Dana Kimmell

Catherine Parks

Richard Brooker

Tracie Savage

David Wiley

Rachel Howard

Anne Gaybis

Larry Zerner

Paul Kratka

Jeffrey Rogers

Steve Miner

David Katims

Kevin O'Brien

Nick Savage

Cheri Maugans

Gloria Charles

Steve Susskind

Perla Walter

Warrington Gillette

Bud Davis

Terence McCorry

Terry Ballard

Gianni Standaart

Betsy Palmer

Amy Steel

John Furey

Charlie Messenger

Marilyn Poucher

Steve Dash

Allan A. Apone

Victor Miller

Frank Mancuso Jr.

George B. Hively

Harry Manfredini

Ron Kurz

Gerald Feil

Petru Popescu

Eric Van Haren Noman

Peter Schindler

Sandi Love

John Sherrod

Pamela Bebermeyer

Lisa Barsamian

Robb Wilson King

Kathleen Newport

Steve Vandeman

Jack K. Tillar

Jimmy Medearis

Kevin F. Cleary

Laurel Moore

Jon Carpenter

William L. McCaughey

David Kelson

Marguerite Happy

Earl Sampson

Terry Porter

Gala Autumn

Mako Koiwai

J.B. Richner

Mitch Bogdanowicz

Steve Slocomb

Gary Stark

Mike May

Mary Carroll Kaltenbach

Chico Anzures

Jo Anne Cooper

Mike De Luna

Dennis Yank

Angel Trujillo

Jim Lannen

Frank Carrisosa

Sharon Collis

Victor Kloster

Louis Lazzara

Holly Shadduck

Henry Humphreys

Ed Newmark

Clive Smith

Kenny Myers

Celestial Mechanix, Inc.

Brian Smith

Gary Dahl

Larry Morrison

Bob Noland

Michael Zager Band

Tom Elliott

Anthony Kerum

Lee Nashold

Larry Carr

Howard A. Anderson

David Miller

Douglas J. White

Neiman-Tillar

Carol Watson

Martin Kitrosser

Martin Jay Sadoff

Steve Rez

Dee Suddleson

Richard Davis

Shanon Ely

Cheri Minns

Bonnie Ballard

Terry Collis

Tim Evans

Dave Emann

Bill Nelson

Bill Lytle

Janet Lee Smith

Martin Becker

George Michael Brown

Constance Talley-Sherman

Francine Mozurkevich

Linn Zuckerman

Tony Bishop

Friday the 13th Collection

Horror

Thriller

Friday the 13th Part III

Jason Productions

Georgetown Productions Inc.

Paramount Pictures

Sean S. Cunningham Films

Frank Mancuso Jr. Productions

United States of America

English

lake

summer camp

sadism

psychopath

sequel

woods

murder

slaughter

serial killer

slasher

summer

series of murders

blood lust

one by one

supernatural horror

young girls

slaughtering

Gimly

Still to this day, the entry with the creepiest looking Jason.

_Final rating:★★½ - Had a lot that appealed to me, didn’t quite work as a whole._

***Somewhat fun and entertaining, but adds campiness and bad writing***

The first two films from 1980-1981 are serious in nature with the expected antics of youths at a remote camp, but the franchise introduced a campy element with this third installment, which pretty much plagued the rest of the series until the reboot in 2009. Not that I'm complaining much, as these films are only quasi-believable anyway. 

Still, this is the main detriment of "Part III,” released in 1982. The opening credits song tips the viewer off that this isn't a wholly serious horror film (like the first two), which is compounded when a couple of the protagonists meet some sinister bikers at a convenience store in the boonies, which takes place about 25 minutes into the story. These hoodlums are too cartoonish to take serious and so it's hard to take the horror seriously either. This doesn't mean it's not entertaining in some ways, just that it's my least favorite installment.

The dubious writing doesn’t help. For instance, why does Fox go into the barn? Speaking of that dang barn, why on earth are so many characters preoccupied with it? It’s like the writer wanted to come up with any possible excuse to use the barn as a focal point. Also, why does Vera leave Shelly to go outside and hangout by herself? I realize she probably wanted to get away from the pathetic guy, but she informs him that she’s going to go outside with a sense of purpose and come back in, but she really doesn’t do much outside. Sequences like this reflect lame writing. 

Another noticeable difference between Part III and the two previous films is that, although the story takes place in the area of Crystal Lake, the film was shot in Southern Cal instead of the East Coast, specifically Santa Clarita, CA, and nearby Melody Ranch (where the barn is located). The geography is obviously dryer and the contrast in setting is too glaring. While it could be argued that the different environment provides a nice change of tone, the setting seems too one-dimensional.

As usual with the series, the film thankfully features a nice assortment of females: three white girls, a Hispanic and a black woman, the latter being the biker chick, Fox. It's hard to pick a favorite, but the main protagonist, Chris, played by Dana Kimmell, is probably it, followed by the stoner chick, Chili; not to mention Debbie and Vera (Debbie has a quality bikini scene).

BOTTOM LINE: Part III is entertaining in some ways and is notable for switching the filming locations to dry Southern California, not to mention Jason is bigger and more imposing than in Part II and he finally acquires his iconic hockey mask. Yet it’s my least favorite of the franchise due to the goofy elements, the subpar writing and the limited setting with too much focus on a freakin’ barn.

The film runs 95 minutes.

GRADE: C

Decided to get in one more Friday the 13th movie and this one reminded me why it's not high on my list in the series, though I liked portions of it, just nothing involving Shelly and watching it in 2D, the shots made for 3D are pretty annoying. I will say, I did like the lead actress and I'm a fan of the hockey mask Jason. **3.0/5**

Friday the 13th Part III( 1982)

A New Dimension In Terror...

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A review by Gimly

Written by Gimly on Thu Sep 13 2018

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