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| The theatrical poster |
This review previously appeared on my other blog "When Franchises Attack!"
It could be argued that before Friday the 13th there was no slasher genre. The concept had been explored in many a important date themed slice n’ dice flicks that flooded the drive-ins in the early eighties. Thanks to word of mouth and the groundbreaking special effects from Dawn of the Dead‘s Tom Savini, the movie’s reputation quickly grew.
The makers Friday the 13th were always the first to admit how many ideas they stole from John Carpenter’s Halloween, and watching the movie with a critical eye the similarities certainty show through, you have as faceless killer, the promiscuous kids and the prophet of doom, here in the shape of Crazy Ralph. The thing the thing that sticks out most to me is the use of the camera to show us things that the characters don't know, like the phone lines being cut. The camera is also a voyeur, putting us not only in the position of the killer, spying on teen sex but also in the position of the victims.
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| well, that's going to ruin his day |
On the surface Friday the 13th seems to be a cheap exploitation film directed by a businessman for a relative tuppence to turn a quick profit, the part we all watch horror movies for, the kills, are surprisingly low key, 30 years on what once caused moral watchdogs to collectively foam at the mouth now may cause a giggle rather than a gasp with a couple even happening off screen but they are elevated beyond the ordinary Tom Savini's remarkable effects work. The deaths of Jack (arrow through the neck) and Marcie (ax to the face) still made me wince, even though I must have seen them a dozen times. The fact that the cast are genuinely likable unlike a lot of its horror fellows does much to elevate the film above its peers.
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| Pamela attacks! |
Alice proves to be a suitable final girl, even if she has no less than three opportunities to kill Pamela before finally relieving her of her head. When I watched the film with a more analytic eye I found myself starting to feel quite sorry for Mommy Dearest, far from being a rampaging monster (that ironically her son would become) she's been driven insane by grief and guilt, while this doesn't excuse her appalling actions it gives a welcome layer of complexity and for me it played a massive part in why Friday the 13th went on to huge success and many a sequel. However once you start to think about it too hard the idea of a small woman overpowering healthy young people and being able to chuck them through windows makes the film feel slightly ridiculous and for me diminishes its power. Moving the mantle from mother to son them becomes a very wise decision.
The other factor for me is the final twist which is unique and unpredictable and promises so much more to come. Its shortcomings aside, Friday the 13th is an inventive and enjoyable movie and unlike most of the films that followed, Friday the 13th felt fresh and fun and still feels that way today.
EMMA'S SCORE: 85 out of 100
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