"You're doomed! You're all doomed!" - Crazy Ralph
You'd think it would be simple to decide what to write about for the site. So many movies, so many choices. Well today being Friday the 13th, what better way to celebrate (and kill two birds with one stone by getting an article out of it), than by writing about a film that is not only celebrating it's 40th anniversary, but a film that also gave birth to an iconic character of horror, Friday the 13th?
Sean S. Cunninham produced and directed this, wanting to jump on the coattails of Halloween's financial success two years prior. He hired Victor Miller to write this with that in mind, as well as taking some inspiration from Meatballs and putting it in a summer camp dwelling. Neither had any idea of the success that would come from it, nor any idea that said success would cause a legal battle between the two that's still ongoing as of this writing. But we're here to discuss the movie, not the lawsuit. Wanna know what's going on? Feel free to Google it.
The plot of this film is simple. Also the fact that it's 40 years old, be known that there are major spoilers. So if you've lived under a rock and have no idea about the reveal in this film, do not read any further. The film revolves around a group of camp counselors preparing for their camp, Camp Crystal Lake, to open. However the camp is known by another name in town, Camp Blood, due to murders, fires, and other incidents of "bad luck" happening when it's reopened. One by one, the counselors are murdered until the final one on one meeting with the unknown killer and it's final would-be victim.
The characters for the most part in the film are pretty likable. Brenda is the one obssessed with eating things are are all natural. Bill as the lead who has no problem drinking and having fun with the rest of them. Marcie is the comic relief. Jack (played by a pre-Footloose Kevin Bacon) is the nice guy love interest to Marcie. Alice is the sweet final girl. However Ned might take a bit getting used to being overly goofy, but he's not horrible. And camp owner Steve is fine when he's not creeping on Alice. I won't say anything about the town crazy/prophet of doom Ralph, as he needs to be seen to be believed.
Now it's time to talk about the most well known character from the film, Mrs. Voorhees. I've already warned about spoilers, so here it is. In the third act, we meet her and and we find out that SHE has been the one stalking and killing everyone. As the mother of a child that died from drowning, Mrs. Voorhees as always blamed the camp for his death due to counsolers being too busy having sex instead of watching him. Betsy Palmer is AMAZING in this role. For someone that has said herself that the script was "pure shit" and only took the role so she could buy herself a new car, she kills it (pun intended). She goes from sweet woman to crazed lunatic with a few flips of a switch. Talking to her dead son Jason in her mind and having him respond to her with her voice is downright creepy. And what really makes Mrs. Voorhees a great villain is that she truly believes she's in the right when doing this.
Two other things of note to be mentioned are the score and gore (I'm a poet and didn't know it...and now I'll see myself out). Harry Manfredini created that iconic "ki ki ki ma ma ma" sound that everyone knows, even if they haven't seen any films in the series. He's so good at making different type of music that makes us feel dread, fear, intensity, and even at times, being in a dreamlike state. The gore is also pretty great at times. We get slit throats, impailed bodies, axes to the face (after the fact), a man impailed through the neck with an arrow, and even and onscreen decapitation. Tom Savini was fresh off of Dawn of the Dead and he shows why he is considered a master at practical horror effects.
Any problems with the film? Sure, but pretty small for me. I've mentioned my thoughts on Ned and Steve. The only real problem is after seeing the film once and knowing that it's Mrs. Voorhees is the killer, seeing the hairy hands of Savini's assistant Taso as the stand in for the close ups on the killer's hands are pretty laughable.
Overall, Cunningham and Miller hit it out of the park. So much money came from this film that a sequel was made a year later and it's now the first in a franchise that has 10 original films, a remake, and a crossover with Freddy Krueger (not to mention all the toys, books, Halloween costumes, and more that came from this). A great yet simple slasher that is fun to put on every year at fall, or every Friday the 13th. To me, this film is like mixing Jack Daniel's and apple juice. Oh so good in the beginning, but it gets more intense as the night goes on. Then the final drink will hit you like that jump scare at the end. Happy Friday the 13th, everyone.
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