I thought this would be the shortest preview I would ever write for the reincarnation of the film released today - Friday the 13th. I mean, what is there to say? ... Sexed-up Teens, Camp Crystal Lake, Jason hacking them all up with a machete. But, there is more to this "reboot" of a horror classic, than you might imagine.

I have seen all 11 films in the series, several times over in some cases, so I was oddly curious and at the same time wincing at the thought of another classic horror remake. But you (and I) might as well settle in for the next few years of these horror films of the past getting a makeover ... you wouldn't believe the list of remakes, if I told ya.

There were a slew of potential script ideas for the next installment in the Jason saga, but all rejected in favor of this old-school plot, that combines several elements from 5 of the original films. This is NOT a remake of the first film, as is quite obvious from the trailers that Jason comes out swinging, rather than his sweet ole mommy slashing all the kiddies up. The general consensus to use this script, rather than make a Friday the 13th follow-up to Jason X, was that Jason X tanked in comparison to Freddy vrs. Jason. And they couldn't continue with a follow-up to Freddy vrs. Jason, as blah-blah announced he wouldn't be Freddy, anymore. Not to mention, A Nightmare on Elm Street reboot of their own, coming up.

Welcome to Crystal Lake

The film begins with group of young folk backpacking in the surrounding woods of the infamous slaughterhouse of Camp Crystal Lake, which took place roughly 20 years earlier, by Jason's mum. While there are rumors of Pamela Voorhees' deformed offspring living here, it doesn't sway the group's need-for-weed. Unfortunately, they quickly become Jason Voorhees first victims.

• Whitney Miller, Clay's younger sis - newcomer, Amanda Righetti (currently seen on the new CBS hit as Detective Grace Van Pelt in The Mentalist, Return to House on Haunted Hill, Pipeline, Angel Blade)
• Mike, Whitney's boyfriend - Nick Mennell (Rob Zombie's Halloween, My Little Eye, and the upcoming horror flicks The Lost Tribe and The Black Waters of Echo's Pond)
• Amanda, the hottie - America Olivo (Blood Wars, and upcoming films Circle, The Last Resort, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, and The Storyteller)
• Richie, Amanda's boytoy - Ben Feldman (Cloverfield and Them)
• Wade, the horny fifth wheel  - Jonathan Sadowski (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and Chuck)

Enter Clay, the older brother of one of that group, who is frantically trying to find what happened to his sister, who never showed up their mother's funeral. The nearby townsfolk are of no help, and quite frankly ... a bit creepy, themselves. 

• Clay Miller - Jared Padalecki (yup, little brother Sam Winchester from one of my fav series Supernatural - and what is up with younger brothers growing taller than older brothers??? Not Fair!!!, Cry Wolf, and House of Wax)

Next comes a group of seven teens, who have arrived at one of the member's family vacation cabin-on-the-lake. They just wanna have fun, and don't wanna be bothered by this Clay fellow. But, two of the group's member, Jenna and Trent, decide to help out in the search. 

• Trent, the leader of this group - Travis Van Winkle (Asylum, Meet the Spartans, Transformers, and Left in Darkness)
• Jenna, Trent's date - Danielle Panabaker (best known as the daughter Julie in Shark tv series, Eli Stone, Sky High)
• Chewie, the comic relief - Aaron Yoo (Disturbia, and look for him in the upcoming scifi film - Game)
• Lawrence, ambitious start-up - new to the genre, Arlen Escarpeta
• Nolan, rebel poser - Ryan Hansen (Superhero Movie and Death by Engagement)
• Bree, the hottie of this group - new to the genre, Julianna Guill
• Chelsea, Bree's BFF - singer/model/actress, Willa Ford

Is Whitney still alive? Or did she fall victim to the infamous Jason?? Go see the film, and find out ... I gotta wait until the DVD comes out. 

• Jason Voorhees - stuntman/actor, Derek Mears (2007 version of The Hills Have Eyes 2, Dragon Wars: D-War, Masters of Horror, Zathera: A Space Adventure, Wes Craven's Cursed, Disney's The Haunted Mansion, Ultraforce, She Spies tv series, Men in Black 2, Alias, The Tick, The Wonder Cabinet)
• Pamela Voorhees - Nana Visitor (best known as Major Kira in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Battlestar Galactica, They Are Among Us, Dark Angel tv series, The New Outer Limits, 80's Knight Rider, the New Twilight Zone, The Sentinel)
• Young Jason - Caleb Guss
• Sheriff Bracke - (ex-hubby Karl from Desperate Housewives, Knight Rider, Reaper, Hostel: part 2, Point Pleasant tv series, Darklight, Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation, Firefly, Decoys, Touched by an Angel, I Married a Monster, Viper tv series, The Flash tv series and film Flash 3: Deadly Nightshade, and look for him soon in the mysterious new tv series - Harper's Island)

For more info on the "reboot" of Friday the 13th ... check out the Official Website:

http://www.fridaythe13thmovie.com

And for everything else you'd wanna know about the films:

http://www.fridaythe13thfilms.com