Friday the 13th Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Friday the 13th" in 1080p, 2.40:1-framed transfer offers an overall adequate high-definition experience. Despite a few noticeable drawbacks, such as frequent scenes that appear unusually soft and blurred, the transfer holds up decently in several critical areas. Nighttime scenes are rendered with appropriately dark blacks, though some shots trend towards a grayish hue. Detail and textures, particularly on clothing, foliage, and various objects within Jason's lair or Camp Crystal Lake cabins, are sufficiently informative to fit the film's eerie mood. However, close-ups of human faces occasionally appear overly smooth, with little grain or noise detectable throughout the film. Colors are faithfully reproduced, even if the dominant dark sequences limit their vibrancy, while flesh tones maintain a natural look.

In Warner’s/New Line’s rendition packaged by Scream Factory, the Blu-ray transfer remains unchanged, reflecting its eleven-year legacy with both strengths and weaknesses. Fine grain reproduction aptly captures the film’s original stock, although occasional noise, particularly in dense blues, introduces minor issues. The early 2000s orange/teal color palette largely overshadows other hues, with flesh tones acquiring an unnatural warmth and environments bathed in moonlit blue. Blood retains its vividness against the subdued digital grading of other primaries. Detail surfaces adequately where the cinematography permits, though softer focus scenes and wide shots exhibit limitations that would benefit from higher resolution. The black levels occasionally crush, due to both the disc’s limited range and the film’s inherent shadow density, hinting at an underutilized potential for HDR. Nevertheless, the image holds a respectable depth and brilliant contrast, contributing to a pleasing overall visual presentation despite its age.

The audio presentation of "Friday the 13th" on Blu-ray is delivered through a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. This mix primarily focuses on the front soundstage, with the surround channels adding subtle support to atmospheric elements, such as the chorus of crickets or brushed leaves and snapped branches, featured in certain scenes. The action sequences are where the soundtrack shines, offering crisp and piercing screams and a deep, robust bass that accentuates the tension during kill scenes. Though the mix is faithful to the source material, it may not fully leverage modern sound systems’ capabilities, resulting in an adequate yet somewhat subdued experience.

Noteworthy audio moments include the running motor of a wood-chipper, which fills the soundstage with clear, aggressive volume, and the excellent ambiance in underground scenes that spreads echoes with impressive width. Rain and thunder sequences are particularly well-executed, with expert placement in the soundstage that allows booms to flow between front and back channels, mirroring the dynamic nature of lightning strikes. The low-end response plays a crucial role by powerfully accentuating Vorhees' footsteps on wood floors and providing a throbbing intensity to the score as impending danger approaches. Overall, while dialogue delivery remains impeccable throughout, the sound design tends to be rather bland, preserving fidelity to the original experience without pushing technical boundaries.

Enjoying this Blu-ray's audio requires appreciating its ability to reproduce the film's original sonic atmosphere faithfully rather than expecting an enhanced, immersive soundstage. It excels in delivering specific elements with clarity and with a strong presence when necessary, but it may not be the reference material to showcase an advanced audio system's full potential.

The extra features on the "Friday the 13th" Blu-ray are crafted to enhance both the casual viewer's and the franchise fan's experience. The package includes a variety of featurettes and an engaging picture-in-picture trivia track that dives deep into the lore and behind-the-scenes aspects of the film. Notably, the making-of documentary runs just over 11 minutes and provides a compact, insightful look at the film’s production. Fans interested in the film's more visceral moments will appreciate the dedicated segments covering the most impactful kills, along with eight minutes of additional scenes that offer further context to the story. These extras, combined with high-quality image presentation, make this disc a valuable addition to any horror collection.

Extras included in this disc:

• Picture-in-Picture with Trivia Track: Engaging text and video trivia integrated into the movie.
• The Rebirth of Jason Voorhees: A behind-the-scenes making-of featurette.
• Hacking Back/Slashing Forward: Coverage of key kills in the film.
• The 7 Best Kills: Focused examination of the franchise's top kills.
• Additional Scenes: Extended and deleted scenes offering additional context.

Shout! Factory's inclusion of Marcus Nispel's 2009 reboot of 'Friday the 13th' in their twelve-film collection box set disappoints with no new improvements in video, audio, or supplemental content. This version mirrors Warner Brothers' original 2009 release, devoid of even a refreshed pop-up menu or disc artwork, limiting its offering to the reversible outer case art. On the technical front, the Blu-ray lacks upgrades that could enhance the viewer experience, making it a missed opportunity for fans seeking additional value in this collector's edition.

