Friday the 13th Part 2: Paramount Scares – Volume 2 (4K UHD Review)

• Reviewed by: Tim Salmons
• Review Date: May 20, 2025
• Format: 4K Ultra HD
• 

Director

Steve Miner

Release Date(s)

1981 (October 1, 2024)

Studio(s)

Georgetown Productions/Paramount Pictures (Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment)

• Film/Program Grade: B+
• Video Grade: C+
• Audio Grade: C+
• Extras Grade: D+

Review

[Editor’s Note: Though we’re reviewing each of the films in the Paramount Scares: Volume 2 set one at a time, Friday the 13th Part 2 is available in a separate physical 4K disc, as well... albeit as an import (currently).]

Paramount Pictures and producer Frank Mancuso Jr. wasted no time in following through on the success of 1980’s Friday the 13th. Less than a year later, Friday the 13th Part 2 (with or without a roman numeral) was developed without the involvement of Sean S. Cunningham or Tom Savini, two of the key figures in turning Friday the 13th into what became. Taking over at the helm was Steve Miner, who had worked with Cunningham previously on several projects, including the original Friday.

The second film would take place just a stone’s throw away from Camp Crystal Lake, following the escapades of a group of new camp counselors in training. It’s revealed that not only is Jason somehow still alive and saw his murderous mother being decapitated, but that he lives in a nearby shack in the woods. And when this group of teens inadvertently disturb his home turf, “the body count continues...”

Part 2 is more of a slasher film than its predecessor, letting go of its initial ties to Halloween, but it’s also just a better film in general. It had a slightly higher budget and focused on getting to know the characters a little more. They’re not all just clichéd, sexed-up teenagers looking for a good time, which audiences became accustomed to throughout this series, as well as other slashers of similar ilk. Head counselors Ginny (Amy Steel) and Paul (John Furey), for instance, have an odd relationship and a troubled past, giving them some room to grow in the story. The motivation of the wheelchair-bound Mark (Tom McBride) is to ultimately get out of said wheelchair, and his potential love interest Vicky (Lauren-Marie Taylor) is intrigued by him because of it.

However, other more traditional characters with young hormones gone amok are certainly there, such as the often barely-clothed Terry (Kirsten Baker), the hunky Scott (Russell Todd), and the sexually-adventerous couple, Jeff (Bill Randolph) and Sandra (Marta Kober), who help to get the plot underway. Also among the cast is the genuinely funny and likable Ted (Stu Churno), the local deputy (Jack Marks), and the return of Crazy Ralph (Walt Gorney). Portraying Jason in masked and unmasked forms are Steve Daskewisz and Warrington Gillette.

The film’s biggest hurdle for most people at the time, especially those behind the creation of the first, was that Jason is somehow both grown up and alive, despite his apparent drowning in 1957. It’s a logical lapse, one that invalidates all of the events leading up to and during the original film, but at some point you just have to let it go. This series was a cash cow for Paramount and they needed an excuse to make a sequel, and to be honest, we’re all the richer for it. Jason has always been a supernatural force of some kind anyway, so you just have to go with it.

Part 2 also has more distinguishable visual flair, and that’s saying a lot for a series that’s looked down on for being so cheaply made. There’s some obvious lifting from other films going on, specifically from Mario Bava’s Ecologia del delitto aka A Bay of Blood and Twitch of the Death Nerve, which includes the dual impalement of two lovers, and a machete to the face of another, the latter being one of the more memorable deaths in the series. The kills themselves aren’t quite as bloody or as gory as the original due to MPAA meddling, a trend that would only continue throughout the series, but in the case of the impalement, it alters the impact of that death scene in a negative way. For years, the consensus has been that Jason wearing a sack over his head with a single eye hole was taken from The Town That Dreaded Sundown, but in this case, it seemed to be more of a coincidence.

The biggest positive is Ginny’s character, considered a favorite among Friday fans (myself included). Early on, the story sets up that she has been studying child psychology, using it to her advantage when she confronts Jason during the finale. She seems to understand him, as well as his relationship with his mother, and how seeing her killed might have affected him psychologically. Because of this, Ginny adds a bit more substance to the story, which most of the sequels tended to underutilize. Unfortunately, we’re left with a confusing ending, leaving the fate of one of the main characters in question, and whether some of the events actually took place or not. It’s something that could have and should been simplified, but it’s a minor gripe overall.

When Friday the 13th Part 2 was released in 1981, it was once again a success for Paramount, who quickly rushed a third film into development. In truth, it’s one of the more underappreciated films in the series, at least compared to The Final Chapter, Jason Lives, and The New Blood, all three of which tend to top most fans’ lists. Part 2 succeeds at not just being a carbon copy of the original, but maintaining some genuine suspense and fleshing out characters a little more than you would expect. It’s too bad that the sequels didn’t follow or improve upon this formula. After this film, Jason is nothing more than a killing machine with no psychological nuances whatsoever. The kills became bigger and broader and the characters were dumbed-down and simplified, which is certainly evidenced in the sequel that followed.

