Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988)

User Rating:

4.6/10   

Director:

John Carl Buechler

Writers:

Manuel Fidello (writer)
Daryl Haney (writer)

Release Date:

13 May 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror

Tagline:

On Friday the 13th, Jason will meet his match.

Plot:

Years after Tommy Jarvis chained him underwater at Camp Crystal Lake, the hulking killer Jason Vorhees returns to the camp grounds when he's released accidently by a teenager with psychic powers.

Plot Keywords:

Crystal Lake | Telekinesis | Jason Voorhees | Teen | Stabbed In The Neck

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Kane Hodder	...	Jason Voorhees
Lar Park-Lincoln	...	Tina Shepard
Susan Jennifer Sullivan	...	Melissa
Kevin Spirtas	...	Nick (as Kevin Blair)
Terry Kiser	...	Dr. Crews
Susan Blu	...	Mrs. Amanda Shepard
Heidi Kozak	...	Sandra
William Butler	...	Michael
Staci Greason	...	Jane
Larry Cox	...	Russell
Jeff Bennett	...	Eddie
Diana Barrows	...	Maddy
Elizabeth Kaitan	...	Robin
Jon Renfield	...	David
Michael Schroeder	...	Dan

Also Known As:

Birthday Bash (USA) (fake working title)
Friday the 13th: The New Blood - Part 7 (UK) (DVD box title)

Runtime:

90 min | UK:84 min (DVD)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Canada:13+ (Quebec) | USA:R (certificate #29206) | Singapore:(Banned) | Sweden:15 | Netherlands:16 | Brazil:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Argentina:18 | Australia:M | Canada:R | France:-12 | Norway:18 | UK:18 | West Germany:18 | Mexico:C | South Korea:18 | Finland:K-18

Filming Locations:

Bay Minette, Alabama, USA

Company:

Friday Four Films Inc.

Trivia:

Cameo: [Walt Gorney]the veteran actor who played Crazy Ralph in the original Friday the 13th and in "Part 2," returns as the voice of the narrator during the opening of this film.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Dr. Crews and Mrs. Shepard first arrive at the cabin, the bags/cases they carry change between shots.

Quotes:

Narrator: There's a legend around here. A killer buried, but NOT dead. A curse on Crystal Lake, a death curse. Jason Voorhees' curse. They say he died as a boy, but he keeps coming back. Few have seen him and lived. Some have even tried to stop him. NO ONE can.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2005)

Soundtrack:

Magic (In Your Eyes)

Average

Starts right off with the ending of Part 6 with Jason being chained at the bottom of Camp Crystal Lake (called Lake Forest Green). This happens years later (supposedly) and it's now called Crystal Lake again and everybody has forgotten Jason. A telekinetic girl named Tina (Lar Park Lincoln) goes there with her mom and doctor--she's having trouble controlling her power. There's also a house full of brainless horny teens nearby. Lincoln accidentally revives Jason with her power and he's up and around again...

So-so movie. The idea is good (Jason vs. Carrie) but the execution is pretty dull. There are changes from the previous film--that took a more jokey approach to Jason--this one doesn't. And the theme music is back (if used far too often). Also we see, for one of the few times ever, Jason actually MOVING bodies of people he killed! But where exactly does he get all these power tools? I actually laughed when he fired up a grass trimmer and went after somebody. BTW, the body count here is 15--8 girls, 7 guys. We also have the expected gratuitous female nudity.

This does have a great ending where Lincoln uses her powers against Jason...but it goes on too long and has a real stupid resolution. Still it moves fairly quick, it has a rare black couple and some good acting (Lincoln is very good and Kevin Blair (now Spirtas) is handsome, hunky and good also). Jason's mask comes off too and the makeup underneath is REAL gruesome and effective.

All in all an OK sequel but no great shakes.. I give it a 5.