weird atmosphere

It had a better "Friday the 13th" ambiance than Part III, which was too goofy with the campy bikers, not to mention Part III was shot at Melody Movie Ranch near Santa Clarita, CA, with a curious focus on a barn.

The change in atmosphere can also be attributed to:

- Every film had to start out with a new batch of characters since everyone dies in the previous movie, except for maybe the final girl who will almost certainly die at the beginning of the next one. (Tommy Jarvis is an exception in V and VI)

- While the setting of these films is usually the general vicinity of Camp Crystal Lake, New Jersey, the filming locations kept changing from film to film. The locations used for this installment are Zaca Lake & Topanga Canyon, north of Los Angeles, while the original movie was shot in remote townships of northern New Jersey (Hardwick, Blairstown & Hope). Other locations in the series are as follows: Connecticut (II & IX), Southern California (III, IV, V), Georgia (VI), Alabama (VII), British Columbia (VIII & XI), New York City (VIII), Toronto (X & XI) and Texas (XII).

- Like Part III, the story doesn't revolve around camp counselors at a youth camp, as was done in Parts I & II, but rather a vacation home near the lake and the young vacationers, as well as the neighboring Jarvis family & their cabin.

After part 2, this is my next favorite one.

I don't think the atmosphere is that off. They used the lake more in this one, which was a little different, but I think it was a welcomed change.

If you think this Friday film didnt feel right because of the atmosphere..I hope you don't watch Jason takes Manhattan. That takes place on a boat for most of the movie. Same advice to Jason X..That takes place on a spaceship for most of the movie.

It felt like it had a bigger budget...different quality film used, etc....