"A typical slasher flick -- no more, no less."

Reinventing one of the most recognizable villains in cinematic history is no easy task, but I had high hopes that the Texas Chainsaw Massacre team who brought Leatherface back to life would do the same thing to Jason Voorhees. Unfortunately, the new Friday the 13th is like every other Friday the 13th -- if you've seen any of the previous entries in the series, you've seen the 2009 version. That might be music to your ears, but if you're looking for a new take on the series, you won't find more than by-the-book Friday the 13th kills and slasher movie clichés.

Tell me if you've heard this one before: A group of horny, beer-drinking, pot-smoking teens go out into the woods for a weekend of careless fun only to be brutally killed by a hockey-masked Jason Voorhees. That's essentially the same plot as the first four Friday films have (particularly The Final Chapter), so although it's not a "remake," it's like the other entries in the series. It didn't reinvent the characters or create a new type of killer to fear in Jason (though he is significantly meaner), nor was there any effort to make this a new and improved Friday the 13th film -- it's simply just another sequel.

The 2009 Friday is the cleanest, sharpest and all around best-looking Friday film to date, taking hold of the signature Platinum Dunes "glowing" look and feel. It's well-shot and looks great, but it doesn't push the envelope as far as being different. Compared to other Platinum Dunes reboots, it's not as good as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, but not as bad as TCM: The Beginning. By taking out the campiness of the later Friday films, the creative team focused on the grittiness of the situation. But minus a few "boo" scares, this Friday isn't scary. It lacks the tension necessary to induce true scares, and it's entirely predictable -- I knew exactly what was going to happen every step of the way.

That said, the new Jason is unlike the other Jasons we've seen before, and possibly my favorite Jason of the series. He runs, he's unapologetically meaner and he's one hulking mass of a man who induces terror by his size and his heavy breathing -- without saying a single word. This Jason is also smart, setting up booby traps at his Camp Crystal Lake compound, creating a world of damp underground tunnels and even using outside flood lights to sniff out his victims. But don't worry. The old Jason we've come to expect is still there, killing immoral teens with a variety of weapons, without a viable reason or any signs of remorse.

Speaking of which, the kills are brutally graphic, with an enjoyably high body count and enough gore-filled moments to satisfy the masses. Fire, a bear trap, a machete, an axe, an arrow, a harpoon and a screw driver are among the weapons of choice, which include many items commonly found in tool sheds. The kills also pay homage to previous films, including the first hockey mask kill from Part 3. That was a nice touch, and as a fan of the series, I appreciated it.

The teens featured in Friday the 13th are funny, likable and stereotypical, providing the film's more comedic moments. Their humor made them a step above annoying, and therefore a step above other teens in the series. You won't be mourning any of their deaths, but while they're on screen they're entertaining enough. It wouldn't be a Friday the 13th film without some serious skin, and the flick doesn't falter in that category either. This puppy was filled with sex and nudity from beginning to end! As with the kills and overall premise, this version hit all the clichés you've come to expect from a slasher flick.

But Friday the 13th didn't live up to my expectations on what a "reboot" of the series should have been. It wasn't innovative or new, just the same old thing as done in 2009. It had all the attributes of a Friday film, featuring a cast of attractive teens, a respectable body count and plenty of naked chicks. But the fact that it's so much like the other Friday films is also its biggest weakness. The 2009 Friday didn't offer more insight into the back story of Jason or contribute to the folklore that surrounds him; there were no surprises. I understand that he has mother issues (who doesn't?) but there has to be more there, right? You'd think so, but sadly, no. Jason is just a relentless killing machine. If they had called it Friday the 13th Part 12 and dropped the "remake" tag altogether, I think I would have enjoyed it more.

Friday the 13th wound up being a cut and dry Friday flick, and for some fans of the series, that will be enough; you'll enjoy watching the film and seeing Jason do his thing on the big screen again. But for fans looking for more out of this so-called remake (like me), you'll feel like you missed out on something that could have been amazing, but wound up being just a typical slasher flick -- no more, no less.

Grade: C+

Ammon Gilbert covers the latest in horror, sci-fi, and fantasy every week for Film.com.

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