'Friday the thirteenth' feels distinctly like a precursor to more contemporary pictures of a similar narrative flow. The film showcases a disparate group of people with no connections to one another, save for that the converging point of their stories is a deadly bus crash in which they're all involved. In the meanwhile, we get glimpses of their daily lives in the hours preceding that event. This is a movie that's not especially remarkable in the grand scheme of things, but it's sufficiently entertaining.
It's a broad cast of characters of widely varying class, morality, disposition, and occupation. None necessarily stand out above the others in the film overall, but each shine in the disconnected, hopscotch recounting of their day. There's also a measure of comedy in each portrait owing to exaggerated characterizations, misunderstandings, and clashes of personality. More than that, there's inherent drama in the knowledge of the feature's culmination, and in the mundanity of these lives that will be upended. There's a dramatic flair, too, in the individualized course of events, and as the movie climbs toward its climax, this aspect becomes dominant. It's not the most outstanding feature around, but it's duly engaging, and keeps us watching.
Whatever their station, characters are all well-dressed, and the swell costume design reflects it. Set design seems a bit more austere, but then after all, 'Friday the thirteenth' is more about story than artistry. In a similar vein, camerawork is unexceptional, and lighting. Writing feels straightforward with direct intent of telling a tale, and the roles are rather open and shut. Even so, the assembled cast bring their parts to life with a hint of vigor befitting their distinct temperaments.
What it ultimately comes down to is that this is enjoyable, but it's not necessarily a film to go out of your way to see. Neither the lighthearted humor nor the more dramatic beats are heavily emphasized in a screenplay that just wants its story to be told, and that's a fair reflection on the movie's craft as a whole. Why, there is only ever fleeting mention of the date (the title), or the associated superstitions, and its employment seems more like an intended marketing ploy than a plot device.
Still, whatever its deficiencies, 'Friday the thirteenth' is a reasonable way to pass the time. It's worth watching if you come across it, and is so decidedly inoffensive that it's a fair watch for an all-ages general audience.
It's a broad cast of characters of widely varying class, morality, disposition, and occupation. None necessarily stand out above the others in the film overall, but each shine in the disconnected, hopscotch recounting of their day. There's also a measure of comedy in each portrait owing to exaggerated characterizations, misunderstandings, and clashes of personality. More than that, there's inherent drama in the knowledge of the feature's culmination, and in the mundanity of these lives that will be upended. There's a dramatic flair, too, in the individualized course of events, and as the movie climbs toward its climax, this aspect becomes dominant. It's not the most outstanding feature around, but it's duly engaging, and keeps us watching.
Whatever their station, characters are all well-dressed, and the swell costume design reflects it. Set design seems a bit more austere, but then after all, 'Friday the thirteenth' is more about story than artistry. In a similar vein, camerawork is unexceptional, and lighting. Writing feels straightforward with direct intent of telling a tale, and the roles are rather open and shut. Even so, the assembled cast bring their parts to life with a hint of vigor befitting their distinct temperaments.
What it ultimately comes down to is that this is enjoyable, but it's not necessarily a film to go out of your way to see. Neither the lighthearted humor nor the more dramatic beats are heavily emphasized in a screenplay that just wants its story to be told, and that's a fair reflection on the movie's craft as a whole. Why, there is only ever fleeting mention of the date (the title), or the associated superstitions, and its employment seems more like an intended marketing ploy than a plot device.
Still, whatever its deficiencies, 'Friday the thirteenth' is a reasonable way to pass the time. It's worth watching if you come across it, and is so decidedly inoffensive that it's a fair watch for an all-ages general audience.