Friday the 13th Part 2 was shot by director of photography Peter Stein on 35mm film using Panavision Panaflex cameras and spherical lenses, finished photochemically, and presented in the aspect ratio of 1.85:1. Paramount’s Ultra HD debut comes from a 4K scan of the original camera negative, graded for High Dynamic Range in HDR10 and Dolby Vision, and encoded to a dual-layered BD-66. While this presentation looks good at an initial glance, further viewing reveals how uneven it is. It’s definitely not the egregious mess that the UHD of the original Friday the 13th was, but it’s definitely not up to par. There’s most assuredly a boost in detail, but not consistently. Some reframing has occurred and the bitrate sits between 60 and 90Mbps, often middling somewhere in the 70s, and never fully aiding the picture. Grain levels are also uneven, which are extremely cleaned up in some shots but more natural and refined in others. The digitally re-created fades to white during the opening credits have an inorganic quality to them—using the interpositive for the opticals would have been a better way to go. Color and contrast are also a mixed bag. The HDR grades overly saturate everything, which makes greens, blues, and reds appear much richer, but plays hell with flesh tones and gives the overall palette a hyper-stylized look. Blacks are sometimes crushed, and overall contrast is merely decent. The interiors of Jason’s shack have also been tinted a sickly yellow, for whatever reason. Everything does appear clean and stable throughout, but once again, Paramount’s handling of these films on UHD leaves much to be desired. Many will watch this and be perfectly happy with it; as usual, your mileage may vary, but for others, this is more of a downgrade in comparison to the previous Blu-ray.

Just as a quick side note, this disc opens with multiple pages of legal talk in various languages that you have the click through to get rid of, which is highly annoying and incredibly unnecessary.

Audio is included in English 5.1 Dolby TrueHD with optional subtitles in English and English SDH. The biggest bone of contention here is that uncompressed original mono track is missing in action, though a lossy version of it can be found on the accompanying Blu-ray. Even more curious is that Paramount has elected not to used the 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track from their more recent Blu-ray release, opting for the 2009 Blu-ray’s Dolby TrueHD track instead. Regardless, the original mono isn’t included, and that’s another heavy blow. The 5.1 track that’s been included is middle of the road, with very little impact on the surrounds, and dialogue that’s mixed a bit too low at times. It’s yet another disappointing aspect of this disc. Other audio options include an English Descriptive track, as well as German, French, and Italian mono Dolby Digital. Additional subtitle options include German, Spanish, French, Italian, and Dutch.

The 4K Ultra HD release of Friday the 13th Part 2 is available in its own separate package in the UK, as well as the Paramount Scares: Volume 2 boxed set, along with the films Breakdown, World War Z, and Orphan: First Kill. Also included in this set is a Special Paramount Scares Collector’s Edition of Fangoria magazine, which covers all four films; a set of patches; a sticker; and a Paramount Scares enamel pin. Each UHD is included in its own black Amaray case and dedicated slipcover. Everything is housed in a large rectangular chipboard box. The following extras for Friday the 13th Part 2 are included on the Blu-ray only:

• Inside Crystal Lake Memories (HD – 11:15)
• Friday’s Legacy: Horror Conventions (HD – 6:50)
• Lost Tales from Camp Blood Part II (HD – 8:54)
• Jason Forever (SD – 29:27)
• Original Theatrical Trailer (HD – 2:03)

All of these extras have been following Paramount’s home video releases around for years on optical disc. To add insult to injury, many of the extras from Scream Factory’s amazing Blu-ray boxed set of all of the films are not included. Inside Crystal Lake Memories features an interview with Peter M. Bracke by Del Howison about the creation of Bracke’s book, as well as the films themselves. Friday’s Legacy delves into the film’s impact on horror conventions. Lost Tales from Camp Blood Part II continues with another slasher short film. Jason Forever features a Q&A held at a 2004 Fangoria Convention with Peter M. Bracke, Ari Lehman, Warrington Gillette, C.J. Graham, and Kane Hodder. And last is the original theatrical trailer, which is missing the vintage opening Paramount logo, adding a more recent Paramount logo at the end.

The following substantial bonus materials were included in Scream Factory’s Friday the 13th Blu-ray boxed set, from discs three and five collectively:

• Audio Commentary with Peter M. Bracke, Russell Todd, Lauren Marie-Taylor, Bill Randolph, Stu Charno, and Kirsten Baker
• Audio Commentary with Peter M. Bracke, Thommy Hutson, and Amy Steel
• My Life and Ginny: A Conversation with Amy Steel (HD – 33:15)
• Machete Memories: Steve Miner Remembers a Career in Fear (HD – 21:28)
• Once Speared, Twice Shy: Bill Randolph on Friday the 13th Part 2 (HD – 29:54)
• Back to Camp: The Locations of Friday the 13th and Part 2 (HD – 31:24)
• The Friday the 13th Chronicles: Friday the 13th Part II (SD – 14:04)
• Slashed Scenes (SD – 9 in all – 4:23)
• Japanese Theatrical Trailer (SD – 1:02)
• TV Spots (HD – 2 in all – 1:05)
• Radio Spots (HD – 3 in all – 1:27)
• Movie Stills Gallery (HD – 65 in all – 5:32)
• Poster and Lobby Cards Gallery (HD – 77 in all – 6:32)
• Vintage Fangoria Magazine Article (BD-ROM)

Sadly, Paramount’s UHD debut of Friday the 13th Part 2 is a swing and a miss, and difficult to recommend. This film, as well as the other films in the original Paramount Friday the 13th series, will likely get better treatment from a sublicensor sometime down the road, who will most assuredly do a better job. Of course, this disc isn’t even available in Region A territories outside of the Paramount Scares: Volume 2 boxed set. So if you don’t have this set and really wanted it for Friday the 13th Part 2, you’re not missing anything.

- Tim Salmons

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