Genres

Visitors Review

Theshapeo31 2013-05-18 19:04:27

More Overrated than Nightmare On Elm Street but worse

Now where to begin? OK Sean S. Cunningham's Friday The 13th is calledby many to be a horror classic yet I don't see it. When I was juststarting to watch the series I thought Mrs. Voorhees was the one in thehockey mask and suit and what I thought was the original was Part III(don't judge me I didn't know) but when I saw the original I wasn'timpressed with this film. I know this film is original I don't thinkpeople have seen a WOMAN in the role as the psychotic killer and awoman in her 60's at that original I will admit I don't think we'veseen that before in a movie but Mrs. Voorhees doesn't work for me asthe killer when I think of Friday The 13th it's only natural that Ithink of Jason since he is the series. This is actually one of my leastfavorite installments of this series, I'd out the list Friday The 13thPart II Friday The 13th Part III Friday The 13th Part VI: Jason LivesFriday The 13th Part IV: The Final Chapter Friday The 13th Part VII:The New Blood Freddy vs. Jason Friday The 13th Part VIII: Jason TakesManhattan Jason X Friday The 13th (2009) Friday The 13th Part V: A NewBeginning Friday The 13th (1980) Jason Goes To Hell (The Final Friday)I really don't believe this is the horror classic it's hailed out tobe, in my opinion the following film Friday The 13th Part II is theclassic of the series: it has a better atmosphere, suspenseful moments,and great kills and JASON is the killer as it should be. Here with Mrs.Voorhees I'm just waiting for the movie to end so I can on to he nextfilm.Anyway the story goes 2 camp counselors are killed, then a girl on herway to camp Crystal Lake, and she's killed, then other counselors(except for the lead girl Alice portrayed by Adrianne King) are killedone by one and when you see that Mrs. Voorhees is the killer you don'tbuy that an old woman in her 50's or 60's could've done all of this, soafter a LONG boring chase Alice lops off Mrs. Voorhees's head and inthe lake she's pulled under by a home decaying Jason and it turns outto be a dream. After this film I heard some gave away Betsy Palmer's (Mrs. Voorhees)address so people could hate her and tell her how bad the movie is, nowdespite how much I don't like this film I still find that uncalled forand think this should be a prequel and series starts with the nextfilm. Also Adrienne King retired from acting after this film due tostalkers and one of them even broke into her home to get to her. Now myrating I give this mess **1/2 Out of *****

Jesse-45 2013-05-18 11:25:20

Original

The first of the classic Friday The 13th series. This moviehas very chilling moments, for those whom are sensitive tohorror movies. This movie also presents memorable scenesfor the horror movie world. Harry Manfredini produced anexcellent score. The feel of this horror classic, is a feelof excitement, especially when the eight sequels come to mind.As well as the upcoming Jason X and Freddy Vs. Jason

mentalcritic 2013-05-16 01:40:59

The Microsoft of horror films...

If you want to be surprised by any aspect of this plot, read nofurther. Although it is pretty difficult to ruin any surprises an FT13film has to offer, I don't want anyone coming crying to me about notwarning them.Those who fail to understand my summary, take heart. It really is asimple thing. After all, Microsoft has been selling what is essentiallythe same software in different trimmings for the past twenty years, soallowing Hollywood to do the same doesn't seem all that unusual. Infact, the plots of every Friday The 13th film can pretty much beassembled from a construction kit.Looking back on it nowadays, it is hard to imagine what makes thischeap knock-off so memorable. The only noteworthy thing about thisincarnation of FT13 is that Kevin Bacon makes an appearance among thecast. It's very much a blink-and-you'll-miss-it performance, but Kevinat least gets to build up the library of people he can be connected toin six steps or less here. Take all the other cast members of the filmand ask yourself if you remember them being in any other production.You'll soon see what I mean.Even this "original" is unable to sustain eighty minutes of filmwithout recycling from another source. Halloween has been mentioned anumber of times. There's also far more creative cheap B-grade slasherflicks such as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It also wouldn't surpriseme to learn that the concept of a mother coming back to kill the peopleshe blames for her son's death was borrowed from elsewhere, either.The lack of originality in this original would be easy to forgive if itwas vaguely interesting. It isn't. As a matter of fact, it is as boringas hell, and not even the incredibly wimpy kill scenes can save it.Much is made about how these scenes had to be censored to appease theMPAA, but really, there is nothing here that directors like PaulVerhoeven or John Woo haven't trounced in terms of intensity a milliontimes over. Whereas films like Halloween and The Texas ChainsawMassacre built up a fear factor in atmosphere, all FT13 has going forit is hype. When you strip that away, it has nothing.In all, I gave FT13 a two out of ten. The extra point is for a veryfunny performance from a young Kevin Bacon. The rest is pure dreck.

