Friday the 13th (1980)

Plot: 1958 - 2 young camp counselors are mysteriously murdered and Camp Crystal Lake closes. 21 years later, Steve Christy wants to re-open. He hires 7 new counselors to help him. Then, one by one they are killed by the same murderer from 1958. Does the camp really have a death curse on it?




Thoughts & Observations:
We can't really lie and fluff up the reputation of these films. In some circles, they are seen as purely exploitational gorefests. As a matter of fact- the violence in these films seems to bother more people than the pointless, gratuitous nudity. The killings in these films are often brought up when they're being criticized. But as any horror fan who loves this period in the genre knows - violence is a necessary ingredient in the horror film. We can't lose sight of the need for the threat of death. But the thing that makes this franchise, in particular, problematic are all the incredibly cheap and boring sex / undressing scenes. Now that's exploitational.



And, just look at the plots of most of these movies. Paramount Home Video have made them sound mysterious and scary (or gluttonous) enough since the VHS releases I'm sure most of us checked out when we were in the Horror section at our local Blockbuster as kids (or, home town video store). What features all too prominently in these films are characters being loud, drinking, making really stupid sex / scatological jokes, doing harder drugs (cocaine, marijuana, perhaps other things), and taking their clothes off and humping or otherwise cavorting about. It would be really nice to be able to call them anything other than what they are. But... that's what they are, folks. Especially, Part IV of the series, The Final Chapter.



They often lose sight of the artistry of the horror film, in order to show lots of T&A. Even on women with quite small breasts and way too skinny bodies. Though thankfully, it doesn't look like they hired any women who were starving themselves slowly to death (remember the bathtub scene in The Shining?). I'm not a woman, but if I were, I would want a healthy, curvy body. I wouldn't want to look like a tiny stick. Which brings another question to the table- why weren't more actresses at this time more self-conscious? They certainly became so after the wave of Friday the 13th had begun washing over popular culture.



One feature that you just have to love from the Friday the 13th franchise is the isolation of character after character. This works better in the first and third films. But soon it's a formula that becomes comfortable and disappointing if it's ever missing. Or underplayed. It's also a great opportunity to get the more annoying characters to finally shut their mouths. Though in sequels, some of them would go on talking to themselves (Pete in Part V: A New Beginning, for example). Except for the occasional, "Wanda... ?" (my inclusion, none of the characters in the series were named Wanda) or the always popular, "stop fooling around!"



As for Friday's placement in the genre... Well, it gets a reputation as a Halloween rip-off. In a way, this is completely unfair. What it really takes from Halloween are the P.O.V. shots of the killer stalking victims. And, perhaps, the single running lone female survivor in jeopardy, mostly screaming and hiding from the killer. But, there are several differences. In Carpenter's film- you were meant to know who the killer was from the start. It wasn't a whodunit in any way. And, what about the added theme of children in peril? Or, in the case of Michael Myers- evil children? Then, Michael is the killer. Jason is really a device of mystery. Something to divert your attention in a way. A tragic figure even.



The music scores by Carpenter and Harry Manfredini couldn't be more different. Carpenter's is more keyboard / synthesizer-driven and brooding in a heady, atmospheric way. Something very cutting edge. Manfredini's is truly in the mode of a classical suspense "picture." Orchestral with swelling, heavy strings, that really screeches if the volume level is too high (with any luck, the new Paramount "Deluxe Edition" DVD's 5.1 track has fixed this effect and lessened it). Since this is my first movie discussion, it's important to say how vital music and audio in horror is to me in the genre. And the feel of dialogue and the mood the movie uses its soundtrack to set. Which is of course why Friday the 13th is a better than average movie in some regards and Halloween is an outright masterpiece.



It's not the first slasher film to come along (but then again, neither was Carpenter's landmark film). 1971's Bay of Blood (aka- Twitch of the Death Nerve) and 74's Black Christmas and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre came before it. In terms of the genre though, a mix between Friday the 13th and William Lustig's hideously shitty Maniac dictated what the slasher film would be over the years of underwhelming stuff, ranging from the completely dull My Bloody Valentine to the utter turds like The Prowler. Though the Friday series always held the record for highest body count. Even throughout the long competition with New Line's inventive and visually compelling A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise.



Grades:
Writing = C-

Reading that plot really shows this film has no ambition to have a message or a more serious point to it. And that's great if the director shows an incredible visual style, which this one does not. Though the film has begotten a lot of theories over the years that it's a conservative "How (Not) To" on social behaviors. That, these characters pay with their lives for having sex out of wedlock. Of course, to this the director has several times talked it off, saying that wasn't his intention at all. I believe him. Anyway, give it some credit for including themes that remain consistent throughout. Such as references to bad luck and things like the full moon, which of course is still unlucky. And at least the writer really tried when it came to Jason and Mrs. Voorhees' backstory. Her high-pitched and emotionally wild and raw speech to Alice has reached iconic status among fans like me.



Style / Direction = A-

I think this is where Friday the 13th really shines. Though he's not as show-offy as Steve Miner who directed Parts 2 and 3, Sean S. Cunningham does seem to have an idea of what to do with the camera. Even if a lot of the shots were improvised or devised on-location, this is a scenically dreamy movie. It's remarkably well shot, at least where the cabin interiors and woodsy outdoors meet Harry Manfredini's score. The film does drag on in terms of pace, but that's one of the things that has kept me coming back over the many years I've loved this movie. It allows the film to idol the crisp days of early summer. This is what hopefully offsets or balances out the often perverted and lame qualities of the dialogue and characterization.





Acting = D+

The quality of acting in a film like Friday the 13th is hardly the point, it's true. There are a couple not-too-terrible people sprinkled throughout the movie. Of course, Walt Gorney (Crazy Ralph) and Betsy Palmer (Mrs. Voorhees) need not be mentioned. Everyone remembers them, because they're great. Kevin Bacon isn't awful, but the one who really seems to have a future here is Laurie Bartram as the vegan weed-fiend Brenda. She's excellent. Totally natural and seems to be comfortable in this role, and among such terrible supporting players. One of the true hallmarks of the Friday the 13th series is bad acting and awful dialogue.



Music Score = B+

Special Effects / Gore = C



Atmosphere = B-

The best feature of Friday the 13th is definitely the setting. The summer camp, the woods, the chilling shots of the full moon, the cold rain, and the various cabin areas. Coming from someone who absolutely hated to go camping as a kid- this movie actually makes me reconsider that position. Whenever a movie is fun to watch, sort of touring the sights instead of having to be there just to get into it - you know it's special.



In Conclusion:
I think what we're really talking about here is charm. In 1980, this was a bit schlocky or campy and I know others picked up on it too. These films have become classics. Because their low technical quality and low-middle brow-ness is very charming, looking back from these ultra slick and high modern times. I think that's why people love these movies. The look and the feel of the films is charming. Like, the same way Motel Hell was stupid back then but is charming now. Ya know? Also- in these pathetic new days of garbage like Saw and Haute (High) Tension trying to recapture the grimy glory days of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Hills Have Eyes, and Friday the 13th - this was the real thing! This was true gritty.

Final Grade: C+ (5.5 out of 10)