Common Sense Media Review
By Kat Halstead
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Uninventive sequel has bloody violence, bad language, sex.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood
What's the Story?
In FRIDAY THE 13TH PART VII: THE NEW BLOOD, a telekinetic teen, Tina (Lar Park-Lincoln), returns to the scene of her father's death at Crystal Lake years after the tragic event. Under mounting pressure from her deceitful psychiatrist Dr. Crews (Terry Kiser), she accidentally frees serial killer Jason Voorhees (Kane Hodder) from his watery grave. As the local teens are stalked and slashed, can Tina harness her powers and use them for good to finally put an end to Jason's reign of terror?
Is It Any Good?
Despite the reference to new blood in the title, this unoriginal sequel offers very little of that. Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood returns to the early formula of hammy acting, stereotypical teens, and a body count that trumps creativity when it comes to the all-important killings. In this seventh chapter, the "final girl" doesn't just show ingenuity and a steadfast virginity, but actual telekinetic powers. So Jason's not the only one toying with real-world rules here. Superpowers aside -- and the less said about the ending, the better -- this is pretty well-trodden ground, though some fans might celebrate the movie switching out the humor and self-awareness of the previous outing for a return to schlocky cliches and female nudity. Others may be disappointed at another missed opportunity to revive a franchise that really feels like it's drowning at this point.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the level of violence in Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood. Have you seen any other movies from the franchise? How did the violence compare? Was it scary? Exciting? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
How did the film portray sex? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
Talk about some of the language used. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
This movie introduces a character with telekinetic abilities into the mix. Did giving a character other than the killer a "superpower" change the dynamic? How did this film compare to other horrors that include telekinesis, such as Carrie?
The movie includes references to domestic violence. How is the issue portrayed? How is the perpetrator treated within the narrative? Why is it important to responsibly explore issues like this on-screen?
Movie Details
- In theaters : May 13, 1988
- On DVD or streaming : September 3, 2002
- Cast : Lar Park-Lincoln , Kan Hodder , Kevin Spirtas
- Director : John Carl Buechler
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Paramount Pictures
- Genre : Horror
- Run time : 88 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : February 5, 2024
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