Sweet Revenge (dir. Mike P. Nelson)
By: Dave Hughes
Camp Crystal Lake has been silent since 2009, with the Friday the 13th rights tied up in legal battles and heavy debate surrounding its ownership. Now, the hockey mask wearing killer finally returns in Mike P. Nelson’s thrilling short film Sweet Revenge. While the film does not fully restore the horror franchise its former glory, there is excitement around seeing new Jason content. If this is the direction that Friday the 13th is headed, longtime fans and horror audiences alike have a lot to look forward to.
The short film draws on a premise with which audiences will immediately connect. A group of teenagers heads to a getaway at a long-abandoned camp to get away for the week and connect with nature, unfortunately the weekend does not go as expected. Director Mike P. Nelson(Wrong Turn, V/H/S 85) opens with a quick synth driven introduction that sketches out the characters and their roles. The film does not do a deep dive into their personalities but gives viewers just enough to know where things stand, a necessity with the film’s short runtime. Brief introduction and lesser known supporting characters are staples of the Friday the 13th saga and Nelson leans into these tropes with confidence and fun. The result of this direction is a brief opening that feels both familiar and fresh.
It would not be a film in the Friday the 13th series without gore, and to this end, Sweet Revenge doesn’t disappoint. What is especially impressive is how for a low budget film, the violence is surprisingly effective. One particularly memorable moment has Jason using his environment in a creative way that fans of the 2017 video game will appreciate. The attacks are brutal and show a certain amount of commitment to making Jason the force that he can be. Nelson also makes the choice of having some deaths take place off screen in a budget conscious decision. Our main character finds the bodies after the attacks. This is a classic Friday the 13th approach, and it still works very well in this film. Fans will be incredibly happy to see Jason sporting a new look, one that pairs well with the carnage. Together, they make this short feel like a true return to form for the legend of Camp Crystal Lake.
Every Friday the 13th film carries a distinct atmosphere, from the chilling ‘kee-kaw’ noises of the soundtrack to the unnerving sense of isolation in the woods. Audiences know that feeling instantly and Nelson captures it in the film's 13 minute runtime. He recreates the saga’s iconic shots and mood while weaving in his own style, striking a tricky balance between nostalgia and forward momentum. The result is a film that honors what came before while nudging Jason’s world into its next chapter, giving fans plenty to enjoy.
Target Score 9/10 Nelson uses the brief runtime to deliver a tightly built film that reestablishes Jason as a force to be reckoned with in the horror genre. Fans will find a lot to love, and newcomers will get a sharp introduction to the legend of Jason Voorhees.