Was Tommy Jarvis Going to Kill Pam Roberts in the End of Friday the 13th Part 5?

The fifth installment of the Friday the 13th franchise, 'Friday the 13th: A New Beginning' Part 5, presents an ambiguous and mysterious conclusion regarding the character of Tommy Jarvis. The film's ending, which sees Tommy in a state of extreme distress and confusion, leaves audiences questioning whether he might be taking on the persona of Jason Voorhees, potentially intending to kill Pam Roberts. However, the ending ultimately provides room for interpretation, both in terms of Tommy's mental state and his intentions.

The Mysterious Ending

The scene in question involves Tommy Jarvis, a character long associated with the theme of trauma and retribution. As viewers, we are led to believe that Tommy might be acting out of fear and trauma, leading to the question: was he truly planning to kill Pam Roberts, or was he simply a victim of his own psychological unrest?

Interpreting Tommy's Actions

Upon closer inspection, the evidence strongly suggests that Tommy's actions were a result of hallucinations rather than premeditated murder. This is supported by several key details in the scene:

The Mask

Tommy is seen donning a mask, one that is crucial evidence in the ongoing murder investigation. If you were to ask viewers what they first noticed in the scene, many would mention the mask. The presence of a key piece of evidence in Tommy's hospital room is highly suspicious. Not only would the police not leave such evidence lying around, but the fragile state of Tommy's mind is another reason he couldn't have obtained it. This detail further supports the idea that the scene is a product of his hallucinations.

The Knife

Similarly, a large kitchen knife is found in Tommy's room. Given Tommy's history with psychological trauma, it makes little sense for a sane person to have such a weapon in their possession. The presence of this dangerous artifact is inconsistent with the logic of the character's backstory. Again, this detail aligns with the idea of Tommy experiencing hallucinations.

Considering the franchise's history of narrative inconsistencies, it could be argued that these details are simply for suspense. However, when we look at the franchise's continuity and future installments, the interpretation of Tommy's actions becomes clearer.

Continuity and Future Installments

For instance, Tommy Jarvis, the beloved protagonist of the franchise, would be a much less relatable character if he committed cold-blooded murder. This is a concern that would likely deter the franchise from depicting such an outcome. Additionally, the film's development team explicitly stated that they did not consider killing off Pam Roberts. The actress who played Pam Roberts confirmed that they approached her to return for the next installment, indicating that Tommy killing Pam was never a serious consideration.

This alone suggests that Tommy's encounter with Pam at the end of the film was an hallucination brought on by his unstable mental state. While the scene is intentionally left ambiguous, the evidence strongly suggests that Tommy did not attempt to kill Pam, at least not in reality.

In conclusion, while the ending of 'Friday the 13th: A New Beginning' Part 5 is open to interpretation, the evidence leans towards the idea that Tommy's hallucinations led him to act out of his psychological distress, rather than genuine intentions to murder. Fans of the franchise can draw their own conclusions, but the logical details and narrative consistency point towards Tommy merely being a victim of his own psyche.