This is what I did this past Friday the 13th. I did not post anything on Letterboxd but I'm catching up here. In a few minutes, a review for the last motion picture I viewed. Now, the classic 1980 slasher:
Like many, I was able to see the OG Friday the 13th last night in a theatrical setting; for one night only, Paramount brought the film to all the major cinema chains in the United States. As the movie is set on a Friday, June the 13th and Jason's canon birthday is June the 13th... it was a magnanimous move on Paramount's part in allowing people to see the film this way, and on this specific date.
Yes, I've reviewed the movie 9 years ago; I have many new thoughts since then. No, I won't go down the rabbit hole of mentioning all the legal reasons why there hasn't been a new Jason movie in 16 years, or the trepidation I have over A24 (!) and their involvement in an upcoming Friday the 13th TV show.
The mixed opinions on the entire franchise and why certain people like certain entries while not liking others... I can't get too upset over what people rate this initial installment. The nitpicks are valid—if it was supposed to be a “murder mystery,” then it doesn't work for obvious reasons. You may be bored or find this inert as you view these random characters doing random things. A snake is killed on camera; some in the large crowd made it known they did NOT like that death.
A mutual described this movie as “cozy;” understandable. While not the most memorable of characters even by franchise standards, at least they were mostly tolerable and amused me, whether they had sex, played Strip Monopoly, “smoked grass,” acted goofy around the officer named DORF, etc. There are giallo vibes-the rural New Jersey vibes do a swell job of establishing that this scenic area is isolated-there is a variety in the slayings.
Of course, the biggest assets for the film are the Harry Manfredini score (no matter how “inspired” by Psycho it was... many others were inspired by that Bernard Herrmann score in the past 65 years, and the violin-driven sounds are impelling), the Tom Savini gore effects, and having an experienced pro like Betsy Palmer as Mrs. Voorhees; she only appeared due to the desperate need of a paycheck to purchase a new automobile. Thankfully Palmer warmed up to a movie that she looked down on at the time. The presence of atmosphere throughout is also a nice asset which isn't always present in the sequels.
While I do prefer such franchise efforts as the third, fourth, and sixth, I was still happy to experience the originator on the silver screen, in front of a big crowd who wasn't too bad. Sure, there were random giggles at odd moments (I can't get too mad when it's done here. Sadly, I've heard tales of horrible young adults doing this at Lynch screenings and serious, mature pictures in the Criterion Collection) and laughing during the movie's biggest death left me a little puzzled. Otherwise, they were fine and could have been MUCH worse. The lack of people quoting every line was a relief; so was the lack of irritating behavior in general that has even turned off SCORSESE from visiting the cinema in 2025.
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