Deluxe Edition DVD
Friday the 13th Part 4: The Final Chapter
Friday the 13th Part 5: A New Beginning
Friday the 13th Part 6: Jason Lives

Paramount Home Video 2009

It is hard to keep a successful bogeyman down in Hollywood. The FRIDAY THE 13th franchise is one of the longest running and most successful horror series ever, that much is indisputable. A perennial fan favorite; the series has been virtually critic-proof, and has endured for over 2 decades.

Never one to rest on its laurels when there is a dollar to be made, Paramount has released yet another batch of special edition DVDs and the results are impressive. No real need to tell horror fans about the films really, as (aside from a very clean looking picture and re-mastered audio) there is nothing new here. The films look and sound as good as I've ever seen, with these versions boasting vibrant colors and new 5.1 mixes.

Harry Manfredinni's brilliant music shines through loud and proud. While this is all pretty normal by DVD standards, it is a quantum improvement over what used to a dearth of VHS audio mud.
Each of the DVDs come loaded with cool bonus stuff (of the kind that genre fans eat, sleep and breathe for), as well as kinda groovy holographic cover artwork
.
Each installment comes with the prerequisite deleted scenes, theatrical trailer, and one or more commentary tracks. All fine and dandy, but not earth shaking. The real gold here being the "Crystal Lake Massacre Re-Visited" features, which have a cast of horror industry insiders (if you're into horror, you'll recognize a lot of these people) playing family relatives and peripheral characters who discuss, and wax over the killings and situations from the films themselves as though they were
living in the F13 universe. All kinda BLAIR WITCH-ian after the fact, and done with tongue firmly in cheek, but pretty entertaining none the less.

Also of note is the ongoing short films making up the "Lost Tales from Camp Blood" saga. More kills, more running thru the woods. More, more, more.

As a whole, there is a lot to recommend about these DVDs. If you're a long standing fan, you'll want them for the new goodies. And if you're just entering the F13 universe, you couldn't ask for a better time than now to step inside.

4 out of 5
MARS

Synopsis & Features:

FRIDAY THE 13th: THE FINAL CHAPTER
This installment introduces young Tommy Jarvis, the nerdy, whip-smart kid who seems to have Savini-level make-up skills, and a bedroom full of cool horror memorabilia that I would have killed for at that age. Actually, I found myself going "Oooh...I waaaant that" while I was watching the film, so I suppose there is still a Tommy Jarvis inside of me.

The alternate commentary track featuring HATCHET director Adam Green, and WRONG TURN 2 helmsman Joe Lynch is particularly entertaining, as both the guys shamelessly geek out through out the film, often times adding the pre-requisite "OOOOH! Damn! " during the film's kills. That they dissect the film in a way not unlike scholars have approached masterworks such as "Ulysses" and "Beowulf" is actually quite endearing and a testimony to the film's impact on pop culture.

Special Features:
- Commentary: - Commentary by director Joe Zito, screenwriter Barney Cohen and editor Joel Goodman
- Commentary: - Fan Commentary with Adam Green and Joe Lynch
- Other: - Lost Tales from Camp Blood - Part 4
- Other: - Slashed Scenes
- Other: - Jason's Unlucky Day: 25 Years After Friday the 13th - The Final Chapter
- Other: - The Severed Ending
- Other: - Crystal Lake Massacre Revisited - Part 1
- Other: - Dead Fuck Dance Moves
- Trailers: - Original Theatrical Trailer (Used on 2000 Release)

FRIDAY THE 13th: A NEW BEGINNING

This is a rather hotly contested installment in the F13th franchise, with fans seemingly divided about the film's place in the hierarchy of the sequels. Some love it, some hate it. And if you're reading this, you probably already know what side of the fence you're on.

Special Features:
- Commentary: - Commentary by director/co-screenwriter Danny Steinmann with cast and crew
- Other: - Lost Tales from Camp Blood - Part 5
- Other: - Crystal Lake Massacre Revisited - Part 2
- Other: - New Beginnings: The Making of Friday the 13th - Part 5
- Trailers: - Original Theatrical Trailer (Used on 2001 Release)

FRIDAY THE 13th PART VI: JASON LIVES

This is probably my favorite of the Friday franchise, as I do enjoy the subtle integration of dark comedy into the film. The kills are imaginative, and Jason is a bona fide back-from-the grave supernatural monster here. Tommy is back as an adult in a very solid performance by RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD??(TM)s Thom Mathews.

Special Features:
- Commentary: - Commentary with director Tom McLoughlin and Cast & Crew
- Other: - Lost Tales From Camp Blood - Part 6
- Other: - Crystal Lake Massacre Revisited - Part 3
- Other: - Jason Lives: The Making of Friday the 13th - Part 6
- Other: - Meeting Mr. Voorhees
- Other: - Slashed Scenes
- Trailers: - Original Theatrical Teaser Trailer (Used on 2001 Release)