Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985) takes the iconic horror franchise in a bold new direction, offering a chilling and twisted narrative that keeps viewers on edge from start to finish. This fifth installment in the Friday the 13th series brings a fresh, suspense-filled storyline while staying true to the franchise’s trademark mix of terror, bloodshed, and shocking twists.

The film follows Tommy Jarvis, now a young adult, who is recovering from the traumatic events surrounding Jason Voorhees’ violent reign of terror. However, his attempts to find peace are shattered when a series of brutal murders occur at a halfway house for troubled teens. As the bodies pile up, suspicion mounts, and a terrifying new killer emerges, leaving the survivors—and the audience—questioning whether Jason has truly returned or if a new, more dangerous force is at work.

What makes A New Beginning stand out is its unpredictability. The movie plays on the audience’s expectations, giving them a false sense of security before pulling the rug out from under them with a shocking reveal. The blood-soaked kills are as gruesome as ever, with a few particularly memorable set pieces that will make even the most hardened horror fan wince.