In this edition of Obscure Movie Reviews, I’ll be talking about one of my favorite (and most well known!) slashers of all time, “Friday the 13th” (1980). Okay, maybe this one isn’t as obscure as usual, but it’s still worth talking about. The plot deals with a group of camp counselors who arrive at Camp Crystal Lake. As the first (and last!) night passes, a ruthless killer dispatches the counselors one-by-one in gruesome fashion!
By itself, the plot is nothing to write home about, with a mysterious killer hunting down his (or her?) victims. However, the execution of the material is outstanding, especially given the budget. The performances are very good, with Betsy Palmer stealing the show in a brief part as a former camp cook. Adrienne King is the real star despite second billing, showing off her skills as she realizes the gravity of the situation. The film also features Kevin Bacon in one of his earlier roles.
The cinematography is gorgeous, with a standout moment being when one of the counselors walks through the rain at night. The resulting imagery is haunting and dark, while also mesmerizing. The film also uses jump-starts to great effect, with many successfully frightening moments, while the score, composed by Harry Manfredini, is nothing short of haunting and suspenseful.
The gore effects are very good, especially for the time. In particular, I remember a spear to the throat that looked very convincing. As you can tell, this film is not for the faint of heart, as seen in this behind the scenes note. In one scene a snake is decapitated. It was a real snake, and the handler was not even informed that the snake would be killed.
However, what’s most important to talk about is the influence on later slasher films. While “Black Christmas” (1974) arguably started the genre, and “Halloween” (1978) included now-familiar tropes, “Friday the 13th” brought it to a wider audience and popularized the genre. With a box office turnout of almost $60 million, it’s not hard to see why. It led to many sequels and many copycats, with some even employing the creator of the film’s gore effects, Tom Savini, to work on their projects. Some examples of Savini’s influence include: “Maniac” (1980), “My Bloody Valentine” (1981), and “The Prowler” (1981).
“Friday the 13th” also led to many camp-themed slashers, such as “The Burning” (1981) and lesser known works such as “Madman” (1981), “Just Before Dawn” (1981), and the notorious “Don’t Go in the Woods” (1981). “Friday the 13th” had an influence that is still evident today, with “Slasher: Guilty Party” (2017) offering a different take on the summer camp story line.
In summary, the film “Friday the 13th” is greater than the sum of its parts. Although the film was great, it was it’s impact that warranted its inclusion here. It led to the boom of the slasher film genre we know today, and we should be very grateful for it! I give this movie a nine out of ten.