Movies
Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood Review

Review Ratings
Final Review Score
Great
Directed by special effects master John Carl Buechler from a screenplay by Manuel Fidello and Daryl Haney, Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988) brought an imaginative “Carrie vs. Jason” concept to Crystal Lake. Introducing stunt legend Kane Hodder in his defining debut as Jason Voorhees, the seventh installment pitted supernatural telekinetic powers directly against an undead slasher. In this detailed Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood movie review, we explore how iconic creature design, intense psychokinetic showdowns, and unmatched stunt physical work created an enduring fan favorite.
Telekinetic Guilt, Submerged Resurrections, and Psychic Battles
Years after accidentally causing her father’s drowning at Crystal Lake using her dormant psychokinetic abilities, troubled teenager Tina Shepard (Lar Park Lincoln) returns to the lakeside property for therapy alongside her mother and manipulative psychiatrist Dr. Crews (Terry Kiser). During an emotional breakthrough near the water, Tina accidentally uses her psychic powers to break the chains binding an undead Jason Voorhees (Kane Hodder) at the bottom of the lake, resurrecting him once again. As Jason embarks on a brutal massacre targeting a house full of partying teens next door, Tina discovers the slaughter and realizes her telekinesis is the only force capable of matching Jason’s superhuman strength. Partnering with friendly neighbor Nick (Kevin Spirtas), Tina unleashes telekinetic assaults—levitating furniture, triggering explosions, and collapsing structures—to stop the unmasked monster.
Buechler’s Masterpiece Makeup Design, Practical Stunts, and Manfredini’s Score
Director and legendary FX makeup artist John Carl Buechler delivers arguably the most visually striking iteration of Jason Voorhees in horror history. Featuring exposed spine bones, waterlogged rot, chain neckwear, and a gruesome unmasked face, the creature design remains unmatched. The film’s climax functions as a prolonged superhero-style monster duel, utilizing practical wirework, pyrotechnics, and physical stunt staging. Composers Harry Manfredini and Fred Mollin team up to craft a score blending traditional string stabs with sinister synth textures that accent Tina’s telekinetic powers.
Kane Hodder’s Legendary Debut and Lar Park Lincoln’s Psychic Heroine
Kane Hodder turns in his legendary first performance as Jason Voorhees, establishing the heavy breathing, aggressive shoulder rolls, and ruthless physical posture that made him the definitive performer behind the mask. Lar Park Lincoln brings immense emotional intensity and fierce empowerment to Tina Shepard, creating one of the most unique protagonists in slasher cinema. Terry Kiser delivers a fantastically despicable turn as the self-serving Dr. Crews, giving audiences a human villain to loathe alongside the killer.
The Final Verdict
Ultimately, this Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood review celebrates a wildly creative, action-packed, and visually iconic slasher installment. Driven by John Carl Buechler’s outstanding practical effects, Kane Hodder’s historic debut as Jason, and Lar Park Lincoln’s powerhouse heroic performance, it stands as a standout achievement in 1980s horror.
Information
- Title: Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood
- Release Date: May 13, 1988
- Director: John Carl Buechler
- Stars: Lar Park Lincoln, Kevin Spirtas, Susan Jennifer Sullivan, Terry Kiser, Susan Blu, Kane Hodder
- Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller
This post is part of Friday the 13th Movies Ranked