Friday The 13th (1980) 14 out of 100

James "The Jimi" Hattar submitted the following investigation for The Feminist Slasher Project.


Play by Play:

The original and classic Slasher flick; it spawned countless sequels, a television show, a versus Freddy movie, and a terrible remake. “Friday the 13th” (1980) directed by Sean S. Cunningham, stars Betsy Palmer and a young (and then unknown) Kevin Bacon. The “Friday the 13th” films are known for its iconic hockey mask wearing serial killer, Jason Voorhees. What makes this movie interesting is that the hockey mask icon we know and love doesn’t take shape until “Friday the 13th Part 3” (which was in 3-D). So who is the killer in this movie? I’ll never tell ya, but here’s the story.
Twenty years after a child drowning and the horrific murders of two camp counselors on its grounds, Camp Crystal Lake is reopening; against the better judgment of skeptical locals. “Friday the 13th” follows the new owner and a group of new camp counselors who are sent to Camp Crystal Lake (also known to the locals as Camp Blood) to get it ready to re-open its doors. The young and horny camp counselors in the camp soon find out that whoever went on the killing spree years before doesn’t want anyone to re-open the camp and has no qualms about killing those who feel otherwise.
In the darkness of the night and through the pouring rain, one-by-one the counselors are each killed off and meet with grisly demises. What we find out is that a little boy drowned years ago at the camp because the camp counselors weren't paying attention. That boy’s name was Jason Voorhees. Now he comes back for revenge on Friday The 13th, his birthday to kill the counselors. Alice (Adrienne King), one of the counselors must fight for her life at the camp. Of course there is a twist at the end when we find out who the real killer is.
Although it's a long way from being a good movie, its success and influence is seen in countless horror films. The acting is below average, but there are some good kill scenes with gruesome makeup and bloody effects by Tom Savini. An iconic psycho-killer for the ages makes this a Slasher classic that started it all. If you want to be entertained, The Jimi recommends you see this; if you haven’t already.

Feminist Slasher Project Research:

The women in this movie were either young and horny or old and creepy. The young women played the victims, getting killed while having sex or taking off their clothes whenever possible. Alice was not entirely a strong female character but did the best she could to face the killer at the end. Let’s face it, these “Friday the 13th” movies are all about horny and naked young people getting killed in various ways with a variety of weapons. Most of the female characters in these movies are dimwits just waiting to get killed off. I’d have to give “Friday the 13th” a red light for the Feminist Slasher Project.