Although I don’t claim to have seen every film ever made, for someone who runs a page (and website) devoted to movies there are some shamefully big ones I’ve somehow managed to miss in my 41 years.
Until last week this was one of them…
Friday the 13th (1980)
I know I know, how the hell haven’t I seen this movie till now?! Well I’ve actually caught it on TV several times over the years from about half way through. I’ve just never watched the whole thing.
When it comes to these slasher-type films we’ve probably all got our favourites and I’ve always been more of a fan of the Halloween series. I also like the Nightmare on Elm Street movies (or at least three of them). Oddly enough, I’d previously seen Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993) but none of the films that led up to it.
If you’ve never seen it, Friday the 13th is a classic 80s slasher horror movie starring Kevin Bacon (Flatliners) and a small cast of other actors, none of which went on to have careers anywhere near as successful.
This is what it’s about:
Crystal Lake's history of murder doesn't deter counselors from setting up a summer camp in the woodsy area. Superstitious locals warn against it, but the fresh-faced young people pay little heed to the old-timers and soon find themselves stalked by a brutal killer.
As they're slashed, shot and stabbed, the counselors struggle to stay alive against a merciless opponent.
This film is dated, cheesy, poorly acted in places and not scary in the slightest (by today’s standards at least) but I loved it!
There’s a charm about it that makes you see past any of its flaws and just enjoy it for what it is.
If you saw my Halloween Kills (2021) post last week you’ll know I was less than impressed with it, well this movie is way more enjoyable despite being all of the things I mentioned above.
The original Halloween (1978) as it happens kind of launched the whole slasher movie genre. Although technically Psycho (1960) and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) came before it, the success of Halloween inspired the writers of Friday the 13th to come up with a similar idea, primarily to make money and cash in on Halloween’s success.
Who knew that it would not only lead to so many other franchises and iconic characters being launched, but that it would establish a genre that would pretty much dominate an entire decade and continue to thrive even today!
So the question now is, do I watch the rest of the Friday the 13th films or do I just stick with the classic original..?
Seen it? Let me know below.