Friday the 13th Part 2 Blu-ray Review

Shout! Factory delivers an outstanding video presentation for "Friday the 13th Part 2," leveraging a fresh 4K scan that brings the film to life with exceptional clarity and texture. The grain structure is solid, displaying a steady and appealing consistency, albeit with minor dense variations in certain scenes. Black levels are generally excellent, providing deep, enriching shadows that are critical for the film's atmosphere, particularly through the tension-building third act. Early scenes near Camp Crystal Lake showcase intricate land details with vibrant, true-to-life colors, encompassing natural greenery, signage, and perfectly accurate gray pavements.

The new 4K scan on this Blu-ray capitalizes on exceptional definition, capturing fine nuances in wood cabins, natural environments, and human features. Even in low-light scenes, the grain structure is finely rendered, maintaining detail without compromise. The contrast is premium, enhancing dimensionality and precision under various lighting conditions. This presentation also elevates the primary colors, giving clothes a saturated appeal without going overboard. Flesh tones remain consistently true, ensuring authenticity and a natural look across the entire film. This meticulous print and flawless encode exemplify top-tier Blu-ray quality in video presentation.

The audio presentation of "Friday the 13th Part 2" on Blu-ray offers two English options: the original 2.0 mono track in lossless DTS-HD Master Audio and an expanded DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless track. The 2.0 mono track, while effective, lacks the fullness and clarity of its 5.1 counterpart. Issues arise in terms of dialogue imaging—most notably in the campfire scene at the 25-minute mark—whereas the 5.1 track achieves much better front stretch and natural surround sound. The mono track's musical definition is comparatively weak, and effects such as thunder and rain struggle to achieve the blended balance and clarity present in the 5.1 mix.

In contrast, the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track delivers a robust, dynamic listening experience. While the surround mixing subtly expands the score and occasionally adds light ambiance in the rear channels, the majority of the audio remains front-loaded, emphasizing clarity and presence. Ambience effects, such as birds and croaking frogs, are more precisely placed and contribute to a significantly more immersive atmosphere. Despite its ‘80s origins, the audio quality shines through with occasional moments of sheer presence that make the 5.1 mix a superior choice for fans with capable systems. Overall, while the mono track serves as a closer approximation of the original mix, the 5.1 offering is a richer, more polished presentation suitable for repeat viewings.

The Blu-ray extras for "Friday the 13th Part 2" enhance the film by offering a wealth of new and archived material. Notable new content includes two engaging audio commentaries with author Peter Bracke, alongside actors and filmmakers. Actress Amy Steel's in-depth interview, extracted from an August 2016 podcast, provides insightful reflections on her career. The rare 'Slashed Scenes' feature deleted scenes from a makeup artist's VHS copy, highlighting the film's brutality. The legacy content includes a rich mix of galleries, trailers, and convention footage, ensuring a comprehensive experience for fans.

Extras included in this disc:

• NEW! Audio Commentary: Author Peter Bracke and selected cast members.
• NEW! Audio Commentary: Peter Bracke, actress Amy Steel, and filmmaker Tommy Houston.
• NEW! My Life and Ginny: Interview with Amy Steel.
• NEW! Slashed Scenes: Deleted scenes from Carl Fullerton's VHS.
• Inside Crystal Lake Memories: Book insights.
• Friday's Legacy: Discussions from conventions.
• Lost Tales From Camp Blood - Part 2: Continuing the horror stories.
• Theatrical Trailer: Original promotional trailer.
• NEW! Japanese Trailer: Upscaled version.
• NEW! TV Spots: Original TV advertisements.
• NEW! Radio Spots: Radio advertisements collection.
• NEW! Movie Stills Gallery: Set photographs.
• NEW! Posters and Lobby Cards Gallery: Worldwide promotional images.
• NEW! Fangoria Articles: Accessible via PC drive.

Scream Factory via Shout! Factory has released the 1981 horror film "Friday the 13th Part 2" on Blu-ray with a fresh 4K scan and a pair of lossless soundtracks. This edition is part of the limited Friday the 13th Collection, which includes all 12 films starring Jason Voorhees and two bonus discs. This release surpasses the previous 2009 Paramount disc, offering a wealth of supplementary content carried over from the older edition alongside new additions.

Five years after the harrowing events at Camp Crystal Lake—dubbed Camp Blood—Paul (John Furey) sets up a new camp nearby. He assembles a group of counselors, terrifying them with tales of Jason Voorhees, a child believed to have drowned and now a grown man, living wild in the woods. Well into the night, Jason becomes more than just a story as he hunts down the unsuspecting teens, while Ginny (Amy Steel) attempts to outsmart him using his psychological weaknesses. Despite its repetition of the original film's formula, "Friday the 13th Part 2" strives to add depth by exploring Jason's psyche, though it ultimately devolves into a series of senseless killings.

On its initial release, this sequel was panned by critics for its mindless violence and lack of coherent plot. Film experts note the opening scene's rare emotional honesty as Alice (Adrienne King) deals with the trauma from the first film before meeting her demise. This moment of cinematic reflection quickly gives way to the franchise's signature gore and nudity. "Friday the 13th Part 2" does not aim for narrative complexity but rather delivers on audience expectations for slasher tropes, replete with sex, blood, and fear-inducing campfire stories. Even with its flaws and overt campiness, the movie succeeded in cementing Jason Voorhees as an iconic figure in horror cinema.

Friday the 13th Part 2's Blu-ray release delivers an impressive 4K scan at 1080p, offering a noticeable improvement in picture quality that flirts with perfection. The video transfer exhibits excellent clarity, color fidelity, and detail, enhancing the film's visual impact significantly. The 5.1 lossless soundtrack is also superb, providing an immersive audio experience that complements the high-definition visuals. Additionally, Shout! Factory deserves praise for including the original mono track, which holds its own as a faithful rendition of the original audio mix.

The film itself presents the iconic debut of adult Jason Voorhees, contributing to its status as a seminal entry in the slasher genre, despite its occasionally aimless and illogical narrative. The lack of coherent plot may detract from its overall experience, yet it remains a pivotal film for fans of the franchise. While the storyline may be criticized for its inconsistencies, the visceral thrills and inventive kills maintain the movie's cult appeal.

In conclusion, fans are in for a treat with the Friday the 13th Part 2 disc. The film is solid, the new 4K scan at 1080p flirts with perfection, and the 5.1 lossless soundtrack is superb (and kudos to Shout! for including the original mono track, too, which is fine in its own right). Add in the new and returning bonuses and all of the other goodies in the boxed set and it's a fan's dream come true. Very highly recommended.