Friday the 13th Part 2
The body count continues.
Friday the 13th Part 2, released in 1981, is an American slasher film that marked Steve Miner's directorial debut. He also served as executive producer, with Frank Mancuso Jr. as producer, and the screenplay was written by Ron Kurz. The cast includes Adrienne King, Amy Steel, and John Furey. As the sequel to the 1980 original, it is the second film in the Friday the 13th series. This installment introduces Jason Voorhees as the franchise's primary villain.
The story picks up five years after the events of the first movie. A mysterious stalker begins killing a group of camp counselors at a training facility near Crystal Lake, following a similar pattern to the original. Adrienne King reprises her role as Alice Hardy, while Betsy Palmer appears only in a flashback or dream sequence as Pamela Voorhees. Walt Gorney does not appear in this film; Crazy Ralph is exclusive to the original.
Originally, the filmmakers planned to use the Friday the 13th title for an anthology series, with each film telling a standalone story tied to the superstition. However, the surprise ending of the first movie proved so popular that the decision was made to continue the mythology of Camp Crystal Lake. This approach would become a recurring trend in every subsequent franchise entry.
Like its predecessor, the film ran into trouble with the Motion Picture Association of America. The MPAA objected to what it called "accumulative violence," forcing numerous cuts to secure an R rating. The movie opened in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco on May 1, 1981. Critics gave it negative reviews, and it earned less than the first film, grossing $21.7 million in the U.S. against a $1.25 million budget. A direct sequel, Friday the 13th Part III, followed one year later.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Steve Miner
- Writer
- Ron Kurz
- Based On
- Characters · Victor Miller
- Starring
- Adrienne King / Amy Steel / John Furey
- Music
- Harry Manfredini
- Cinematography
- Peter Stein
- Editing
- Susan E. Cunningham
- Studio
- Georgetown Productions Inc.
- Distributor
- Paramount Pictures
- Released
- 1 May 1981
- Runtime
- 87 minutes
- Country
- United States
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Originally, Friday the 13th Part 2 was intended to be an anthology film based on the Friday the 13th superstition. However, after the popularity of the original film's surprise ending, the filmmakers opted to continue the story and mythology surrounding Camp Crystal Lake, a trend that would be repeated in every film in the franchise. Phil Scuderi insisted that the sequel have Jason Voorhees, even though his appearance in the original film was only meant to be a joke.
Reader's Guide
Friday the 13th Part 2 is significant as the film that introduced Jason Voorhees as the primary antagonist of the franchise, a role he would maintain throughout subsequent sequels. The film faced opposition from the Motion Picture Association of America, who noted its 'accumulative violence' as problematic, resulting in numerous cuts to allow an R rating. It opened theatrically in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco on May 1, 1981, and received negative reviews. It was less financially successful than the first film, grossing $21.7 million in the U.S. on a budget of $1.25 million. A direct sequel, Friday the 13th Part III, was released one year later.
Did You Know?
- Adrienne King was pursued by an obsessed fan after the success of the original Friday the 13th and purportedly wished her role as Alice Hardy to be as small as possible.
- Gina Gershon was offered an unspecified role but turned it down due to an 'exploitive' topless scene.
- Actor Warrington Gillette played Jason unmasked at the end of the film; stuntman Steve Daskewisz played the masked Jason throughout the rest of the film.
- Principal photography took place from September to November 1980 in Connecticut, primarily in New Preston and Kent.
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