Friday the 13th [raymix]

A good way to pass the time

I'm going to keep these reviews very brief as I'm reviewing numerous films in RayDanger's series -

First off, the Friday the 13th series is not top shelf cinema, but they are a fun set of films. RayDanger does a miraculous job of streamlining the entire series, providing a lovingly curated narrative that is more sensical that the ones that the original producers released.

It terms of visual tone, audio, and overall editing, the experience is greatly improved with greater emphasis on suspense throughout.

The first film in particular, I find to be the black sheep of the series, and even RayDanger's edit struggles against the flat characters and lack of a whodunnit mystery that earns the Mrs. Voorhees twist at the end of the film.

Regardless, RayDanger elevated the film's presence, greatly improving the ending and providing a stronger launching pad for Jason.

The best way to watch the original.

Great editing, pacing and even if it does not massively improve it, it flows better and makes for a fun quick watch to start the franchise!

An overall improvement on the original. Goes by just a bit faster but it makes a difference. Saw this with my sister and she wasn't bored; Usually, she sleeps during movies, especially older ones. Looks great, sounds great, better continuity, and I'd recommend it.

From the opening shot of the FE logo, this film is instantly atmospheric and feels like a true classic 80s release!

I’ve seen the original countless times, and I can genuinely say that this edit streamlines the story with cuts so seamless you would never even know it was a fan edit.
The fan in me greatly appreciates the attention to detail in using actual Friday the 13th dates, shortening the time jump and creating a stronger sense of continuity for the franchise. Overall the editing is sharp and the movie runs at a clip! Definitely a great way to revisit it, as it’s often overlooked for its lack of Jason.

*spoilers*
Making it so that we don’t see Mrs. Voorheese saying “kill her mommy” almost gives Jason a more supernatural feel (fitting for the rest of the franchise) and makes the ending feel less like a Psycho knock off.
Then the decision to cut the epilogue makes for a more exciting ending and even reminds me of the ending to the original Nightmare on Elm Street! The post credits scene is a nice touch.

I can’t wait to check out the rest of the Raymix Friday the 13th series!