3 out of 5

Directed by: Danny Steinmann

‘New Beginning’ is a respectable attempt to not only continue the fairly linear plot that’s been sketched out up to this point, but also to expand the franchise’s bad guy pool.  The fans decided that wasn’t the direction to go, but it doesn’t ruin the overall stability of this entry.  However, the pacing and tone balancing problems that have existed in most of the flicks are here as well, and – gasp – it’s a bit over-plotted for a slasher flick.  And, of course, the censorship of the era steps in to really mar any sense of threat or momentum.

A handy Corey Feldman dream sequence establishes us a few years further along in movie world, with a now teenage Tommy on his way to a camp to rehabilitate teen lost causes – probable mental problems, criminal misdemeanors, something something.  The main caretaker of the camp – Dr. Matt, played by Richard Young – is realistically altruistic, and the stereotypes that are in attendance aren’t really full-on stereotypical.  The introduction of some comic relief via some nearby yokels who ain’t keen on the teens is almost over-the-top outlandish, especially when blended with Steinmann and crew’s script, which tries to provide dashes of character evolution for the troubled teens and then tries to shove in a couple over-explained extras, such as a dude who comes to the yokels’ farm to find work.

When the killings start, besides being ridiculously edited (which is shame, because we’re starting to toss in one or two more creative kills than just a hack n’ slash), the obvious lack of showing Jason (though with a nod to Part II’s “foot cam”) and some annoyingly obvious close-ups sorta’ ruin any possible confusion as to who might be behind the murders.  Steinmann keeps events moving, even if it seems relatively off-topic, and John Shepherd brings a pretty awesome intensity to Tommy, which, again, could’ve been cool if they’d gone in that direction.  But overall ‘New Beginning’ feels like it’s holding back a bit, unsure what mindset to which to commit – how far to plot things, how much just to let loose, how cheesecake to get.  Because only the yokels are the real soft spot in the casting, it sticks together well enough for an enjoyable view that doesn’t betray anything that’s come before, but isn’t really structured to build any suspense.