomes determined, he becomes purposeful, and he even becomes emotional (such as the scene where his frustration has him throwing aside boxes and bales of hay searching for Chris in the barn).  In this film, Jason actually HAS character, something that does not get further evolution until Part VII, when Kane Hodder takes over the role and becomes the consummate Jason Voorhees.  And in so thinking, I have begun to open my mind a little bit more to the film and have decided to go back and re-watch it (yet again!) with a new perspective.

 

The interviewed provided some surprising information - such as the fact that Catherine Parks is originally from Orlando, Florida and graduated from University of South Florida - my current home state and my alma mater!  I wish I had known that when I met her some years ago at a Spooky Empire, as I would have loved to have talked to her about that.  The interviews also revealed that both Paul Kratka and David Katims both had roles on General Hospital before landing parts in Friday the 13th Part 3!  Of course, I was not watching GH back then, but I'd be curious to see their scenes from the soap to see just how different they appeared than in the movie!  And the fact that many of these actors were newbies to the industry when they took these roles, and many of them also left Hollywood not long after the film to pursue careers as doctors, lawyers, journalists, and other "professional" careers.  Sadly, several of the actors have since died (Richard Brooker, Gloria Charles, Steve Susskind), so I'll never have the opportunity to meet any of them.

 

I love Henning's careful look at some of the unanswered questions about the film, and his very plausible explanations and answers - such as, did Jason sexually assault Chris in the flashback scene?  Why did he not kill her back then?  Is Jason right-handed or left-handed (which seems to change from film to film)?  Whose blood-soaked clothing did Chris find in the upstairs bathroom?  Where did Chuck and Chili get the pot they smoked at the house, when they ate it all in the van when they thought the police were after them?  How did the biker gang find Higgins Haven (and know that's where Shelly and Vera had come from)?  Why did the newscaster at the beginning refer to the murderer as an "ax-wielding killer," when Jason never killed anyone with an ax in the second film? And one thing I don't recall ever noticing, but which Henning brought up in this book - why is it the name of Jason Voorhees is never mentioned anywhere in this film?  It played such an important part of the ending of the first film, and was the main focus of the second film; yet, despite how important this film was to the enduring legacy of the character, not one time in this film is his name said.  Just another reason to go back and watch the film!

 

One important fact Henning does bring out about this film, something that I have always thought was glossed over, is that the character of Debbie, played by Tracey Savage, was pregnant.  It is made clear several times in the film (with Debbie refusing to smoke weed or drink alcohol due to her pregnancy), so the fact that Jason murders her while she lies in the hammock with the dead body of her boyfriend (the unborn child's father) hanging above her in the rafters is much more horrific, as it means that Jason not only murdered an adult woman, but he also killed her unborn child.  In Part 2, he unceremoniously swings a machete into the face of a man in a wheelchair, and now in Part 3, he without remorse shoves a knife through the neck of a mother-to-be.  It definitely establishes a practice and pattern that anyone can be a potential victim of Jason Voorhees. 

 

So, to my friends Wayne, and Marcus, and David, who all just LOVE Friday the 13th Part 3 - you can thank R.G. Henning for making me take another look at this film from a different perspective and give it a chance I've never given it up till now.

 

RATING:  10 iconic hockey-masks out of 10 for once again giving fans an outstandingly well-researched and fact-filled look at this long-enduring fan-favorite film of the series.

Sackhead: The Definitive Retrospective on Friday the 13th, Part 2

When the film Friday the 13th was first released in 1980, I did not want to go see it (even though my mom was willing to take a pre-teen boy to see the movie, I refused to see a horror movie!).  It was not until 1981, during the summer, that I first saw the film when it was released on cable television.  Even watching it in the middle of the day, the movie made me jump.  Once it was over, I thought that was it.  So, imagine my surprise, when looking through the movie channel guide (yes, way back then, we would get monthly guides from the movie channels, letting us know what movies would be airing that particular month), I happened across airings of a film titled Friday the 13th, Part 2!  Having enjoyed the first film, despite the jump scares and gore, I was anxious to see this second film.  After all, the killer had been beheaded in the first movie, so where could they go from there?  Well, that second film and the introduction of Jason Voorhees as the Crystal Lake killer cemented my love for this series of films.  Now, here we are some forty-plus years and a total of 12 films later, and my love for the Friday the 13th series has only grown.  Books, action figures, multiple versions of DVD box sets, posters, and other assorted collectibles give visible proof of my devotion to the films and characters.  Thus, when I happened across this retrospective while scrolling through Amazon, I did not hesitate to buy it.  After all, Part 2 was the film that gave the world one of the most iconic horror movie killers of all time - Jason!  Ki-ki-ki, ma-ma-ma...

