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 simply 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 that's just Jason killing people" or "The one with Horshack"
RELEASE: August 1, 1986 (1,610 theaters)
GROSS: $19,472,057
PLOT: Understanding that it's not the hockey mask that people like, Tom McLaughlin has Tommy Jarvis resurrect the real Jason, who sets his sights on the first group of camp counselors who actually counsel campers. Meanwhile, Tommy (who is actually responsible for everything that happens in this and all future movies, since it seems Jason was really dead until he had to go mucking about) eludes Sheriff Garris while trying to stop Jason once and for all (again). And Jason comes thisclose to killing a little girl.
THOUGHTS: My favorite entry, precisely due to the fact that there's nothing gimmicky about it (not counting the humor, which is largely ditched after the first half hour). It’s just a straight up Jason movie, with one of the best Jasons ever (CJ Graham) and some really great kills. Also, it was the last time the MPAA would go relatively easy on an F13 movie - it wouldn’t be until Freddy vs Jason that we'd see some serious splatter again in the theater.
(Read BC's full review at
Horror Movie A Day)
BEST KILL: The triple decap would be the best if it wasn’t in a superfluous scene that went a bit too far in the "let's make it kind of funny" direction. So let's go with one that’s equally impressive: Jason literally breaking a guy in half.
MOST "HUH?" MOMENT: Sheriff Garris' inexplicable instant hatred of Tommy always puzzled me. He never even considers listening to him; instead he jumps down his throat as soon as Tommy walks into the room. Though it pays off with this howler: "If I had you where I wanted you they’d be pumping your ass full of formaldehyde!" There are some words that should never go together when you’re trying to sound tough to another dude, and one such example is "pumping your ass", regardless of the rest of the phrase.
FUTURE STARS: The girl who plays Megan went on to invent Celestial Seasonings tea, so there’s something. But the real surprise is Tony Goldwyn, best known as the guy who killed Patrick Swayze in
Ghost (and the dad in the upcoming
Last House on the Left remake) playing one of the film's first victims, a guy in the Steve Christy role of being in charge of re-opening the camp. Also, we have a Friday rarity - a FORMER star (Ron Palillo) as the film's first victim.
TRIVIA: Despite having the smallest core group of kids (four) of any of the films, Jason racks up his highest body count - 18 confirmed kills! - of all the Paramount entries (unless you count all of the anonymous students who presumably drowned in
Jason Takes Manhattan). It's also the first time that the film’s director was solely responsible for the script.
Check back tomorrow for
Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood!
Click here to keep up with all of our 13 Days of Friday the 13th coverage!
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