One of the most frequent questions I am always asked being the host of the greatest movie podcast ever (opinions may vary) is “What’s your favorite movie?” That answer has been the same since I was 11 years old. But it also isn’t as easy to explain why I love some movies more than others.
As an art form, movies are by their nature interpretative. Some people will point to a film’s box office total as a barometer for a film’s quality, this might not be true again because although it might be popular to the masses it might not appeal to you. I am looking at you Avatar, which is not one of my favorite films, not by a longshot.
Also, if the film wins an Academy Award for Best Picture, that hardly means it’s one of my favorite films, looking at you The English Patient, in fact I hardly agree with the Academy. Having said that, I am sure that some people love Avatar and The English Patient. And that’s what makes movies so great.
I, also am not a professional critic. I love film. I try and find merit in all film. As a host of a podcast that attempts to give every movie a chance, I believe that is the best way to approach movies, let the lights go out and try and enjoy yourself. You might find a “diamond in the rough.”
When thinking of my favorite movies to share with you, my loyal listeners, I thought 100 wasn’t going to be enough. So, I am proud to present my 150 Favorite Films, right now. These will change, I know they will.
See you at the movies!
***Spoilers Ahead!!!***
104. Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981) Directed by Steve Miner
The Movie: It’s been two months since Alice (Adrienne King) fought for her life at Camp Crystal Lakeand killed Pamela Voorhees (Betsy Palmer) by lopping her head off with a machete. Alice is still tormented by nightmares of Jason, Pamela’s son who “drowned” and attacked her from the murky depths of Crystal Lake. After getting off the phone with her mom. Alice is startled by a cat in her window. Alice breathes a sigh of relief. Alice opens her refrigerator and finds Pamela Voorhees rotting, head inside. Alice’s head is grabbed from behind and she is stabbed through the temple by an ice pick.
Five years later, at a camp across from where the Night at Camp Blood took place, Paul Holt (John Furey) is training a new set of counselors at the Packanack Lodge. Joining Paul is his girlfriend Ginny (Amy Steel) who is late on the first day. Other counselors include Ted (Stuart Charno), Terry (Kristen Baker), Mark (Tom McBride), Sandra (Marta Kober), her boyfriend Jeff (Bill Randolph), Vickie (Lauren-Marie Taylor) and Scott (Russell Todd).
The first night at the Lodge, Paul tells the story of Jason. Pamela’s “dead” son. Paul tells everyone that Pacanack Lodge is on the same lake where Jason drowned. Paul continues that the girl that survived “Camp Blood” has been missing, with only a bloody drenched home as a clue. Paul says that Jason did not die, he has been living in the woods, living off the land, and protecting his land. Killing anyone foolish enough to enter his woods. As Paul finishes his story, Ted jumps out and scares everyone. Paul tells everyone that that’s the last he wants to hear about the ghost story of Camp Crystal Lake. Crazy Ralph (Walt Gorney) arrives at the Lodge to warn everyone, but is killed by an unseen killer.
The next day, Sandra convinces Jeff that they should go and explore Camp Crystal Lake. Jeff reluctantly agrees. On the way to the camp, Jeff and Sandra find a eviscerated dog, that looks a lot like Terry’s dog Muffin. The two lovers are stopped and caught by Deputy Winslow (Jack Marks). Deputy Winslow takes them back to Packanack Lodge to report them to Paul. Paul tells Sandra and Jeff their punishment is they have to stay back at the Lodge for the night, while others go into town to have fun.
As Deputy Winslow leaves the camp, he sees a man in with a burlap sack over his head run across the road and towards Camp Crystal Lake. Deputy Winslow gives chase, eventually finding a decaying shack in the middle of the woods. Deputy Winslow enters the shack. In the back of it he finds an altar and is smashed in the back of his skull with a hammer claw.
At the Lodge, Mark, Vickie, Terry, Scott, Sandra and Jeff all stay behind. Ted, Ginny and Paul head into town for one last night of partying at a bar. Terry decides it’s a good time to go skinny dipping and goes into the lake. As she exits the water, Scott takes her clothes and she chases him into the woods. Scott steps onto a snare trap and is stuck hanging upside down in a tree. Terry agrees to help Scott as long as he stops teasing her. He agrees and Terry rushes back to camp to get a knife to cut Scott down. Scott however, is a sitting duck and has his throat slashed and dies. Terry returns and finds Scott. She turns to run away but she runs right into the killer.
