Director: Joseph Zito
Cast: Kimberly Beck, Peter Barton, Crispin Glover, Corey Feldman
Have I Seen it Before: I dunno… maybe?
Did I Like It: And that’s the real problem with the whole series. Well, at least one of them. The whole series bleeds together. Don’t believe me? Quick, name the final girl in the first Friday the 13th (1980). No, it isn’t Kevin Bacon. I’d even give partial credit if you can name how many films in the series she appeared in. Can’t do it, can you? I can’t do it, and my horror movie literacy is at least above average, and it isn’t like I’m about to look it up.
That all sounds like I’m going to start trashing this one, too, but there’s an odd uptick in improvement. This fourth entry is certainly better than Friday the 13th Part III (1982). Dim praise, maybe, but it’s imminently encouraging that the series kept the hockey mask, but dropped things point at the center of the frame and the weird disco riffs in Harry Manfredini’s score from the previous film. It’s a reversion to the dull mediocrity of Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981), perhaps, but the series can probably—and likely will—go on ad infinitum content to be a Great Value version of the Halloween series.
But there are some casting choices here that are not only back to average, but above it. Crispin Glover certainly hasn’t become anyone’s density or destiny yet, but it’s always at least a little bit interesting to see him in anything. And then there is Corey Feldman, who is something of a presence in this movie and movies going forward, and if I remember right, becomes a regular foil for Jason Voorhees (Ted White, uncredited).
Now if only I could remember the character’s name… Ah, well. Maybe that’ll stick more in future entries.