One interesting panel at this year’s New York Comic Con was the one for the brand new Friday the 13th re-imagining. The movie opens in less than a week, which isn’t the kind of movie you see at the conventions, but consider it a little appetizer to the film — something to make you hungry for Friday, February 13, 2009.

Right off the bat, they showed the trailer for the movie and director Marcus Nispel introduced stars Jared Padalecki and Jason Voorhees himself, Derek Mears.

Next up was right into the exclusive footage, where they showed the first six minutes or so of the movie. There’s not a whole lot to describe because everyone needs to just go see it, but let’s just say they go right into the pre-marital sex and violence and there’s a hell of a lot of screaming involved. All the ingredients that help make Friday the 13th what it is. If you really must know what transpires in the beginning of the film, then check the bottom of this post for the spoiler.

After watching the beginning of the movie, was the audience Q&A session.

Derek Mears was asked what it’s like being Jason, which I’m sure he’s been asked 2,000 times, but never gets sick of answering. He talks about how he owns and loves all of the movies (even Jason X?), and how he used to get nightmares about Jason and that it’s incredible to go from being a fan of the character to actually being the character.

Someone asks a super-long question, which eventually just becomes “Why the need to make a 12th Friday the 13th?” The question is easily answered by Nispel, who just basically says that there never was really a need and that they just love the movie and love making them. I’m pretty sure every Friday the 13th is very similar, so there’s never really been a “need” for them; but hell, they’re a great time, the character is iconic, and they’re much better an option than Saw. Give me a new Friday the 13th any day.

Obviously the popular one, Mears is asked about his predecessors like Kane Hodder. Mears explained that there was a certain blueprint to the character and he was trying to make it his own, but that they did do a lot of alternative takes at certain points to film tiny homages to previous Jasons. Like that classic little head tilt, which is always a must-have.

To finish it all off, someone asked about the first time Mears walked on set in full Jason costume. Marcus Nispel talked about how Mears first walked outs sans Jason garb and was just hanging out, but then he put the mask on and turned around and it was a transformation. Jared Padalecki also talked about how he showed up on set and it was dark and smokey with this huge Jason standing there. A surreal moment that’s occurred many times throughout the life of the franchise, I’m sure.

If it’s Jason Voorhees, I don’t care what’s going on, I just get excited about it. My biggest wonder/concern is if this will embrace its new life as an actual horror movie, or will it remain as the kind of cheesy slasher flick the movies have always been. Only one way to find out.

SPOILER

Preview Description

Two teens are having sex in a tent out in the woods at night (oh how dead are they?); they hear something and assume it’s one of their friends messing with them. The girl insists that her boyfriend go tell their friend to leave them alone. As the guy explores the woods calling out for his friend, his girlfriend is killed and as she dies screaming, he’s screaming “AH GOD AH AH AH GOD!!!!”

Another couple is exploring an abandoned cabin, but things are moved around indicating that someone had been there recently. They find what looks like the carcass of a dog. They see something in the wall, so the genius guy sticks his hand in the wall and pulls out a rotted head (score!). “AH AH AH” some more and up comes a knife from the floor repeatedly stabbing the guy, who is them pulled through the floor. The girl then tries running away into the woods, where she sees the first dude injured and frantic.

In an uncharacteristic maneuver, we see a pre-hockey mask Jason running running at the teens with a machete which he then promptly place into the top of the guy’s skull. The last scene shown is of Jason turning around with the machete to finish off the girl.

Additional reporting by Empress Eve.