FRIDAY THE 13TH: A NEW BEGINNING (1985)

FRIDAY THE 13TH: A NEW BEGINNING is the strangest entry in the original series, before things completely shit the bed forever (?) with Jason Goes to Hell. The story is after Tommy kills Jason in Part 4, he’s now a teenager in need of mental supervision. While staying at a secluded home for troubled teens he keeps seeing visions of Jason, but things get even worse when Jason shows up and starts killing people.

For the longest time I didn’t like this movie, but upon multiple rewatches I found myself enjoying it more and more. Weird story, funny overacting, random dancing, two actor from the same years THE RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD, vintage fashions, A PLACE IN THE SUN on TV, Corey Feldman cameo, the highest amount of nudity out of all of the F13 films, the shallowest grave since ZOMBIE, attractive waitress, the highest pitched scream by a male in movie history.

Also, I don’t know why but every time I watch this movie, I expect Jason to toss Junior’s head through the kitchen window and into the pot of stew Ethel was preparing. It never happens and I always get confused. I’m so stupid.

Part 1 - Friday the 13th (1980)
Part 2 - Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)
Part 3 - Friday the 13th Part III (1982)
Part 4 - Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)
Part 6 - Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986)
Part 7 - Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988)
Part 8 - Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989)
Part 9 - The Final Friday: Jason Goes to Hell (1993)
Part 10 - Jason X (2001)
Freddy vs Jason (2003)
Remake - Friday the 13th (2009)

A PLACE IN THE SUN (1951)

SUMMER SCHOOL (1987)

Carefree gym instructor Mark Harmon is ready for some summer vacation!  He's got tickets to Hawaii for him and his hot girlfriend, he's got his Hawaiian shirt, he's got his sunglasses, he's got his leis around his neck and right as the bell rings...he's blackmailed into teaching summer school.  On top of that, his girlfriend dumps him.  Resigned to his fate, he meets his students and they're a bunch of losers, but at least they're entertaining losers.

Maybe it's because I first saw SUMMER SCHOOL when I was still a kid and I actually visualized high school would be like this, but for whatever reason I love this movie.  The school setting (I'm almost positive it's the same high school from THE KARATE KID) is bright and sunny, Shawnee Smith, the beach scenes are pretty, the character development are entertaining, two of the students love THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE series (one even has images and a button from THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 2 on his bedroom wall, plus a number of other awesome horror posters!), 80's music, a MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL reference, an Iron Maiden "Life After Death" shirt, the rivalry between Harmon and the vice principal isn't overly mean-spirited and seems pretty realistic, they go on field trips, plenty of hot babes.  Even after dozens of viewings this summer school is still fun!  SUMMER SCHOOL is one of those movies that I can just watch over and over and always enjoy it.

If you're a fan of light-hearted 80's comedies then you'll probably enjoy SUMMER SCHOOL.  Only sad note: no nudity.

[Updated 2022: If you love this movie, then check out the audio commentary on the blu-ray. Trust me.]