Review #316: 'Friday the 13th' (1980)

The film begins in 1958, where a bunch of jolly, guitar-playing camp members are happily singing away at Camp Crystal Lake. Two sneak off to a nearby barn where they are brutally murdered by an unseen killer. In the modern day (well, 1980), a fresh gang of horny teenagers are making their way to a recently re-opened Camp Crystal Lake, ignoring the warnings of local madman Crazy Ralph (Walt Gorney) that the place is cursed. They learn that years ago a young boy drowned in the lake, and the place has never been the same. The group soon find themselves being picked off one-by-one in various bloody ways.

Following the success of John Carpenter's excellent Halloween (1978), Friday the 13th was greenlit with a modest budget and an unknown young cast (including an early appearance by Kevin Bacon). The film proved a huge success, and is one of the most financially profitable slasher films ever made. How this happened I don't know, as despite the franchise's cult following, and the iconic character of Jason Voorhees (who doesn't appear here), the Friday the 13th films are as mundane and as formulaic as practically every slasher of the era. The original, which you would expect to the best or at least prove moderately memorable, is dull, predictable and shockingly unimaginative.

It plays out like a beginner's guide to the slasher film - horny, naive youngsters; a blissful location full of murky history; a stalking killer; 80's haircuts; minimal budget; terrible fashion. But there's just nothing to take from this film that hasn't been done far better in other horrors. Given that horror legend/genius Tom Savini is on hand to do the visual effects, the murders are terribly bland, with only Kevin Bacon's early demise proving remotely memorable. There are some minor plus-points - the soundtrack is iconic, there are plenty of annoying characters whose deaths you can eagerly await, and there is a silly but enjoyable final 'shock'. But underneath it all, Friday the 13th, is as crap as the majority of the 1980's slashers. And now for 9 more.


Directed by: Sean S. Cunningham
Starring: Adrienne King, Jeannine Taylor, Robbi Morgan, Kevin Bacon, Betsy Palmer
Country: USA

Rating: **

Tom Gillespie