For a horror fan, there is no escaping Jason Voorhees or Friday the 13th. Even if you have never seen a single movie (for shame!), you know who he is, what he does, and what he looks like. But that's from my perspective. I grew up in the 80s, played the video game on a system known as Nintendo (now referred to as "The 8 Bit"), and suffered the indignity of that comic where he fought a talking Leatherface.
But what about those who grew up in the Jason-starved 90s? The only Jason films they might remember in theaters are the ones where he fights Freddy or goes off into space. The remake may be their first real introduction to the hockey masked behemoth that stalks teenagers at a place known as Crystal Lake. So for them, Bloody Disgusting and Horror Movie A Day would like to present this retrospective series: 13 Days Of Jason. Each day leading up to the remake's theatrical release, BC will be showcasing one of the original films, with trivia, factoids, thoughts, and his own full blown review.
Bloody will also be presenting a few other articles that highlight some of the series' traditions, such as the lovesick nerd character and Jason's habit of using unique weapons. Because even if you don't agree with BC's assessment of each film, there's one thing we can all agree on: Jason fucking rules.
AKA: "The one where his mom's the killer"
RELEASE: May 9, 1980 (1,100 theaters)
GROSS: $39,754,601
PLOT: Twenty or so years after a pair of horrific murders, Camp Crystal Lake is reopened, apparently catering to non-discerning parents looking to get rid of their kids for a few weeks at the cheapest rate possible. Roughly two hours after arriving, the camp counselors are dispatched by an unseen killer, who is revealed to be "not Jason" to anyone watching the film for the first time today.
THOUGHTS: It's not without problems, but the lack of Jason isn't one of them. The kids are likable, the kills are simple but impressive (no weedwhackers or road flares here), and there's some actual suspense, something most of the sequels eschewed entirely. Also: Steve Christy and his magnificent mustache/bandana combo.
(Read BC's full review at
Horror Movie A Day)
BEST KILL: Savini has spent the past 30 years explaining them all away, so they no longer have as much novelty, but I've always liked Annie's death the most. It's a simple throat slashing, but on a character that you almost think is the heroine. Plus it's the first
F13 kill (WITH AN ONSCREEN IMPACT - JEEZ), which makes it pretty historic.
MOST "HUH?" MOMENT: Brenda loses what seems like her first hand of strip Monopoly (she's still fully clothed), so naturally her response is to take off her top while saying "Worst run of bad luck since Richard Nixon!"
FUTURE STAR: Wrong Turn 2 director (and
F13 aficionado) Joe Lynch's newborn baby probably even knows that Kevin Bacon plays one of the counselors.
TRIVIA: Did you know that Betsy Palmer only agreed to do the movie because she needed a new car? Of course you did, because she tells the story to anyone that will listen (including THREE times on the new DVD alone!). But what you may not know is that she, like many fans, thought her reveal as the killer was a cheat, and begged to have a scene in the film near the beginning that would at least let audiences be aware of her existence. But Sean Cunningham claimed no one would care, because they didn't have the IMDb messageboard back then.
Check back tomorrow for
Friday the 13th: Part 2!
Click here to keep up with all of our 13 Days of Friday the 13th coverage!
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