TheLittleSongbird
'Friday the 13th' may have been panned by critics when first released but since then it is one of the most famous and influential horror films, the franchise containing one of horror's most iconic villains. The film is popular enough to become a franchise and spawn several sequels of varying quality and generally inferior to the one that started it all of. The fifth film in the series 'A New Beginning' is the most maligned 'Friday the 13th' film by critics and fans, although it has garnered a cult following and its fair share of defence over time. To me, 'A New Beginning' is better than its reputation and that it tries to do something different is laudable. Also do not think it's the worst 'Friday the 13th' film. Having said that, the disappointment is understandable. There are good merits here, but it also did fall short to me. Starting with 'A New Beginning's' strengths, the best things about it are the as ever haunting music score and the terrific performance, both disturbing and moving, of John Shepherd. There are a few darkly funny moments, a few creepy ones and some of the death scenes are creative. The nightmare sequences are stylish and as nightmarish as one would hope. It's a pretty decent looking film, not cinematic art (but in all honesty that can never be expected from a 'Friday the 13th' film) but not amateurish.However, there are things that work against 'A New Beginning'. From my understanding, It is not that the film is different in the lack of Jason (this didn't bother me at all and is an insignificant issue), the more tongue-in-cheek tone and the idea it tried to introduce that irked fans, but the generally misguided way it was executed. More problematic are the problems as a standalone. The acting is not good (Shepherd is the sole exception), Melanie Kinnaman being awful, and the clumsy and far too simple dialogue, that slips more into vulgar camp than darkly tongue-and-cheek, and the mostly annoying and dull stereotypes passing for characters fare worse (the only one to be interesting and get proper development is Tommy). 'A New Beginning' has the highest body count, and while there are some creative and unsettling deaths (others less so, hurt by gratuity and predictability) it was almost as if there were too many death scenes that gives one not that much time to compose themselves after each one. There is not enough suspense, the creepiness is too far and between and the story is thin and very hackneyed, with one of the series' silliest endings. The mystery elements don't work, being far too obvious, and neither does the identity of the killer, the killings committed by somebody that is not in it much in their real guise and doesn't have much presence.In summation, not that bad and not deserving of its black sheep reputation but a long way from being great. 5/10 Bethany Cox
ironhorse_iv
Set in the year, 1989, the film follows the recurring character from 1984's 'Friday the 13th: the Final Chapter', Tommy Jarvis, now played by John Shepherd. All grew up and still constantly afraid that Jason (Tom Morga) would return. Tommy tries to set up a new life, after spending most of his, in mental health institution. However, his sanity begins to slip away again, as new series of brutal murders have been occurring by a mask killer at his halfway house, who seem to want Tommy dead. Is it a copycat killer, or is Jason really back from the dead!? Watch the movie to find out! Without spoiling the movie, too much, while "Friday the 13th: A New Beginning" seem tamer than the other films, it was very surprising to see, how much gratuitous nudity & violence, there were in this film! Honestly, what was the point of the minor character like the waitress, Lana (Rebecca Wood) flashing her boobs at us!? I don't mind it, but be a little cleverer on how you show sex, movie! Also, some of the murders like the punks, doesn't make a lick of sense, after seeing who the killer is, in the end. What did the killer have against Pete Muldrow (Corey Parker) & Vinnie Manalo (Anthony Barrile)!? Does he hates 1950's greasers!? Also, how did the killer find a similar mask with the same axe mark that to Chrissy Higgins (Dana Kimmel) put there in "Friday the 13th: Part III'!? Aside from its violence, the film has become known for notorious production problems with director fighting with actors, MPAA forcing cuts to sex scenes, and backstage frequent drug use. It must had been a stressful movie to film. Still, much contrary to popular belief, 1985's "A New Beginning" was not a box office bomb, as it did well in theaters. However, it was nowhere near as popular as the last four installment. In my opinion, this movie in the 'Friday the 13th' film series was in a no-win situation at the time. Movie critics hates it for its familiar, yet tiresome concept of rebellion teenagers getting murder by a hockey mask assailant, yet die-hard fans of the slasher franchise really hate this movie for departing from the Camp Crystal Lake setting and allowing somebody else to take on the mantle of the killer. It's lose-lose situation. Still, in my opinion, this film directed by Danny Steinmann, is surprising, not that bad as people think it is. I really don't dislike this movie as much as the others. Don't get me wrong, the movie, is nowhere near good, but I do enjoy few horror ideas, it was presenting, like how it was just continuing, what was establish, by 1984's 'Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter' and the previous movies, rather than killing the film series off, with contradiction and film inaccuracies like 1986's 'Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives' did. Another, was adding more suspense and mystery. It wasn't prediction, who the killer was, this film. So, it made it a lot more thrilling to watch. Plus, the murderer was a lot more creative with the kills, in this movie. That was one thing, missing in the previous three installments. It felt like, in those movies, the slash and dices moments were use too repetitive. Also, I know, it's a bit nitpicking, but how in the hell, does the murderer travel around, so fast and knows where everybody is? Does he have teleporting powers, now or something? It's just seem odd. Despite that, the characters/victims in this film, were a lot more likable, as they were given a little more character development here. Seeing some of them, get hack off, left some emotional impact on me. However, I would like to see, more recurring characters like Tommy's older sister, Trish (Kimberly Beck), Chrissy Higgins or better yet, Ginny Field (Amy Steel). After all, 1982's 'Friday the 13th Part 3' was supposed to center around in mental institution to which she'd been committed due to emotional trauma. However, actress Steel declined to return, and the concept was shelved, until now. Yet, the psychological aspect of the film still didn't work for me. All of the flashbacks and dreams used in the film, seem more cheesy than scary. The film was originally written to have Corey Feldman as the star, reprising the role of Tommy Jarvis. However, he was already working on 1986's 'The Goonies', therefore the script was rewritten to have Feldman's appearance limited to a cameo. Still, John Shepard acting was alright for the most part. He really challenge, mentally disturb, well. I also, love the secret changes that they did with the music cords of the 'Friday the 13th' theme song. It was a great nod of foreshadowing. The ending twist of the film was a bit disappointing, but you kinda knew it was coming. Overall: I have to say the movie is mediocre at best. Not awful, but not good. In the end, it's no movie to really die over for.