Narratively, 'Friday the 13th' remains anchored in its familiar slasher formula, lacking innovation but evolving within its established framework. The plot resumes with Jason Voorhees continuing his mother’s legacy of vengeance, targeting unsuspecting backpackers and a vacationing group of teenagers. This film notably repositions Voorhees not just as an undead slasher but as a territorial figure, resonating with post-9/11 survivalist themes. His character is fleshed out beyond mere voiceless murderer, embodying the persona of a defensive recluse, furthering his mythos within the horror genre.

The film unapologetically delivers on its slasher promises, showcasing graphic violence and exploitative nudity, celebrating its splatter movie roots. Contemporary social fears are less pronounced, with Voorhees now symbolizing a more tangible, paranoid antagonist rather than a cultural protector against illicit behaviors. However, character development is thin, and the runtime drags with repetitive tension, despite the film’s attempts to modernize the franchise’s thematic elements. Fans may find this portrayal of Voorhees as both a cinematic and societal figure compelling but cannot overlook the missed potential for innovation and depth, resulting in a film that sticks too closely to its archetypal conventions.

Review 1: The video quality of the "Friday the 13th" Blu-ray is notable for its crisp clarity and authentic film grain, preserving the original aesthetic integrity. The 1080p transfer is clean with only minor instances of noise, most evident in the darker scenes. The audio mix is immersive, utilizing DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 to produce a robust soundstage that enhances the tense atmosphere of the film. Dialogue remains clear, though occasionally overshadowed by the score in particularly intense sequences. Bonus features are abundant, offering insightful commentary and behind-the-scenes footage.

Review 2: This Blu-ray release delivers an outstanding visual experience that stays true to the film's gritty 1980s roots. The color balance is well-maintained, and fine details are preserved, especially in close-ups. However, some scenes exhibit slight softness, which might be inherent in the original film stock. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track effectively utilizes surround channels to heighten suspense, with environmental sounds being particularly noteworthy. Special features include interviews, trailers, and featurettes that add significant value for fans and collectors.

Review 3: The "Friday the 13th" Blu-ray showcases an impressive remastering effort, providing a visually clean and dynamic presentation. The 1080p picture quality offers good detail levels while maintaining the film's vintage horror ambiance. The audio performance is impactful, enhanced by a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix that brings out both subtle noises and bold score elements. Supplementary content is comprehensive with cast interviews, documentary segments on the making of the film, and a historical retrospective that enriches the viewer's appreciation.

Review 4: Technically proficient, this disc features a solid video transfer that captures the film's rustic, eerie settings with good depth and steadiness. While there are occasional inconsistencies in the image sharpness, these do not significantly detract from the overall viewing experience. The audio is clear and dynamic, thanks to the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track which delivers well-distributed sound effects and dialogue. Bonus materials are extensive, providing well-rounded insights into the production and legacy of this iconic horror film.

This "Friday the 13th" Blu-ray represents a well-executed remastering that retains the original film’s nostalgic horror elements while delivering a thoroughly modern presentation. The 1080p transfer ensures high levels of detail and consistency in color balance, despite minor instances of noise in certain darker scenes. The authentic film grain and slight softness in parts reflect the original film stock's characteristics, maintaining the gritty aesthetic that fans appreciate.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix enhances the immersive experience by providing a robust and dynamic soundstage. Dialogue remains clear throughout, with environmental sounds and the film’s classic score contributing to a heightened sense of suspense. Surround channels are effectively utilized, enriching scenes of tension and heightening overall cinematic immersion.

Bonus content on this release is extensive. It includes insightful commentaries, behind-the-scenes footage, cast interviews, featurettes, and a historical retrospective, offering fans deep dives into both the production process and the franchise's legacy. These extras ensure added value for collectors and horror aficionados alike.

It's a bit disappointing that Shout! didn't do much to improve upon an admittedly solid Blu-ray, treating this film like an afterthought, but at least the presentation as-is is good enough and the extra content is decent. While still a routine slasher in formula, reinventing Friday the 13th’s Jason Vorhees as a plausible survivalist killer works.