FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 6: JASON LIVES! (1986)

 

FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 6: JASON LIVES (1986)

DIR: TOM McLOUGHLIN

SYNOPSIS:

TOMMY JARVIS visits the burial ground of JASON to dispose of the body once and for all, but inadvertently brings him back to life instead. The newly revived killer once again seeks revenge, and TOMMY may be the only one who can defeat him.

REVIEW:

PART 6 represents another round of “firsts” for the series; it’s the first time actual kids are present for summer camp, the first time the director has also been the writer, the first time JASON can be accurately described as a supernatural killer, the first time the series acknowledged the fact that it was all getting a bit stupid, and the first (and last) time JOHN TRAVOLTA’s nephew was in a reputable production prior to PHANTOM OF THE MALL. It’s also the first time the franchise dipped in and out of being a straight up comedy; a fact only reinforced by the appearance of RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD’s THOM MATHEWS as TOMMY JARVIS.

While we’re on the subject, fuck this movie’s JAMES BOND beginning, and fuck MARTIN the gravedigger looking right into the camera and saying “some folks got a strange idea of entertainment”. I know why I’m watching one of these movies, I don’t need you assholes judging me for my life decisions.

Plot wise, the residents of CRYSTAL LAKE (now called FOREST GREEN) just want to forget about the JASON killings, and the town cops are a couple of major assholes to TOMMY even before he tries to tell them that shit’s about to hit the fan. All I can say is thank fuck TOMMY JARVIS isn’t black. The presence of actual, real live kids adds a sinister touch to the proceedings too, the likes of which we haven’t really seen since PART 2.

This movie also has my second favourite final girl, MEGAN, who’s strong and sassy and knows when she wants to smash a guy’s face into her crotch.

PART 6 leans a little too heavily on the comedy for my liking, but I respect it in part for attempting something different. The action is at least consistent, even if some of the victims are introduced solely to be slaughtered rather than serving any greater narrative purpose.

Overall, it’s solid, if a little daft.

RATING: 🪓🪓🪓