“And I promise, I’ll never, ever be late again for the rest of my life. Deal?”

Story: It’s five years after the slaughter at Camp Crystal Lake, aka Camp Blood. There’s a new camp counselor training site near the old camp…what could go wrong? Hey, who’s out there?

Scares: Lots of tension, and jump scares. Plus all the murdering stuff.
Splat Factor: FX maestro Stan Winston helms this joint. So yeah. Yeah one thousand.

Subgenre: Superior Slasher Sequels
Year Released: 1981
Remake, Sequel or OG (Original Ghoul)?: Part two of the ever growing F13 franchise.

Trick or Treat?: Happy Friday the 13th! Welcome to my #31in31 for the film that had me second-guessing a convertible VW Bug as my dream car, and the film that introduced Jason to the horror slasher pantheon. I can’t believe I’ve only done the first film, Jason X, and a documentary. So let’s remedy that by checking out the film that boasts one of my favorite lesser-known scream queens (what up Amy Steel) and my favorite slasher character crush, former football player/current counselor, Mark (RIP, Tom McBride.)

I really enjoy this movie, thanks to the interesting plot points. A sheriff goes to check out a rando running in the woods, and finds Jason’s hideout. Training assistant Ginny is a child psych grad student. The group of trainees is pretty large, but the majority of them go to the local bar for “one last night out”, thinning the at-camp herd. And while Ginny’s car is set up for tons of problems? When it doesn’t start, I’m always terrified and hoping for the best – thanks for that suspenseful setup, director Steve Miner. His deft touch with the boilerplate plot, as well as Ron Kurz’s funny and frightening screenplay, make 2 an enjoyable re-watch.

And let’s not forget the new kid on the block…all hail the real birth of slasher-killer Jason! In 2, he’s in full The Town That Dreaded Sundown, with a flour sack as a “mask”. (It’s 3 that’ll give him his hockey mask. Pop that into your Halloween trivia for the n00bs.) While all-time legend Kane Hodder doesn’t make his Jason debut until Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan, Warrington Jillette and Steve Daskewisz are suitably terrifying as unmasked and masked Jason, respectively. I mean, you gotta love that this Jason has impeccable manners; he takes the kettle off the burner after killing someone, so the whistle won’t annoy the neighbors. Such a good boy.

This is the quintessential 80s slasher, with all the tropes, all the full frontal, and all the fun kills. It’s a recipe that’d been cooking for a while, but 2 really nails it. There’s something about this film that’s almost comfort food; it can be scary if you want to be scared, it can be silly if you want to goof on a film, and it can be a blast with a group of friends. Plus? The real-life day-to-day 80s fashion is on point here. It wasn’t all neon and spandex. I mean, not all the time. So if you wanna go native while watching this 80s classic? Grab a pair of high-waist boot cut jeans and a crop top. Because much like killings at a summer camp, they’re back, baybeeee!

Score: 4 out of 5 pumpkins. I’d have said five, but I will never forgive Steve Miner for killing off my favorite 80s hottie. NEVER, STEVE.