Friday the 13th Part 2 appears in an aspect ratio of approximately 1.85:1 on this 4K UHD Disc. Given the limitations and age of the source, this became a pretty appealing Dolby Vision presentation.
Sharpness remained positive the majority of the time, as most of the movie appeared more than acceptably concise and well-defined. Some mild softness crept into the image at times, but those instances created no issues.
I noticed no jagged edges, shimmering, or edge haloes, and with a natural layer of grain, noise reduction didn’t become a concern. As for print flaws, I saw a small speck or two but nothing more than that.
Colors came across pretty well, as most of the hues appeared pretty vibrant and lively. While the hues didn’t pop off the screen, they held up well, and HDR gave them some extra heft.
Blacks seemed fairly dark and tight, while shadows looked appropriately dense and visible. Whites and contrast earned a boost from HDR. No one will use the film to show off their big TVs, but this nonetheless felt like a satisfying rendition of the original photograpby.
When I examined the Dolby TrueHD 5.1 remix of Part 2, I felt it offered a satisfying piece. As was the case with the track for the first flick, this one focused on general atmosphere.
Not much else happened here, and surround usage tended toward support. I noticed a few unique elements in the rear speakers – like a barking dog in the right surround – but most of the time those channels just reinforced material from the front.
And that was fine, as the forward channels opened up matters well. They showed good stereo music and demonstrated a fine sense of environment.
The mix created a surprisingly natural sense of place, so if I didn’t know better, I’d have thought the film always came with a multichannel mix. The soundtrack fit the material well.
In addition, audio quality was positive. Speech came across as reasonably concise and natural; no flaws or edginess marred the lines. Effects didn’t boast great range but they seemed clean and accurate.
Music presented nice clarity and except for a somewhat dull-sounding rock song at a bar, that side of things appeared pretty robust. While the track never dazzled, it worked well, especially given its age.
How did this 4K UHD compare to the remastered Blu-ray release from 2021? Despite a switch from DTS-HD MA to Dolby TrueHD, the audio felt similar, if not identical.
As for the 4K’s Dolby Vision image, it came with the expected improvements in terms of delineation, colors and blacks. Although the nature of the source meant the 4K didn’t blow away the 2021 Blu-ray, it offered a reasonable step up in picture quality.
One negative change: whereas the 2021 BD included the film’s original monaural audio, that track goes MIA here.
No extras appear on the 4K disc itself, but we get a mix on the included Blu-ray copy. This platter duplicates the 2021 version linked above and not the original BD from 2009.
Inside Crystal Lake Memories runs 11 minutes, 15 seconds and provides an interview with Memories author Peter Bracke. Conducted by Dark Delicacies owner Del Howison, they discuss why Bracke decided to write the book, his research and the writing process, his approach to the material, aspects of Part 2 and thoughts about the series’ enduring appeal.
I was pleased that “Inside” spent so much time on the production of Part 2. I feared it would be little more than a way to promote Bracke’s book, but it never feels like a promotional tool.
Instead, we get good details about the series and Part 2 in particular. It’s too bad this disc doesn’t include the deleted shots Bracke mentions here, though.
Next comes the six-minute, 50-second Friday’s Legacy: Horror Conventions. It includes some remarks from Scarefest event manager Jeff Waldridge, Friday makeup effects creator Tom Savini, Friday writer Victor Miller, composer Harry Manfredini, Scarefest host Patty Star, and actors Ari Lehman, Betsy Palmer, and Tucky Williams.
We learn a little about Scarefest and why the folks involved in films like to appear there. Unlike “Inside”, “Legacy” does feel promotional. We get no real insights into the horror convention phenomenon and just learn how terrific they are.
A continuation of a piece started on the Friday the 13th disc, Lost Tales from Camp Blood – Part 2 goes for eight minutes, 54 seconds. Actually, “continuation” isn’t really correct, as both parts of “Lost Tales” show different short horror films. Neither offer much entertainment, so don’t expect much from them.
In addition to the film’s trailer, we find a 29-minute, 27-second show called Jason Forever. This takes us to a January 2004 Fangoria convention that united four of the actors who played Jason.
We meet Ari Lehman, Warrington Gillette, CJ Graham and Kane Hodder. They provide some memories of their work on the films. The program gives us a decent roster of facts and proves to be reasonably entertaining.
Like many sequels, Friday the 13th Part 2 does little more than remake its predecessor. However, it does so in a satisfying way, as it presents a discernibly more dynamic and visceral experience. The 4K UHD offers good picture and audio along with a modest set of extras. Friday the 13th Part 2 probably won’t win over any non-fans, but it acts as one of the better entries in the series.
Note that as of September 2024, this Friday the 13th Part 2 4K UHD can be purchased solely as part of a four-movie "Paramount Scares Volume 2” box. That package also includes 4K UHD releases for 1997’s Breakdown, 2013’s World War Z and 2022’s Orphan: First Kill.
In addition, the package provides a special edition of Fangoria magazine along with iron-on patches for each film, a “Paramount Scares” logo sticker, a “Paramount Scares” glow-in-the-dark enamel pin and a special poster.
Of these four movies, only World War Z enjoys an existing individual 4K release, though it differs from this one, as it came from Shout! Factory in 2023. Friday, Breakdown and First Kill all make their 4K debuts in this set and they are only available as part of this box as of fall 2024.
To rate this film visit original review of FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 2
