Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter Blu-ray Movie Review

Paramount has re-released the cult favorite 1984 Horror franchise sequel 'Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter.' The disc includes essentially the same video and audio presentations from the Shout! Factory disc (only available in the massively impressive boxed set). It includes all of the extras from Paramount's 2013 disc (only available in the metal tin boxed set), which this release otherwise improves upon. No new extras are included. This disc is, at time of publication, only available in Paramount's new six-disc, eight-film collection.

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

It is clear that The Final Chapter looks practically identical when comparing the Shout! disc with this new Paramount presentation, but it appears that there may be very minor fluctuations in grain density and accuracy (winner: Shout!) but any differences are so minute as to not even be noticeable beyond a very careful comparison. But superficially speaking, and simply comparing what appears on the screen, from normal viewing distances, there are no obvious alterations. Below is a cut-and-paste of the relevant portion of the Shout! Factory review; it applies here:

The Final Chapter looks every bit as good as Friday the 13th and Friday the 13th Part II. The 1080p picture, also sourced from a fresh 4K scan, delivers a fine, finessed, filmic presentation that maintains a generally light and even grain structure. It spikes a bit in lower light, as is to be expected, but the picture is very nice in sum, healthy and naturally sharp while presenting with a very pleasing, accurate cinematic texturing. Details delight with firm, robust clarity. Facial textures are excellent, clothing is stout, and natural details around the world are crisp, whether outside or, as much of the film takes place, inside. Kitchens, living rooms, showers...sex and kills take place in various locations throughout the film, and every environment presents with more than satisfying elemental definition to carry each scene to excellence. Colors are fine with red blood leading the charge. Period clothes bolster the tonal output -- pinks and teals and the like -- while warmer hues inside the house enjoy quality depth and contrast. Black levels are excellent. Night skies are the main beneficiary but low light interiors, dark clothes, and the like share in the excellence. There are a few stray signs of wear, like a brief vertical line seen at the 34:25 mark when Rob is examining one of Tommy's masks. But such are extremely few and far between. The source is very clean and the encode is strong. Shout!'s done another amazing job with this one.

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is likewise little discernible difference between this Paramount DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack and the Shout! Factory disc (I cannot speak to any similarities or differences with the Warner Brothers tin version, which also features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack). There are differences in bit rate and such, but just comparing with the ears yields no obvious change. Because the Shout! review is built around a comparison with the original 2.0 track that is not included here, that review is not reprinted below; please click here, however, to explore the essentials regarding the 5.1 soundtrack.

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This release of Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter includes the exact same supplemental suite from the Warner Brothers disc released as part of the Complete Collection in 2013. For convenience, below is a list of what's included; please click here for full coverage. Not that this release is missing a few additional items from the Shout! disc (trailers, TV spots, galleries).

• Audio Commentary: Director Joseph Zito, Screenwriter Barney Cohen and Editor Joel Goodman.
• Audio Commentary: Adam Green and Joe Lynch
• The Friday the 13th Chronicles Part IV
• Secrets Galore Behind the Gore Friday the 13th Part IV
• Lost Tales from Camp Blood: Part 4
• Slashed Scenes with Commentary by Director Joseph Zito
• Jason's Unlucky Day: 25 Years After Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter
• The Lost Ending
• The Crystal Lake Massacres Revisited: Part I
• Jimmy's Dead Dance Move
• Original Theatrical Trailer

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

For anyone who skipped on the Shout! set (why?) and wants to upgrade a well-loved 2009 edition, this is it. The video and audio presentations are excellent, though the Shout! disc is presented at the proper 1.85:1 aspect ratio. Recommended to anyone upgrading from 2013 and didn't want the full franchise Shout! package.