As I mentioned earlier, things pick up in FTT3D. The movie starts the day after the events of FTT2 (still set in 1985!) and begins with a quick recap of that ending before diving into a new storyline. Actress Amy Steel, who played Ginny Field, didn’t return, which led to a shift in the original story. Initially, Ginny was supposed to face the trauma of Jason's attack and set out to stop him once and for all, wrapping up the series as a trilogy. Instead, FTT3D follows the same general pattern as the first two films, but it takes its time before "Jason" finally shows up to attack and take down most of the cast. Director Steve Miner, returning from FTT2, seems more comfortable blending drama, gore, and a touch of camp in this one. The 3D effects are decent; after a few “coming at you” moments, the 3D effect just becomes part of the film’s atmosphere, which actually works pretty well. This is also the movie where Jason first appears wearing his iconic hockey mask—about an hour in. I wonder if the film has ever been converted to modern digital 3D. I’ve only seen it with the old-school red-and-blue paper glasses during its original run and at home. I was 10 years old when I saw it, paired with The Smurfs and the Magic Flute (1976)! I can’t remember if it was at the Lowes Paradise, RKO, Valentine or the Prospect theater, but it was definitely one I watched in the Bronx.
