Common Sense Media Review
By Kat Halstead
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Slasher sequel has violence, language, sex, and drugs.
Parents Need to Know
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Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning
What's the Story?
In FRIDAY THE 13TH PART V: A NEW BEGINNING, Tommy (John Shepherd) has spent years in mental health facilities after killing the masked murderer Jason Voorhees as a child. When he is sent to an isolated halfway house, he begins to have visions of Jason's return. Soon the bodies start piling up, proving there's a masked killer on the loose, but is it really Jason back from the dead?
Is It Any Good?
Credit to the filmmakers for trying a slightly different setup in an attempt to revive the franchise (just a year after the "final" chapter). Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning introduces a new location, a teen halfway house, and moves away from characters that are purely sex-crazed teens. Yet despite these changes, the film quickly ends up feeling like much of the same, and a lackluster version at that. The killings are plentiful but nothing new and there's still the helping of sex and nudity, although there is a slight change in character dynamics. It's no longer interchangeable teens partying until they meet a pointy reckoning, but adult and child characters taking on just as important roles. Sadly Tommy's character is wasted for much of the film, but the likable Reggie (Shavar Ross) and Pam (Melanie Kinnaman) step into the limelight in the meantime. What unfolds feels like a jumbled lead-up to a predictable "rematch" -- an opportunity for Tommy to face his demons head-on -- though Shepherd isn't given a lot to work with in the role. Losing Corey Feldman after his delightfully unhinged performance as Tommy in the previous film feels like another missed opportunity here, the timeline jumping ahead to churn out a sequel that misses the mark on bringing with it the most interesting part of what came before.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the level of violence in Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning. Have you seen any other movies from the franchise? How did the violence compare? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
This is the second film in the franchise to have a child as a relatively central character. How did Tommy from the previous film and Reggie from this film compare? Do you find watching a child in threatening situations different to watching adults?
Talk about some of the language used. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
How did the film portray sex? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
How were drinking, smoking, and drugs portrayed? Were there consequences? Did it glamorize them?
Movie Details
- In theaters : March 22, 1985
- On DVD or streaming : September 25, 2001
- Cast : John Shepherd , Melanie Kinnaman , Shavar Ross
- Director : Danny Steinmann
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Paramount Pictures
- Genre : Horror
- Run time : 92 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : February 2, 2024
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