 

Sackhead: The Definitive Retrospective on Friday the 13th, Part 2 does exactly what the title says it will do - it provides fans with the only, truly in-depth look at the first sequel in the franchise. I'm not familiar at all with the author, R. G. Henning.  His bio on the back cover indicates he created and runs a Facebook forum (Packanack Lodge) that is dedicated solely to the second film.  He also is a talent handler, representing many of the cast members from the movie franchise, which I can imagine must be an utter thrill!  And based on this book, the man clearly knows his stuff.  The amount of information contained in this book just about this one film is staggering.  Yes, the Crystal Lake Memories book by Peter M. Bracke offers an intense look at all of the films (up through Freddy v. Jason); but this book digs deep into just the first sequel, offering interviews with most of the cast, detailed character descriptions, a plethora of photos, tons of fun facts, and some long-awaited answers to questions that have been plaguing fans for decades.

 

The interviews provide some insight into not only the actors themselves, but also into the filming of the movie, the characters, and why the film has become such an important part of the Friday the 13th mythos for fans.  Some of the information is already out there in other sources, such as Steve Dash's feelings about Warrington Gilette being credited as Jason, when Dash actually performed more of the role under the hood; Adrienne King coming back for only a minor scene, partially due to the stalker situation that came to be after the first movie came out; Amy Steel's later regrets about not returning for Part 3; etc.  However, there was a lot of new information to be gleaned from the interviews. I was not aware that Adrienne King did not know her character was going to be killed off when she agreed to do the opening scene; nor that the opening sequence was the last thing filmed, and that the rush of filming it resulted in her near injury with the ice pick that killed Alice.  I was also not aware that Marta Kober was only 16 years old when she did the movie, and so Paramount set certain parameters revolving intimate scenes involving her character (Sandra).  I found it amusing to learn that Jack Marks (who played the deputy) had never driven when he got this part and had to be taught how to drive the police car for his scenes in the film - I also had never paid attention to the fact that his character is never actually named in the movie, and that his name was not established until the Simon Hawke novelization years later.  There is so much more, I could go on for paragraph after paragraph after paragraph!

 

Each chapter focuses on a different actor/character, and Henning opens each chapter with a narrative that provides the reader details about each character and his or her appearance in the film.  These narratives provide some insight into the motivations of the characters, and I'm assuming Henning gleaned some of this from Hawke's novelization (which added details not seen in the movie), or perhaps simply from the actions and dialogue of the characters themselves in the film. At the end of each chapter, Henning addresses a number of questions that fans have raised about seeming inconsistencies or impossible events that happen within the film, and he provides some well-thought out and reasoned answers that, in most cases, make perfect sense.  What happened to Paul Holt at the end of the film - did he survive or was he killed? Why did Jason use the dull side of the machete to kill Scott? Why was Terry killed off-screen, when all the other deaths were filmed? What dog did Jeff and Sandra find mutilated, since Muffy turns up alive and well at the end? Where were Ted and the other surviving counselors at the end of the film? Was Crazy Ralph's death unrealistic and illogically filmed? How did Jason find Alice in her house at the beginning of the film? And how did he know her number to call her (and for that matter, how did he know how to use a phone)? And why did he remove the whistling tea kettle from the stove burner after he killed Alice?  These questions, and more, find answers at long last in this book!

 

As if all of this were not enough, Henning also throws in a number of "Fun Facts" in each chapter, little tidbits about the movie, its actors, and the Friday the 13th series itself that provide an even wider understanding and knowledge for fans to appreciate.  Did you know the working title of the moving during filming was simply "Jason"? Or, were you aware that the name "Ginny Field" was inspired by the original Friday the 13th's art director, Virginia Field? Or even more surprising, that actor Bill Randolph ("Jeff") made another appearance (albeit from the back) in the film after his character was killed? And did you realize that the character of "Mark" was the only handicapped character to ever be killed in the entire franchise?  Henning offers so many more fun tidbits like that that only enhance every fan's knowledge of the Friday the 13th series, and Part 2 in particular.  

I have fortunate enough to meet four of the cast members from the film over the years - Amy Steel, John Furey, Warrington Gillette, and Steve Dash (and Adrienne King, so technically I've met five) - and I hope to someday meet more of them.  This book opened my eyes to just how important this film is to the series as a whole, and it has prompted me to go back and watch the film (for the umpteenth time) with an entirely new perspective.  I mean, let's be serious - how many other films can boast having five different actors portray Jason Voorhees?  This book is a definite must have for any true Friday the 13th fan, and the amount of research that went into the book evidences the love Henning has for the film that only a real fan can understand!

 

RATING:  10 severed heads in a refrigerator out of 10 for providing such detailed and well-researched information about one of the best films in not only this franchise, but perhaps in all slasher film history!