This installment continues the fun, proving to be a step up from Part III. The initial movies took themselves seriously, showcasing typical teenage antics at summer camp. However, the franchise shifted toward silliness with Part III, and that tone unfortunately carried over until the 2009 remake. "Part IV: The Final Chapter," released in 1984, is a welcome return to form, thankfully avoiding the goofy aspects of "Part III" while revisiting familiar territory. A group of young people head to their parents’ vacation home on Crystal Lake for a party and encounter siblings Trish and Tommy Jarvis (played by Kimberly Beck and Corey Feldman) from a nearby house. Then Jason shows up! There's also someone else at the lake seeking revenge against Jason. Similar to Part III, filming occurred on the West Coast—specifically in Santa Clarita, CA, and Topanga Canyon, about 30 minutes south of Santa Clarita, as well as Zaca Lake, roughly 150 miles northwest. The scenery is noticeably drier compared to the first two films, but most viewers likely won’t notice or care. As expected, the film includes a selection of female characters. This time around, there are no "minorities," with the group consisting of five white girls and an appealingly small mother figure. Trish stands out as my favorite heroine—at least until the subsequent movie—followed by Samantha; however, each character has something to offer. Ultimately, despite its name, Part IV isn’t really the “Final Chapter,” as four more sequels followed before the 1980s ended. Regardless, it's another enjoyable entry in the series, featuring a new cast and a fresh female lead. This film is significant for introducing Tommy Jarvis and suggesting that the malevolent Voorhees spirit remains present. Like its predecessor, Part IV was filmed in dry Southern California, and Jason, with his recognizable mask, appears larger and more intimidating than in Part II. While it's an improvement over Part III, it doesn’t quite reach the level of effectiveness as the first two movies, mainly due to a slow middle section and a somewhat disappointing depiction of Jason towards the end—though his unmasked appearance is well done. The movie has a runtime of 91 minutes, with the uncut version clocking in at 97 minutes. GRADE: B-

Source on TMDB