# Friday the 13th Part III

> 1982 film directed by Steve Miner

**Wikidata**: [Q1243013](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1243013)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friday_the_13th_Part_III)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/friday-the-13th-part-iii

## Summary
Friday the 13th Part III is a 1982 horror film directed by Steve Miner, serving as the third installment in the Friday the 13th franchise. It is notable for being the first film in the series to be released in 3D and for introducing Jason Voorhees' iconic hockey mask.

## Key Facts
- Released on August 13, 1982, in the United States
- Directed by Steve Miner, who also directed the previous film in the series
- Produced by Frank Mancuso Jr. and Steve Miner
- Written by Martin Kitrosser, Carol Watson, and Petru Popescu
- Distributed by Paramount Pictures
- Budget: $2.25 million
- Box office gross: $36.69 million
- Runtime: 91 minutes
- Country of origin: United States
- Language: English
- Genre: Horror, slasher
- Part of the Friday the 13th film series
- First film in the series to feature Jason Voorhees wearing his signature hockey mask
- First film in the series to be released in 3D
- IMDb ID: tt0083972
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 11% (critics), 30% (audience)
- Metacritic score: 30/100

## FAQs
**What is the plot of Friday the 13th Part III?**
The film follows a group of young adults who visit a cabin near Crystal Lake, where they are stalked and murdered by Jason Voorhees, who has now fully adopted his hockey mask persona. The story continues directly from the events of the previous film.

**Why is the hockey mask significant in this film?**
This is the first film where Jason Voorhees wears his now-iconic hockey mask, which was originally a Detroit Red Wings goalie mask found by one of the characters. This mask became Jason's signature look for the rest of the franchise.

**How was the 3D effect achieved in the film?**
The film was shot using the Arrivision 3D single-camera system, which allowed for more natural 3D effects compared to the traditional two-camera system. The 3D effects were used for various objects being thrown or thrust toward the camera.

**What is the critical reception of the film?**
The film received largely negative reviews from critics, holding an 11% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, it was a commercial success, becoming the second-highest-grossing film in the franchise at that time.

## Why It Matters
Friday the 13th Part III is significant in horror cinema history for several reasons. It solidified Jason Voorhees as the franchise's central antagonist by giving him his iconic hockey mask, which became one of the most recognizable images in horror. The film's commercial success despite poor critical reception demonstrated the growing popularity of the slasher genre in the 1980s. Its use of 3D technology was part of a brief revival of 3D films in the early 1980s, though this trend was short-lived. The film also helped establish many of the tropes that would define the Friday the 13th series, including the formula of young people being stalked in isolated locations.

## Notable For
- First appearance of Jason Voorhees' hockey mask
- First film in the series released in 3D
- Commercial success despite negative critical reception
- Introduction of the "final girl" trope with Chris Higgins
- Use of the Arrivision 3D single-camera system
- Continuation of the direct narrative from the previous film
- Establishing Jason as the primary antagonist rather than a mysterious killer

## Body
### Production and Development
Friday the 13th Part III was produced by Paramount Pictures as a direct sequel to the successful Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981). Director Steve Miner returned to helm the third installment, having directed the previous film. The screenplay was written by Martin Kitrosser, Carol Watson, and Petru Popescu, with the story focusing on a new group of victims for Jason Voorhees to stalk and kill.

The film was shot in 3D, which was a significant selling point at the time. The production used the Arrivision 3D single-camera system, which was considered more advanced than the traditional two-camera 3D systems. This allowed for more natural-looking 3D effects and was less cumbersome for the actors and crew to work with.

### Cast and Characters
The film features a cast of largely unknown actors, which was typical for the franchise at the time. The main characters include Chris Higgins (played by Dana Kimmell), who returns to Crystal Lake to confront her past trauma, and a group of her friends who accompany her. Richard Brooker plays Jason Voorhees, marking the first time the character wears the hockey mask that would become his signature look.

### 3D Technology and Effects
The 3D aspect of the film was heavily promoted in its marketing campaign. The Arrivision system used polarized light to create the 3D effect, requiring special glasses for viewing. The film includes several scenes specifically designed to showcase the 3D technology, such as yo-yos, popcorn, and various weapons being thrust toward the camera. While innovative for its time, these effects are often considered gimmicky by modern standards.

### Release and Reception
Friday the 13th Part III was released on August 13, 1982, which coincided with Friday the 13th, adding to its marketing appeal. The film was a commercial success, grossing $36.69 million against a budget of $2.25 million. However, it received largely negative reviews from critics, who criticized its reliance on 3D gimmicks and formulaic plot.

### Legacy and Impact
Despite its poor critical reception, Friday the 13th Part III had a lasting impact on the horror genre and the Friday the 13th franchise specifically. The introduction of Jason's hockey mask became one of the most iconic images in horror cinema, influencing countless other films and becoming a staple of Halloween costumes and pop culture references. The film's commercial success helped cement the Friday the 13th series as a major horror franchise, leading to numerous sequels and spin-offs.

### Technical Specifications
- Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
- Sound mix: Mono
- Cinematography: Gerald Feil
- Editing: Bruce Green
- Music: Harry Manfredini (returning composer from previous films)
- Production design: Robert M. Baldwin

### Series Continuity
Friday the 13th Part III directly continues the narrative from the previous film, with Jason Voorhees surviving his apparent death at the end of Part 2. This continuity was somewhat unusual for slasher films of the time, which often treated each installment as a standalone story. The film also introduces elements that would become recurring in the series, such as Jason's increased strength and resilience.

### Cultural References and Parodies
The hockey mask from this film has been parodied and referenced in numerous other media, from other horror films to comedy sketches and video games. The 3D effects, while dated, have also been referenced as examples of early 1980s cinema technology.

### Home Media Releases
The film has been released on various home media formats, including VHS, LaserDisc, DVD, and Blu-ray. The 3D version was particularly challenging to reproduce for home viewing, with various attempts made over the years to recreate the theatrical 3D experience for home audiences.

### Related Entities
Friday the 13th Part III is part of the larger Friday the 13th franchise, which includes:
- Friday the 13th (1980)
- Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)
- Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)
- Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985)
- And numerous other sequels, remakes, and spin-offs

The film is also connected to the broader horror genre of the 1980s, which saw a boom in slasher films following the success of Halloween (1978) and the original Friday the 13th (1980).

## References

1. The Movie Database
2. Friday the 13th Part 3. Rotten Tomatoes
3. [Release Info. IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083972/releaseinf)
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. [Friday the 13th Part 3 (1982). The Numbers](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Friday-the-13th-Part-3)
6. Kinopoisk
7. [Source](http://www.kijkwijzer.nl/index.php?id=26&i=265297)
8. [Source](https://www.kijkwijzer.nl/films/friday-the-13th-part-3/)
9. List of film licenses issued from 1945 to 2020
10. [Source](https://www.cnc.fr/professionnels/visas-et-classification/56823)
11. Cineplex
12. Bechdel Test Movie List
13. mymovies.it
14. [Source](https://ui.eidr.org/view/content?id=10.5240/3DBB-93E1-2FB4-D156-FFF8-I)
15. TheTVDB
16. Trakt.tv
17. FilmVandaag.nl