Search - Friday the 13th, Part VII: The New Blood (Deluxe Edition) on DVD

Bernie's got a saw spot...

N. P. Stathoulopoulos | Brooklyn, NY | 08/30/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This is easily one of the better efforts in the Friday series but it suffers just like the rest of them from cuts, cuts, cuts. This is, apparently, one of the most cut entries by far as the MPAA rejected many of the more elaborate gore effects. Director John Carl Buechler is a respected makeup effects man and was a good choice to helm a Friday flick. A lot was put into the effects, especially for Jason. This marks Kane Hodder's first turn as the hockey-masked killer, and he gets the best makeup effects for the role. The New Blood's Jason is a full-blown, rotting, hulking zombie. Check out the exposed ribs and spinal column under the shredded clothes. We also get a look at Jason's face, or what's left of it (including a big hole in the cheek, exposed teeth, rotting flesh, etc). That alone is enough for fans to check out the film, even if you're just a casual horror fan. The ::ahem:: story involves Tina (Lar Park Lincoln), a Carrie-like teen girl who travels back to Crystal Lake years after an unfortunate and uncontrolled episode with her telekinetic powers led to her father's death. Accompanying her are her mother and her psychiatrist. The latter is played by none other than Terry Kiser, aka Bernie Lomax from Weekend at Bernie's(!) Being a psychiatrist in a horror film, he's naturally evil, trying to exploit the girl's powers for his own gains. (At one point Tina finds newspaper clippings about Jason and the murders in the doctor's desk along with a gun. It's never made entirely clear whether he was concerned and afraid of their surroundings or if he wanted to use Tina to raise Jason from the dead).Next door to the not-so-happy family, of course, a house full of young, stupid, would-be victims. (Apparently the brutal murders occuring regularly around the lake still don't detract vacationers!)Well, once Tina raises Jason from the dead (involuntarily) the action gets under way. And he's quite busy, as this has easily one of the highest Friday body counts. Ch-ch-ch-ah-ah-ah... Our young vacationers are dispatched with a lovely array of sharp objects, gardening tools, and even a plastic party horn(!) Jason also repeats himself a bit by simply throwing one girl out the window, and crushing some poor sap's head. All of the murders are edited down until there's little blood and gore. What sets this Friday apart from the others in terms of cutting is the fact that Buechler himself has tried hard to petition Paramount to release a proper DVD version of the film with all of the material he had to cut for an R rating restored. This, of course, is NOT that DVD.Among the blood and guts left on the cutting room floor (ha!) is the death of good 'ol Bernie Lomax. Jason gets all handyman on us when he employs some kind of weed-wacker with a big circular saw blade on the doctor. You see almost nothing on this DVD, but apparently this was all quite grisly with innards flying everywhere. Supposedly one of--if not the--best effects in the film was trimmed as well. That would be the axe-in-the-face effect on that cheesy preppy guy by the lake. Melissa's death (by axe to head) was also quite special, according to Buechler. Sure, it's sick. But isn't that why we watch these films? Why won't Paramount give us all a fair shake? And for a director of one of these classics to come out and lobby hard for a restored release--how great is that? This is definitely one of my favorite Friday flicks. I would just love to see the rest of it. The tone of these films is dampened by all of the cuts and choppy edits in the murder portions. This DVD is not recommended unless you reeeally want it or if you've worn out your VHS copy. Also, what the heck is going on with the artwork on these DVDs?! Check out the cover of this, or of Part VI. What's up? They can't get the original artwork? Completely, utterly lame."

Very amusing and scary despite lack of blood

Seifer | 05/26/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Spoilers ahead.Read with caution.Despite the relatively poor reviews it's received and the heavy lack of gore,Friday 7 is actually pretty cool and in my opinion is the fourth best of the F13th series (6,4 and 2 being the others). The script is a bit laughable.A girl with psychic powers that has the ability to lift objects and use them as weapons.It is a bit dumb,but all in all works out well.Jason looks REAL ugly and scary in this one (wait until he's unmasked.You'll probably faint because he looks so gruesome and disgusting).The acting isn't too bad,but is a bit laughable in parts (example,at one point Nick finds his brother Michael impaled on a tree branch.He just stands there.Would've you screamed in terror or had a heart attack if you found a friend or family member like that?) The best actor of the whole film overall is undoubtably Kane Hodder.His performance as Jason is very menacing and devilish and breathes countless amounts of life into the character.You've never seen an actor quite like him.The special F/X are Ok,but the film really shines in the make-up department.As I said earlier,Jason looks very gross when he's unmasked. It's truly the definitive Jason.You can see his spine,rib-cage and various other bones exposed. He looks fantastic.The scares are terrific.Creepy music and a very dark atmosphere make this a horribly scary movie.My only gripe is the severe lack of gore.There's hardly any.Hopefully,as Squall suggests,a remastered VHS and the DVD will contain cut footage,deleted scenes and loads of extras.At least the film's bloodier than Part 8. Overall,Friday 7 is a very enjoyable and scary chapter of the series.It's a lot better than Parts 8 and 9 (as well as Parts 1,3 and 5),but it's not quite as good as Parts 2,4 and 6.It's still excellent though.Rated R for mild slasher violence,mild profanity,brief drug use and some nudity."

One of the best Friday the 13ths

retrowens | Alabama, USA | 11/04/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Friday the 13th Part 7 - The New Blood" is definitely one of the top 3 movies of the series if you ask me. Years ago, a young Tina got mad at her father and wished that he was dead after he hit her mom. Somehow, that brought Jason back to life and he killed her father. Now Tina is a teenager and she has telekinetic powers, and she's hurt over her dad being dead. She can see things before they happen and she can move and control objects by concentrating on them. She has to deal with a not so trustworthy doctor who tricks her and doesn't seem to believe her story about Jason. Tina must find a way to use her special powers to overcome Jason Voorhees before he kills everybody around the area of Crystal Lake, including herself."Friday the 13th Part 7 - The New Blood" is great because it is real interesting from the start, and it has great acting. In this sequel, Jason Voorhees is more relentless as a killer than he has been in the past 6 movies. It just seems he won't give up and that nothing will kill him, and that's another thing that really makes this movie stand out from the previous 6 movies in the series. If you like the other Friday the 13th movies, or great slash'em up horror flicks, I definitely recommend getting this one."

Great Slash'em Up Fun

retrowens | 07/28/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Part 7 of the Friday the 13th series is really a good movie. The story is a little over-the-top,with Tina and her telepathic abilities,but hey it's a Jason movie. Kane Hodder rocks as the psyco serial killer because of the attitude and pure menicing look he gives Jason, plus the special effects for the movie and just Jason specifically are awesome(You can see his bones in some places and he actually looks like he has been at the bottom of a lake for a while). And nothing can beat how Jason's mask crackes and blows in half at the end!!!!! I really like this movie and I think it is seconded only by Friday the 13th Part 6: Jason Lives."