Okay, Jason Lives... Does It Actually?

So, I finally got around to watching Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives. Honestly, I went in with pretty low expectations. The franchise is...uneven, to say the least. But, I was pleasantly surprised! This one is definitely a step up from some of the others. Tommy Jarvis is back, still paranoid about Jason, and that paranoia accidentally brings Jason back to life. I'm not going to lie, the whole lightning rod thing felt kinda goofy, even for a slasher flick. It was a bit too on-the-nose in a campy way. What really worked for me was the tone. It's much more self-aware and funny. There's this one scene where Jason's chasing after a bus full of paintballers and just mows everyone down. It's so over-the-top, you can't help but laugh. It felt like the filmmakers were finally having some fun with the whole concept. Megan, the sheriff's daughter, was also a decent character, not just a screaming damsel in distress. Her dynamic with Tommy was good, and I actually cared about her unlike other characters who are killed off one by one. However, I still prefer the more grounded horror of the original. The kills in Jason Lives are creative, sure, but they're so cartoonish that they lose some of their impact. And the continuity? Don't even get me started! Does it fit in the timeline? Eh, who knows! I swear Jason's strength and abilities change from movie to movie lol But overall this one has some likeable qualities. Bottom line: Jason Lives is probably the most fun I've had with a Friday the 13th movie in a while. It's not high art, but if you're looking for a silly, gory good time, you could do worse. I probably wont be reading a novel on it anytime soon but I did enjoy it.