15 Critically Mauled Movies (That Aren't Actually That Bad)
6. Friday The 13th (2009)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 25%
Consensus: "Though technically well-constructed, Friday the 13th is a series rehash that features little to distinguish it from its predecessors."
The criticism of this actually solid horror remake largely seems to revolve around it being indistinguishable from the previous films, which is true but that doesn't automatically make it a bad movie. Looking at it technically, the performances are fine, the direction is good and it's surprisingly well-structured; it drops a very clever plot twist in the first half-hour.
What's also been overlooked is that it's tonally very well-judged. It's dark, gritty, intense, but crucially it remembers to be fun and counter-balances the brutality with humor and gleefully excessive violence. It captures the trashy fun, demented shocks and darkly comic sadism that made audiences fall in love with slasher films in the first place, so this actually works as an affectionate throwback to the horror films of yesteryear.
This is a thoroughly enjoyable horror film that everyone was too harsh on; a film isn't automatically bad just because it recycles past material.
One of the most underrated horror remakes of all time for sure.