Friday the 13th Part III

There’s trouble down on the farm in this first of many installments in the “Friday the 13th” series designed to be the last … though it was soon revealed that, in a bit of a meta flourish, Jason Voorhees just simply couldn’t be killed as long as audiences were there to cheer him on. Taking place one day after the events of “Friday the 13th Part 2,” this third chapter features a bruised and broken Jason taking refuge in a barn to recover from his battle wounds; he’s back to his old tricks upon the arrival of Chris Higgins (Dana Kimmell), a Crystal Lake survivor who has journeyed to Higgins Haven with a group of friends to face her fears once and for all. The incorporation of 3-D makes for some of the series’ most flamboyant and creative kills, including deaths by pitchfork, spear gun, fuse box, fire poker and, of course, machete; Jason really comes into his own in this one, as it’s the first “Friday the 13th” in which he wears what would become his signature hockey mask (molded from a 1950s Detroit Red Wings mask, FYI). Director Steve Miner pulls out all the stops … and somewhat all for naught, as Part 4 (ridiculously titled “The Final Chapter”) was released two years later. – IFC Staff