Deluxe DVD Editions of three FRIDAY THE 13th films (& the TV series' Season 2)

You'll wish it were only a nightmare...

A young boy named Jason drowns in a camp lake. Eleven years later, counselors at the camp are systematically slaughtered. Could it be Jason back from his watery grave? On Friday the 13th, they began to die horribly, one... by one.

Paramount Home Entertainment will release deluxe editions of the first three "FRIDAY THE 13th" films on DVD this coming February 3rd. Part I will also be released on Blu-ray on the same day. The 2009 remake of Friday the 13th, from producer Michael Bay and director Marcus Nispel, will be released in theaters on Friday, February 13th.

For these new editions, for the first time Paramount has remastered the soundtracks in 5.1 Surround Stereo sound, but also provides the original mono track (in English, French, and Spanish, also subtitles of the same). The Blu-ray edition of Part I features 5.1 Dolby TrueHD audio.

Note: The first film (Friday the 13th) on both the DVD and Blu-ray presents the UNRATED uncut version, with 10 additional seconds added back into the film.

In addition to the films, the studio will also release another 6-disc set of the Friday the 13th TV Series - Season 2 - one month later on March 10 (Season 1 released last September). Each season's set includes 26 episodes (Season 2 originally broadcast from Sept. 1988 to June 1989). The third and final season set has not yet been announced, but is expected before the end of 2009.

Details and BONUS FEATURES:
>> Friday the 13th - Uncut DVD:
UNRATED Uncut version (10 additional seconds)
• Remastered audio and video
• Soundtrack remixed in 5.1 Surround Stereo
• Commentary by director Sean Cunningham
• "Fresh Cuts: New Tales from Friday the 13th"
• "Man Behind the Legacy: Sean S. Cunningham"
• "Friday the 13th - Special Reunion"
• "Lost Tales from Camp Blood" - Part 1
• Theatrical Trailer (used on 2004 release)

>> Friday the 13th - Uncut Blu-ray:
UNRATED Uncut version (10 additional seconds)
• Remastered audio and video
• Soundtrack remixed in 5.1 Surround Stereo
• Commentary by director Sean Cunningham
• "Fresh Cuts: New Tales from Friday the 13th" (HD)
• "Man Behind the Legacy: Sean S. Cunningham" (HD)
• "Friday the 13th - Special Reunion" (HD)
• "Lost Tales from Camp Blood" - Part 1 (HD)
• Theatrical Trailer (used on 2004 release) (HD)
BD Exclusive:
• "Secrets Galore Behind the Gore"
• "The Friday the 13th Chronicles"

>> Friday the 13th, Part II - DVD:
• Remastered audio and video
• Soundtrack remixed in 5.1 Surround Stereo
• "Inside Crystal Lake Memories"
• "Friday's Legacy: Horror Convention"
• "Lost Tales from Camp Blood" - Part 2
• "Jason Forever" (used on 2004 release/Best Buy bonus disc)
• Theatrical Trailer (used on 2004 release)

>> Friday the 13th, Part III - DVD:
• Remastered audio and video
• Soundtrack remixed in 5.1 Surround Stereo
• Includes both a standard 2-D version and special 3-D version (with one pair of 3-D glasses)
• Theatrical Trailer (used on 2000 release)

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FRIDAY THE 13TH - Explore the film further:

>> Remastered DVD Special Edition REVIEW
by John J. Puccio »
EXCERPT: Director Cunningham and writer Victor Miller call upon every dramatic pause, every red herring, every point-of-view shot they can muster to drum up a little tension and suspense... perhaps more than any other film, it helped to popularize the slasher genre and codify the formula.

We all know the formula by now since we've seen it repeated in so many films since "Friday the 13th." There is always a group of young people, usually in their late teens, isolated in a remote area, who get picked off one by one by a crazed maniac. These teens are always highly attractive, always played by actors in their twenties, and always engaged in drinking, partying, nude swimming, and casual sex whenever possible. The mad slasher himself is omniscient and omnipotent; that is, he knows everything and is everywhere at once, able to kill one teenager in the woods five miles from the nearest house and ten seconds later step out from behind a tree and kill another teen coming from a cabin to relieve himself. The slasher also seems to know where all of his victims are every minute and how to murder each of them with enough gory variation to satisfy the most finicky horror fan.

Indeed, the slasher usually seems so smart that one wonders why he is content merely to pick off witless teens when he could put his mental powers to work as a brain surgeon, a rocket scientist, or a talk-show host. What's more, the teens never stick together but always go their separate ways on the darkest, scariest nights. "Let's see," they say. "We know there's a manic loose killing everybody in sight. How about we each take a flashlight and a penknife and try to find him. Oh, and if you're alone in your room, lock the door and don't let anybody in." So the person alone in a room hears a noise outside and immediately goes to investigate. Alone. Additionally, the slasher must be invincible. You can shoot him, stab him, electrocute him, bury him six feet under, and he'll return to fight another day. You can't keep a good monster down.

You'll find that "Friday the 13th" pretty much wrote the book on slasher flicks. The point is not to develop character or create atmosphere or even produce any excitement but to show as much grisly death as possible and keep the viewer wondering who will die next.

