DIRECTED BY: Steve Miner
WRITTEN BY: Ron Kurz
MUSIC BY: Henry Manfredini
DISTRIBUTOR: Paramount Pictures
RUNNING TIME: 87 minutes
STARING: Marta Kober; Bill Randolph; Kirsten Baker; Russell Todd; Tom McBride; John Furey; Amy Steel; Adrienne King(cameo); Betsy palmer(cameo)
About a month after the massacre from part one Jason killed Alice (Adrienne King). Because of rumors about Jason being alive no one goes near the camp for five years. When a new group goes to the councilor training center, which is right next to Camp Crystal Lake, a slaughter insues. The lone survivor, Ginny, slices into Jason's neck with a machete but he does not die.
Once the original Friday the 13th became a huge hit the suits at Paramount immediately began work on a sequel. Original director/producer Sean S. Cunningham decided to have no involvement with this one. Part 1s associate producer Steve Miner was chosen as the producer and director. Paramount president Frank Mancuso appointed his son Frank Mancuso Jr. associate producer. First time screenwriter Ron Kurz was hired to write a script. Composer Henry Manfredini returned to write the musical score.
The film-makers decided that the thought dead Jason Voorhees would be the perfect killer. The original movie had several references to Halloween (POV shots, a specific date on which it takes place, Psycho references) this one took it even further. Jason was a large menacing killer who covers his face and never speaks much like Michael Myers. About 18 years later when Steve Miner was working on Halloween H20 he was talking about how great of a film the original Halloween was he mentioned that everyone ripped it off "I know because that's what we did on the Friday the 13th movies." Another bit of inspiration was The Town That Dreaded Sundown; Jason's costume looked exactly like the killer from that flick.
Even though this was not an independent film, Paramount decided to make the film with the smallest possible budget. Even though Betsy Palmer, Adrienne King, & Walt Gorney returned for small cameo roles all of the main roles were cast with young and completely own actors. They shot the movie with a non-union crew in Connecticut. The film had to be ready to release in less than a year. The movie was released May 1, 981 to more critical scorn but was a major hit at the box office.
NOTE: This movie began a fashion trend that became rather popular among the youth of Crystal Lake; not wearing underwear, especially bras. (got to keep that 13 - 24 year old male demographic happy) Before going to bed with Jeff (Bill Randolph), Sandra (Marta Kober) clearly does not have a bra on underneath her shirt. When she decides to go skinny dipping Terry (Kirsten Baker) needs only remove a shirt and pair of pants. Vickie must have been a hold-out on the new trend.