Watch Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives

Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives, released in 1986, is a classic horror film that once again follows the iconic killer Jason Voorhees, who has become a supernatural being resurrected from the dead. This installment brings a new aspect to the series as it features more humor and self-awareness. This time around, Tommy Jarvis, a young man who has been traumatized by his past encounters with Jason, is back and determined to ensure that the killer is dead and buried for good. The film begins with Tommy Jarvis (Thom Mathews) and his friend Allen Hawes (Ron Palillo) visiting Jason's grave to make sure that he is truly dead. However, things take a turn for the worse when Tommy inadvertently resurrects Jason by impaling him with a metal pipe during a thunderstorm. Tommy escapes from the cemetery, but Jason rises from the grave and begins his killing spree once again. After being chased by Jason through the woods, Tommy ends up at the local police station where he tries to convince Sheriff Michael Garris (David Kagen) and his daughter Megan (Jennifer Cooke) that Jason is back. Initially, Sheriff Garris does not believe him and warns him to stop causing trouble. However, when Jason starts to kill off counselors at the nearby Camp Crystal Lake, the Sheriff realizes that Tommy was right all along. Tommy believes the only way to stop Jason is to return him to his grave, and he enlists the help of Megan and her friends to lure Jason back to the lake. As the story progresses, the film manages to balance horror with humor. Despite the gruesome murders, there are several comical moments throughout the film, including a scene where Jason takes on a group of paintballers, mistaking them for his usual victims. This deviation from the typical ‘slasher’ genre gives the film a refreshing spin and adds a new energy to the storyline. The acting in the film is decent, with Thom Mathews giving an especially strong performance as Tommy. His portrayal of a traumatized young man who has resorted to extreme measures to stop Jason from murdering again is convincing and sympathetic. Jennifer Cooke also gives an admirable performance as Megan, a woman who is not afraid to take matters into her own hands to stop Jason from killing again. David Kagen’s performance as Sheriff Garris is also noteworthy, as he portrays a character who eventually overcomes his skepticism to become a key player in the plan to stop Jason. The cinematography is also impressive, with the use of the eerie forest setting to create a sense of dread and horror. The darkness is used effectively to keep the audience on edge, not knowing when and where Jason will strike. The camera work also allows the violence to be depicted in more gruesome detail, further enhancing the horror. In terms of the music, the soundtrack is not particularly memorable, but fits well within the horror genre. Composer Harry Manfredini returns and his iconic ‘ki-ki-ki, ma-ma-ma’ sound effect is still present, adding an unsettling layer to the film’s soundtrack. Overall, Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives is a must-see film for horror fans. It features all the elements of a classic slasher movie, but adds a new self-aware perspective that keeps the audience engaged throughout. It is undoubtedly one of the better installments in the series, and proof that even a long-running franchise can reinvent itself and produce quality horror entertainment.