Some people consider it a horror classic; some see it as campy schlock; and still others find it offensive, degrading, and stupid. It doesn't matter. It is what it is, and no one can discount its influence on cinema. The dang thing spawned nearly a dozen sequels, and it promoted a whole new slasher-film industry in Hollywood. I think that's good enough. For what it's worth, though, I rather enjoy "Friday the 13th." It's not as gory as most of its successors, and it's sort of quaint and innocent in its low-key way. (read the full review thru the link above)

Historical Info (from Wikipedia)
Friday the 13th is an American horror franchise that consists of eleven slasher films, a television show, novels, comic books, video games and merchandise. The franchise is mainly based on the fictional character of Jason Voorhees, who drowned at Camp Crystal Lake as a boy due to the negligence of the teenage counselors. Decades later, the lake is rumored to be "cursed" and is the setting for a series of mass murders. Jason is featured in all of the films, either as the killer or as the motivation for the killings. The original film was written by Victor Miller, and was produced and directed by Sean S. Cunningham; later films brought in others for these positions.

Originally created to cash in on the success of John Carpenter's Halloween (1978), the success led Paramount Pictures to purchase the full rights to the Friday the 13th franchise. Frank Mancuso, Jr., who produced the films, also developed the television show "Friday the 13th: The Series" after Paramount released what would be their last film. The television series is not connected to the rest of the franchise by any character or setting, but was created out of the idea of "bad luck and curses," which the film series symbolized.

While the franchise was owned by Paramount, four films were adapted into novels, with the film Friday the 13th Part III receiving two separate adaptations. When the franchise was sold to New Line Cinema, Cunningham returned to oversee two additional films, and a crossover film with Freddy Krueger from another horror film series, A Nightmare on Elm Street. Under New Line, thirteen novellas and various comic book series were published featuring Jason Voorhees.

The film series was never favored by critics, but still became a financial success at the box office. The franchise is considered one of the most successful franchises in American cinema thanks to the success of the films, but also because of the comic book, expansive merchandising that includes various toylines, video games, soundtrack releases and references in popular culture. In addition, the franchise tops other American horror franchises in adjusted 2008 dollars for box office gross.

Synopsis - Friday the 13th:
Terror and suspense abound in this 24-hour nightmare of blood. Camp Crystal Lake has been shuttered for over 20 years due to several vicious and unsolved murders. The camp's new owner and several young counselors are readying the property for re-opening despite warnings of a "death curse" by local residents. The curse proves true on FRIDAY THE 13TH as one by one each of the counselors is stalked by a violent killer. This film is widely acclaimed for its horrifying and creative murder sequences.

Friday the 13th, Part II:
Just when you thought it was safe to go back to camp… here's even more heart-pounding terror.

Five years after the horrible bloodbath at Camp Crystal Lake, all that remains is the legend of Jason Voorhees and his demented mother, who had murdered seven camp counselors. At a nearby summer camp, the new counselors are unconcerned about the warnings to stay away from the infamous site. Carefree, the young people roam the area, not sensing the ominous lurking presence. One by one, they are attacked and brutally slaughtered. Suspense and screams abound in this compelling thriller.

Friday the 13th, Part III:
"Better than Part I or Part II even without the 3-D." -Janet Maslin, The New York Times

A idyllic summer turns into a nightmare of unspeakable terror for yet another group of naïve counselors. Ignoring Camp Crystal Lake's bloody legacy, one by one they fall victim to the maniacal Jason who stalks them at every turn...

Jason Voorhees (Richard Brooker) returns again to Camp Crystal Lake, where he drowned nearly three decades before while some negligent camp counselors made out on the beach. Understandably upset by this turn of events, Jason continues to haunt his old stomping grounds, dealing death to those thrill-seeking teens who venture into the woods. This time around, Jason faces tougher victims in the form of a motorcycle gang and dons what is to become his trademark hockey mask. The original theatrical release featured 3-D effects.

Friday the 13th, Part III will have you frozen with fear, as Jason finds his way into your living room!

Friday the 13th (TV Series): Complete Season 2
An old antique dealer made a pact with the Devil to sell cursed antiques. When he dies, his store is inherited by his niece Micki and her cousin Ryan. With the help of Jack Marshak, they fight to retrieve the antiques from the people who bought them to stop them from causing harm.

FRIDAY THE 13th Season 2 is a 26-episode, suspenseful mystery series that deals with the supernatural. In each episode, four brave souls embark on an assignment in danger and terror when they track down and retrieve cursed objects.

Not to be confused with the 1980s slasher films (though of course meant to be confused with the 1980s slasher films), this spooky series gets its start when an antiques dealer makes a deal with the devil to sell cursed relics. When the dealer backs out of the pact and dies, his niece Micki (Louise Robey), her cousin Ryan (John D. LeMay), and ex-magician Jack Marshak (Chris Wiggins) join forces to track down the evil wares before they do harm. Usually they're too late and must pry the objects out of the hands of owners addicted to their homicidal dolls, wish-granting pens, and killer teacups. This collection presents the second season of the gruesome horror series, which introduces a new team member, girl-crazy Johnny Ventura (Steve Monarque).

The series lasted for 3 seasons (ending the summer of 1990).