HaddonfieldJason 2013-05-15 20:12:14

Good horror movie

Friday the 13th tells the story of Mrs Pamela Voorhees,who lost her onlychild Jason due to some camp counselors making out. She takes revenge,andkills everyone of the new counselors who try to re-open the cursed camp.FT13th is a lot of fun. It has some great characters,and some great jokes.It was a lot of fun. It did have some scares,not a lot,but when it did yougot really scared. The gore effects are great! This is a good scarymovie,and it doesn't deserve the s**t the critics are saying aboutit.3.5/4

Jsimpson5 2013-05-11 15:49:39

The start of it all

The 1980's saw the rise of the Slasher film sub genre and many filmswere created as a result. Most of those are still well known for thisday and countless remakes and sequels were made as well. One of themore notable slasher films out there is Friday the 13th, and this shortreview will be talking about the film that started it all.The basic idea of this story was that a group of teenagers go to thisold camp as a counselor retreat. They go to Camp Crystal Lake for theweekend. Various people tell the teenagers not to go there since it'scursed and people have been killed there.A bad storm arrives and one by the one the counselors are killed off bya killer.I won't give away the rest of the story, it's better to watch the film.When this film came out it was pretty scary which was 27 years ago. Bytoday's standards it's a fairly tame film. It's kinda like Psycho whenit came out in the 60's. It was shocking back then, but now it's kidnathe norm to have stuff like that in a film, so it's not shocking.The script could be better along with the acting. Overall it's not abad film and if you haven't seen it, then I would suggest that youeither buy or rent it.

scaryscreenplays 2013-05-11 02:44:30

The Best Slasher Flick I Have Ever Seen!

Unlike the modern horror movie killers of the 90's, Mrs. Voorhees, thesagacious and brutal killer in this flick, is creepy. Betsy Palmer did anincredible job in brilliantly transfiguring herself into this--should Irightly say--satanic killer. Hearing the spooky music by Harry Manfrediniisenough to scare you even without having seen the movie. Proof of this isthat I, being a musician, am able to play the music to this movie by ear.When I played it for my class in chorus they told me to "stop or theywouldhave nightmares". The acting, though admittedly boring, is very realistic,not exaggerated as in the 90's slasher flicks. The murders--if you get theuncut version--are no joke. They are frighteningly realistic and can bepretty gruesome as well as horrifying to a high degree! Most of us saythismovie set the standard for modern horror, but also remember who made thismovie horror--Mrs. Voorhees. She can, indeed, be called the "mother ofhorror" because she set the standards and everyone else follows in awe. Myregrets is that they did not make another "Friday the 13th" film with herinit.Please give this movie a chance. I believe you will love it. My friendsplayed it in class at school, and they loved it death. Everyone waswalkingaround school chanting "Ch ch ch ch ch ch ha ha ha ha ha ha", and theyravedabout this movie as if it were a blockbuster hit! You may not like it thatmuch, but it may impress you.

rpjfansclub 2013-05-06 19:04:58

A classic horror movie, not particular

"Friday the 13th" it's a classic horror movie.Sean S. Cunningham as a good director, and have created a good movie on abad/good script.The story speak about a camping and about a crazymother, with the fixed to kill all the persons who camp in thisplace.FINAL VOTE: 6

H P Lovecraft 2013-05-06 01:19:19

Better than many in the slasher genre...

