On Friday August 13th, Friday the 13th Part 3 premiered in 1,079 theaters throughout the U.S. To combat possible franchise fatigue after the original and the sequel had been released in 1980 and 1981, respectively, Part 3 employed a gimmick that had been revived a year prior by a Spanish-American spaghetti western titled Comin’ at Ya!, namely 3D. A technique that had been employed widely in the 1950s (along with other various gimmicks), 3D was a unique way to get audiences into theaters and that was certainly the case with Comin’ at Ya!, which managed to pull in $12 million at the box office off a $2 million budget. So when it came to the third installment in the franchise, the team behind Friday the 13th Part 3 jumped at the opportunity to do something different with their latest flick. The strategy worked, as Part 3 grossed $34.5 million, good enough for third best in the series when adjusted for inflation.
Although it’s not my favorite in the franchise (that honor belongs to Part VI: Jason Lives), Friday the 13th Part 3 has always held a special place for me. It was the very first horror movie I saw in theaters (I had just turned 4 a month prior). I still remember going to see it and seeing the cool standup displays in the theater lobby. I had seen Part 2 on HBO recently, so I was familiar with Jason Voorhees and his backstory. Of course, I loved Part 3 and the 3D only added to the enjoyment. And though I’ve watched it on VHS and DVD many multiple times since then (both with and without 3D), I hadn’t watched it in a theater with a crowd. That is, until just recently.
Related Article: ‘Friday the 13th Part III’ Turns 35!
About a month ago, I saw that Friday the 13th Part 3 was being shown in a revival/second-run theater in Portland, Oregon the last week of July. As luck would have it, I was going to be in town during that time! So of course, I had to make it a point to see it. I loaded up the car and headed to the Montavilla neighborhood in Portland with my two oldest children (18 & 13) to catch this classic in all its 3D glory.
The Academy Theater is one of those old-school theaters that reminds you of why you fell in love with going to see movies in theaters in the first place. The marquee was lit up with flashing lights, displaying all the movies showing there at the time. The walk-up box office had one worker who made marks on a small pad for the movie we selected and handed us a receipt and our old-time paper 3D glasses. Oh, and the admission? Most of us are used to $12 tickets nowadays, but here the three tickets were a combined $12! Off to a nice start. We grabbed some popcorn and headed to our screen.
Related Article: ‘Friday the 13th Part III’ Turns 35!
Now, I am certainly a fan of today’s theaters with their reclining seats with heated backs, but there is something special about the type of theaters we grew up going to. Small rows, slightly uncomfortable chairs, cramped screening rooms. You can hear the popcorn popping in the lobby and smell all the candy and soda that has passed through over the years. I loved it!
We put our glasses on and, after about 15 minutes, the lights went down and for about 30 seconds, we were in near-total darkness. Intentional or not, it was a nice touch for a horror film. Then the Paramount logo popped up and the first notes of Harry Manfredini’s iconic score could be heard. As you know, the film actually begins with the final five minutes of Part 2. How cool was it seeing Ginny and Paul and sack-head Jason on the big screen?! Then as we close in on Pamela Voorhees’ decaying severed head, the first bits of 3D kicked in. And that awesome disco-version theme song for Part 3, which I absolutely love! With that, we were on our way!
The 3D effects played surprisingly well. It’s certainly no Avatar, but it was a lot of fun watching the yo-yo come off the screen towards your face or being passed a joint by the stoners Chili and Chuck. Yeah, most of the effects are cheesy in how not-so-subtle they are, but that’s part of the fun. It also occurred to me how much Southern California does not look anything like New Jersey or Connecticut, where the first two films were shot. This was done due to the need to be close to the 3D tech crew in L.A., but boy, it sure looks like Jason has relocated to California to me. Also, Dana Kimmell, who plays final girl Chris, is not the greatest actress, to put it mildly, especially in comparison to Amy Steel in Part 2 and Adrienne King from the first. But once again, I think these just add to the charm of Part 3.
Related Article: The ‘Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning’ Quiz!
One of my favorite characters in the Friday franchise is Shelly (Larry Zerner). I always felt bad for him and I thought he brought a nice levity and innocence to the film with his goofy looks and need to be accepted. “Would you be yourself if you looked like this?” Plus, as any Friday fan knows, he was responsible for the introduction of the iconic hockey mask to Jason’s wardrobe. My 13-year-old daughter, however, did not see it that way. She found him to be creepy and annoying and was glad he was offed by Jason. I thought that was hilarious and amusing. Another observation: Richard Brooker is an outstanding Jason. Menacing, brooding, and vicious (he kills a pregnant woman!), he laid the template for how the character would be played going forward. Only Kane Hodder did Jason better. Finally, I was a bit surprised by how much the film played for laughs, including the kills. Perhaps that was the 3D or the fact that the movie is 37-years-old. Or maybe it was just the very loud two guys seated next to us, who may or may not have taken advantage of Oregon’s marijuana laws before attending the screening.
Overall, I had a blast seeing an old favorite up on the big screen and with an audience, probably for the last time. As I said, it’s not my favorite of the series (but it is my son’s favorite), and even if it was my least, I would’ve still enjoyed it. (Ok, maybe not. I really loathe Jason Goes to Hell.) My kids enjoyed the old-school experience as well, as they’ve grown up in the multiplex age of cinemas and with the modern 3D technology of today’s films. I may have had to travel 1,400 miles to see it, but it was well worth it.
Related Article: The Ultimate ‘Jason Goes to Hell’ Trivia Quiz!
ANAGLYPH IS NOT REAL 3D YOU GOT SCREWED!
The 1980’s version was NOT released anaglyph.
Scream Factory has finally released a PROPER 3D version on bluray in 2020.
Shame on the lame theater you went to for attempting to pawn off a showing of the old crap red & blue bluray
as a real polarized stereoscopic film and shame on you for raving over it.
Had you really seen the original in the 80’s you’d have known you were being screwed.
So you remember things when you were 4( and prior) …….well then. Must have been somthin I ate for me( much older) to not remember such a event.
I hate to tell you, but you drove 1400 miles and got ripped off. Those glasses in your picture are for ratty anaglyph 3D, not polarized 3D, which was how it was shown originally in theaters and is a bazillion times better.