As it is, this new movie has a greater sense of realism as Jason goes about his business. The film is gritty and mean spirited, but it all feels genuine. It still requires the suspension of disbelief, but it feels so natural that it is easy to give in and believe the movie, especially when the twentysomething characters stop talking and begin screaming.
Not to be left out is Derek Mears who dons the hockey mask for the role of Jason Voorhees. I know that many say Kane Hodder is the best Jason, but Derek gives him a run for his money. A big difference between the two is that Hodder played the killer when he was a zombie, giving him a reason to move differently, this Jason is very much alive and Derek Mears brings a real nastiness to him. I look forward to another go around for him should a sequel be made.
Audio/Video. The technical side of the disk is very, very good. The video is presented in its original aspect ratio of 2.4:1 (does Blu-ray have anything modfied? I don't think so). This is definitely not a low budget affair like the original film was, and this transfer proves that much. Now, it is not the best looking Blu-ray I have seen, but it is no slouch. It does a great job with the darkness, of which there is much, and just watch Jason emerge from the shadows on more than one occasion. The colors are not bright, nor are they washed out, but they have a nice even tone that underlines the tension and horror while not being unrealistic.
The audio seems to be weighted greatly towards the front channels. Loud, crisp, clear, and does the job of making you jump when loud noises are needed. I cannot really point to any one scene that made the track stand out, but it is uniformly solid. The music is used effectively and does shine throughout, especially when the tension needs to be ratcheted up.
Extras. This release has a nice selection of extras that you can only find on the Blu-ray release.
- Digital Copy. There is a second disk containing a digital copy of the theatrical cut that you can use for your PC or portable device (I have it on my iPod at this very moment).
- Theatrical and Extended Cuts. The DVD you can get one or the other, unlike the Blu-ray where you can choose which you prefer.
- Terror Track Trivia. This picture-in-picture track puts facts about this film and the series on screen, as well as behind the scenes video and interviews. It has no commentary, but it is a nice feature and worth turning on.
- The Rebirth of Jason Voorhees. This is an interesting look at how they went about reinvigorating the Jason character for the new film, crafting his back story, making him realistic as opposed to supernatural, and making him genuinely scary. This includes interviews with cast and crew, plus behind the scenes footage.
- Hacking Back/Slashing Forward. This featurette takes a look at the history of the series through the eyes of the cast and crew.
- The 7 Best Kills. This begins with an introduction talking about how much fun it was to make, how bloody they are, and how brutal they can be. It then goes through the 7 kills (which can be chosen individually) and how the effects are done. Very fun to watch.
- Deleted Scenes. Funny, the deleted scenes have a mature audience warning! The first scene is an alternate version of how Jason gets the mask. I like this version better, especially since it ties into a line earlier in the movie. Next up is the police station getting the 911 call and the discussion of how to respond. I like this scene too. The third scene comes near the end of the film with Clay and Whitney running into the barn, proceeding to show us an alternate take of the final battle.
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