To kick off this first ever summer marathon I will be reviewing the mother of all summer camp horror movies—and one of my favorite films--Friday the 13th. This 1980 slasher was in response to the incredible hype that followed the original 1978 Halloween. Now, without a doubt I love John Carpenter’s Halloween. But Friday the 13th is something even more special to me. It is a movie that hits all the perfect notes and high points I expect from a slasher film—and horror film in general—of this caliber. The pacing is perfect, the suspense is ever present, the kills are brilliant, and the climax of the film is truly chilling.
Jump ahead to 1980. Camp Crystal Lake has been closed for many years and is just now reopening. A set of young teenage/collage age kids are all headed up to be counselors at the camp as it prepares to finally reopen. The nearby town members are wary of the camp’s dark history—one of murder—and consistently warn the kids that this is “camp blood.” Neither the owner nor the counselors pay the warnings any mind. They go about their work to prepare for the camp to open the following week.
Once the killer steps out and we finally see who it is, it is a surprising and macabre treat in a similar vein to Alfred Hitchcock’s classic horror film: Psycho. The final act of this 80s slashed is one of the most enjoyable sequences in horror film history. It is creepy, suspenseful, and shocking, even for a movie that is over 30 years old.
For the time period, the kill scenes are innovative, realistic, and frightening. This is mostly thanks to special effects master Tom Savini. Even in the uncut version of the film the murders tend to be just bloody and frightening enough without becoming too over the top or grotesque. (Intense gore has its place, but the execution of these kills fits the mood of the film well.) The kill scenes are also accented by the precise build up each time that makes the final slash all the more satisfying.
The acting—perhaps one of the only lesser sides of this film—isn’t necessarily made up of Oscar winning performances. Most of the characters, as is the style of the classic slasher, are simple and flat. They are card board cuts outs of teenagers to fit the bill for murder. Some of the characters I care about and relate to. But never do I become so connected that I become too emotionally invested in the film. After all, that is not the point of a slasher. However, the killer and the “final girl” give great performances that are fitting for the climax of the film. The killer basically makes this movie what it is. (And if you don’t know what I’m talking about because you haven’t seen it, then I suggest you go and watch the movie) It makes for a very creepy and suspenseful final act—accomplishing exactly what a good slasher should. I was disturbed, frightened, and excited. It is a great experience of a movie.
Summing it Up
Deaths: 10
Language: 2
Gore Factor: 3
Sex Factor: 3
Scare Factor: 4
Fun Factor: 5
Overall Rating: 5