It's been eight years since Jason headlined his own movie and six years since he duked it out with Freddy Krueger. Now, instead of getting another sequel, the creators behind this Friday the 13th tale have opted to go back to the beginning and give the franchise a reboot. Actually, this isn't so much a reboot as it is a rehash of the first four Friday the 13th films, streamlined into one picture.

I won't bore you with all the gory details because it's the same old drill. A bunch of attractive twenty somethings make their way to a cabin in the woods. Ultimately, they get trashed, have sex, and eventually, get picked off by a psycho with a machete (played by a physically imposing Derek Mears).

This redo comes courtesy of producer Michael Bay and the folks at Platinum Dunes. This very same team also hatched The Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake a few years ago. That film's director, Marcus Nispel, also directed this picture and while he appears to have a clear understanding of what this series is all about (it wouldn't take a rocket scientist), Friday the 13th still comes up a little short.

Firstly, this Friday the 13th is just too damn slick. Part of the charm of the older pictures came from their low budget nature. Nispel goes for a sharper, more stylized look and at times, it sort of takes the fun out of the proceedings.

Secondly, this Jason just doesn't feel like the Jason I grew up on. He's still that merciless boogeyman, but in this take, he moves too fast. The old Jason's slower approach actually made him a little more terrifying, sort of in the same way that slow zombies are creepier than fast moving zombies. Furthermore, this Jason has one character attribute (I can't believe I used Jason and character attribute in the same sentence) that is a complete betrayal of who and what this killing machine really is. In a completely uncharacteristic move, this Jason actually takes a hostage. There's a reason for this seemingly ridiculous action, but to protect what little plot this film has to offer, I'll avoid going into detail. In the end, it is a lame conceit, even by Friday the 13th standards. By comparison, even Jason traveling to outer space seemed more sensible.

If you're a fan of nudity, Friday the 13th will not disappoint you. There's plenty of gratuitous skin in this picture. If you're a fan of gore, you'll also get your money's worth. Sadly, though, I wanted a little bit more creativity in the carnage department. There are a few memorable kills. One involves a sleeping bag and another features a helpless victim hiding under a boating dock. The effects team even pay homage to the legendary Tom Savini by incorporating a couple of nifty old school effects shots. Ultimately though, this movie doesn't go quite far enough. In fact, Nispel commits the cardinal sin of introducing a wood chipper to the proceedings and not offering up a sufficient payoff. Seriously, if the wood chipper in Fargo hadn't been put to good use, I would have walked out of that movie irritated. If you're going to have an instrument capable of such massive bodily harm just sitting there, why not use the damn thing in grand fashion? Its what fans come to expect in a movie like this. Why disappoint them?

I suppose this Friday the 13th isn't a total misfire. There are a few noteworthy moments, none bigger than star Travis Van Winkle's priceless bitch scream in the final act of the movie. But there are just too many missed opportunities here. Aside from the aforementioned wood chipper, Jason's discovery of the famed hockey mask is completely uninspired and the sequel ready ending is a complete let down. If you're a fan of the slasher genre, you'll probably have a good time at Friday the 13th, but if you ask me, My Bloody Valentine 3-D was much more entertaining.

Grade: C+