The _Friday the 13th_ franchise began with a highly successful film in 1980. Now, thirty-one years later, a new version has arrived on Special Edition DVD. It’s hard to imagine that Sean S. Cunningham, the director of the original and producer of this one, could have predicted how far the character he helped create would go. With this “reboot,” it's important to examine what Jason Voorhees has been up to, what aspects were altered, and just as importantly, what remained consistent. The film loosely mirrors the progression of the first four _Friday the 13th_ movies. The opening sequence shows Pamela Voorhees on June 13, 1980, confronting a Camp Crystal Lake counselor, who is then decapitated with a machete—as per the original story. This serves as an effective introduction to the film; it’s necessary for a reboot to show Mrs. Voorhees at some point, but her appearance shouldn't dominate the runtime. Following this, the film deviates from the familiar storyline: Jason, now alive, witnesses his mother’s death and picks up a machete, developing bad habits along the way. After the opening credits, a new group of young people appear, intending to smoke pot, engage in premarital relations, drink heavily, disregard rules, and generally set themselves up for danger. However, something feels off—the cast! Only one actor from the “media-hyped” lineup has a significant role, so it’s clear these characters aren't going anywhere important. The _FRIDAY THE 13TH_ title card appears late in the film, after several characters have already met their fate, giving the impression of watching a sequel far into its running time. The new group of teenagers has similar plans to previous groups, but they are less believable. Travis Van Winkle (from _Accepted_) as Trent, the “rich asshole,” and Aaron Yoo as Chewie, the lovable stoner, provide some redeeming performances. Jared Padalecki’s character, Clay (a reimagining of Rob from _Friday the 13th Part IV: The Final Chapter_), feels out of place—perhaps due to his fame from _Supernatural_, or maybe it was an intentional choice. His presence doesn't quite fit within the movie’s context. While the film didn’t have obvious plot holes, it seems they rushed its creation to meet a release date of Friday, February 13th. While novelty and theatrical gimmicks can be enjoyable, what matters most—especially with _Friday the 13th_—is the final product! The extra time could have been used to address areas where the film felt incomplete; you sense something is missing, though it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what. The hype surrounding the film's sexual content was greatly exaggerated. Rumors suggested Michael Bay walked out of a screening due to the sex scenes, which seems unlikely after viewing the movie. Although suggestive moments are present, there isn't an excessive amount. Despite these issues, they got one thing right: Jason. With his recognizable hockey mask and machete, Mr. Voorhees does what he does best. Derek Mears delivers a believable portrayal of Jason—not a supernatural killing machine, but rather a hunter, natural and almost an anti-hero. Initially, I was disappointed that Kane Hodder wasn't returning to the role. However, I believe Derek Mears has provided the strongest representation of Jason we’ve ever seen. The 2009 _Friday the 13th_ reboot is a movie you might watch and then feel compelled to start over from the beginning—though you may not be sure why.

Source on TMDB