Back at the Lodge, a storm is rolling in. Sandra and Jeff go upstairs to have sex, leaving Vickie and Mark alone. Although Mark is in a wheelchair, he is handsome and full of confidence. Vickie and Mark flirt with Vickie asking if everything is paralyzed. When Mark says that he does ok, they decide they too will hook up. Vickie leaves to “freshen up”.
Mark is sitting on the deck Hearing lightning and what he believes are footsteps. Mark looks around and sees nothing. Out of nowhere, Mark takes a machete to the head so hard that it causes him to roll backwards down the stairs. The killer enters the Lodge, the killer is Jason (Steve Dash, who plays Jason throughout the film except for the climax where he was played by Warrington Gillette. Dash was credited as Jason’s Stunt Double, even though he was Jason for 2/3’s of the film. Gillette happily took the credit of being Jason. The producers learned that Gillette wasn’t a seasoned stunt performer as he led on and they had to replace him due to him not hitting marks and spots. It wasn’t until nearly 25 years later that fans learned who the “real” Jason was. Gillette for his part is gracious in interviews and is a fun person to listen to.) Jason grabs a spear and slowly makes his way up to the room where Jeff and Sandra are. Jason enters the room and slowly walks over to the couple laying on the bed. Jeff is on top of Sandra who is oblivious to his impending death. Sandra notices Jason, but it’s too late. He skewers them both in one horrific stab through both bodies impaling them both.
Vickie enters the Lodge looking for Mark. Vickie goes upstairs and enters Jeff and Sandra’s room. There she is attacked by Jason and killed.
Ted stays behind as Ginny and Paul head back to the camp. When they arrive, they notice that the Lodge is a mess. Ginny senses something is wrong. As they search the Lodge they move from one room to the next, eventually making their way into the kitchen. Ginny tells Paul that someone is in the room with them. Ginny sees Jason slowly stand to attack Paul.
Jason incapacitates Paul and beings to chase Ginny. Jason loses sight of Ginny and she happens to stumble across Jason’s shack. Ginny is horrified with what she sees. Before she can catch her breath, Jason is rushing towards his shed. Ginny makes her way to the back room; there she sees an altar with Jason’s newest victims and his mothers decapitated head. Ginny sees Pamela’s sweater. Ginny puts it on quickly and Jason bursts into the room. Ginny pretends to be Pamela and this confuses and makes Jason stop his attack. Ginny raises a machete with the intent to strike Jason. Jason sees his mother’s head and realizes he’s been tricked. Jason slashes Ginny’s leg with a pickaxe. Paul returns and fights with Jason again. Ginny picks up the machete and buries it into Jason, Jason “dies”. Ginny bends down and removes Jason’s mask, she and Paul are horrified with what they see.
Paul and Ginny make their way back to the cabin and get a surprise visitor, Muffin! We thought she was dead. Ginny reaches down and picks up Muffin and…Jason crashes through the window and grabs her!
Ginny however wakes up on a stretcher. Calling for Paul and realizing he is not there. Was Jason’s attack through the window just a dream?
Why I Love Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981): As I have gotten older and rewatched (many times) my favorite slasher series, I have grown more and more fond of Friday the 13th Part 2. When I watch the film, I realize I am watching a meaner, better made version of the first film. Friday the 13th is an all time classic. Friday the 13th Part 2 takes all the lessons learned from the first film and cranks them up. It has become my second favorite film in the series.
The film starts by introducing us to a cast of really likeable young adults. They are relatable, funny and believable. As we get to know them, the sense of dread that will befall them helps elevate Part 2 above the previous film. Killing Alice at the beginning tells the audience, no one is safe.
Part 2 also benefits from Jason being the antagonist. Betsy Palmer’s Pamela Voorhees is a cinematic classic. Jason however, is much more frightening. When he starts his all-out assault on the Lodge, the pace never lets up, never lets you catch your breath. Jason’s kills are brutal. The highlight for most people is the couple shish-kabob. To me, I think his most brutal kill and the one I point to for anyone that thinks Jason kills for teenagers misbehaving, is Mark. Mark is in a wheelchair, literally just sitting on the porch. His machete to the head is shocking as too is his descent down the stairs.
Amy Steel’s Ginny is a favorite for a reason. She’s funny, pretty and carries the film with her tenacity for the last 30 minutes. Steve Miner directs a lean, mean horror film that earns its place among the slasher genre’s best.