That's to say that what it is happens to be a zero-budget fan film and not to be taken seriously as a legitimate Ft13th flick. Some entertaining moments pop up in this 7-part web series, but to much time (especially early on) is wasted on needlessly lengthy dialogue scenes.
Plot: A hardcore Friday the 13th fan (really, is there any other kind) has just broken up with her girlfriend when she meets a woman who is currently on the run from her abusive ex- boyfriend. Shortly after they begin sexual relationship which seemingly blossoms into true romantic feelings. Their new relationship becomes threatened when the ex-boyfriend reemerges and threatens the girls. Hardcore Fan begins to lose her grip on reality and she has visions of Jason committing violent murders, soon donning the mask for a murder spree of her own.
I came across this series (unsurprisingly) one Friday the 13th. I had just finished watching a marathon of the films (accompanied by more than a few beers) and I decided to look up any new info on a possible future film. Finding none, I instead found a link to this fan-made web series. Fan-fic or not, I needed some more Friday in my life so I checked it out. Was I pleased? Yes and no; kind of like eating Taco Bell when you really want some good Mexican food, it scratches the itch but doesn't leave you to really satisfied.
First off, what does it do right? Well, for one thing the makers clearly love the source material. From the movie posters that liter the walls of Fan's room, to the excellent use of the classic music from the series (I forgot what a great song 'Hard Rock Summer' was), to the loving homages to famous moments from the classic films, these guys and girls definitely know their Jason. They also know how to cater to their core audience (i.e. Friday fans); there is a fare amount of scantily clad (and utterly gorgeous) women, some T&A, and couple of rather lovely murders. Oh, and the fact that it is free to watch doesn't hurt either.
Sadly enthusiasm can't make up for everything, not matter how noble the designs. The biggest stumbling block is the writing; bottom line it isn't very good. Numerous side plots are introduced and then only vaguely developed and characters have a tendency to be simply dropped into the storyline without being organically introduced. Character motivation and progression also tends to be murky at best; for instance, we know that Super Fan is going crazy simply because she starts getting violent, not because we witness any kind of collapse of her grasp of reality. In other words, we don't see her mental breakdown, we are just supposed to know that it happened. Probably the hardest part of the film to get through is the relationship between the two girls. It simply is not well developed, nor are the actresses talented enough to make it justify the amount of screen time devoted to it. They have one date that ends in drunken sex and the next day they are already telling each other how "I've never felt this close to any one before." Seriously? You had one date, you don't now a damn thing about a person after only one date, as proved by the fact that Super Fan's new girlfriend has no idea that she is moments away from turning into a knife wielding maniac.
But I digress, ragging to harshly on the series makes it seem like I don't appreciate what they were trying to do and I really do commend them for putting this project together. It is a genuine labor of love and I salute all involved for their effort. After all, it's not like the studios have gotten off their butts lately and made a new film for us. So for that, I thank you.
A tad too slow in the first half, but with some fun pay off in the second half; serious Friday fans should check it out, but non-fans need not apply.
6/10
Plot: A hardcore Friday the 13th fan (really, is there any other kind) has just broken up with her girlfriend when she meets a woman who is currently on the run from her abusive ex- boyfriend. Shortly after they begin sexual relationship which seemingly blossoms into true romantic feelings. Their new relationship becomes threatened when the ex-boyfriend reemerges and threatens the girls. Hardcore Fan begins to lose her grip on reality and she has visions of Jason committing violent murders, soon donning the mask for a murder spree of her own.
I came across this series (unsurprisingly) one Friday the 13th. I had just finished watching a marathon of the films (accompanied by more than a few beers) and I decided to look up any new info on a possible future film. Finding none, I instead found a link to this fan-made web series. Fan-fic or not, I needed some more Friday in my life so I checked it out. Was I pleased? Yes and no; kind of like eating Taco Bell when you really want some good Mexican food, it scratches the itch but doesn't leave you to really satisfied.
First off, what does it do right? Well, for one thing the makers clearly love the source material. From the movie posters that liter the walls of Fan's room, to the excellent use of the classic music from the series (I forgot what a great song 'Hard Rock Summer' was), to the loving homages to famous moments from the classic films, these guys and girls definitely know their Jason. They also know how to cater to their core audience (i.e. Friday fans); there is a fare amount of scantily clad (and utterly gorgeous) women, some T&A, and couple of rather lovely murders. Oh, and the fact that it is free to watch doesn't hurt either.
Sadly enthusiasm can't make up for everything, not matter how noble the designs. The biggest stumbling block is the writing; bottom line it isn't very good. Numerous side plots are introduced and then only vaguely developed and characters have a tendency to be simply dropped into the storyline without being organically introduced. Character motivation and progression also tends to be murky at best; for instance, we know that Super Fan is going crazy simply because she starts getting violent, not because we witness any kind of collapse of her grasp of reality. In other words, we don't see her mental breakdown, we are just supposed to know that it happened. Probably the hardest part of the film to get through is the relationship between the two girls. It simply is not well developed, nor are the actresses talented enough to make it justify the amount of screen time devoted to it. They have one date that ends in drunken sex and the next day they are already telling each other how "I've never felt this close to any one before." Seriously? You had one date, you don't now a damn thing about a person after only one date, as proved by the fact that Super Fan's new girlfriend has no idea that she is moments away from turning into a knife wielding maniac.
But I digress, ragging to harshly on the series makes it seem like I don't appreciate what they were trying to do and I really do commend them for putting this project together. It is a genuine labor of love and I salute all involved for their effort. After all, it's not like the studios have gotten off their butts lately and made a new film for us. So for that, I thank you.
A tad too slow in the first half, but with some fun pay off in the second half; serious Friday fans should check it out, but non-fans need not apply.
6/10