This is an excellent movie. It has a great story, and the suspense ofwhodunnit? Was incredible. There are no words to explain this movie. It is agenre defining film ,and the sequels that follow, will furthur the viewersknowledge of what happened on that fateful day at Crystal Lake, the lakewhich Jason died.

brandon lee 2013-05-03 00:40:43

chi chi chi ah ah ah where`s jason jason jason

Ok this may be the only film in the series in which Jason is not in it,butit is the best out of the 9, soon to be 10.Friday the 13th has the best story line in all the sequels.I don`t know why, but this film has always freaked me out in the way ofthekiller`s strategy.The ending always makes me jump......well not anymore but if you have notseen this movie yet be prepared to jump at the end.a 7 out of 10.

nightwatch4773 2013-05-02 13:44:12

Thank You Mario Bava for inspiring Sean Cunningham!!!

Back in the early 70's 10 years before the slasher craze in the UnitedStates, Mario Bava from Italy created a film that would be theapparatus for slasher horror for years to come. That film was Twitch ofthe Death Nerve ( released on VHS under the dubious title Bay of Blood). This film really introduced the stalk and slash that would becomethe landscape for American horror for almost two decades. Friday the13th was born at the dawn of the 1980's and was followed by a myriad ofsequels. This the original still holds up today as a creepy piece ofslasher celluloid and features a young Kevin Bacon meeting his demise.Rookie fans looking for Jason's traditional hockey mask must wait untilthe second sequel.

bramb600 2013-04-16 08:26:52

Nothing Too Special.

I saw the first Friday the 13th first before any of them and I have tosay it's not a good horror movie, but a bad one. Sure it's not theworst I've ever seen because even the franchise has worse ones.You would think if a movie could get 12 or so sequels it would be goodor sort of a classic but the movie truly should never get that status.It had bad fake looking effect, terrible acting, cheap scares thataren't scary and is simply a waste of anyone's time. What I will give this movie though is the fantastic twist at the end.We think it will end one way and the movie completely spun my beliefs.Don't watch it, watch some of the others in the series.

adio_skater1 2013-04-15 21:58:42

Just like Jason this movie will never die.

We all know the rules Sex=death Drinking and Drug=death. Now don't youthink after all these years the counselors would learn something? Nothats what makes this Low budget independent film a true Classic. Backin 1980 we were just getting settled into the Horror/Slashergenre(please note Halloween 2 years earlier and Psycho 20 yearsearlier. Friday the 13th was a major boost to the slasher genre. Allthe different Clichés especially POV Shots. This movie brought out thescared little kid in all of us. This movie also Defined thepsychopathic killer we all know as Jason Voorhees. If there everbecomes 13 wonders of the world Friday the 13th should be thethirteenth wonder No Pun Intended!

Scott LeBrun 2013-03-26 14:27:34

"You're doomed...you're all doomed."

A group of attractive young would be counselors at a summer camp workat getting the place ready for business, not fully aware of the uglyand tragic history associated with it. After their boss goes into townfor supplies, and as night falls, they start falling victim to amysterious murderer determined to violently snuff the life out of allof them. That leaves one survivor, "nice gal" Alice (Adrienne King)alone to face the demented killer, who's killing all in the name oflove, for the "death" of their son was the catalyst for every nastything to follow in the years to come. In its own way, every bit asinfluential as "Halloween" of two years earlier, (and, naturallyenough, inspired by that vanguard stalk 'n' slash film), focusingstrongly on the inherent atmosphere of the woodsy setting (with somegreat shots along the way) but even more so on dazzling us with aseries of elaborately gruesome kills, each orchestrated to perfectionby Tom Savini and pretty much making *him* the true star of this film.While maybe a little rough and not particularly polished, this merelyadds to the feel of the film. Our killer, Pamela Voorhees, whileclearly having gone off the deep end, is not exactly unsympathetic, andveteran actress Betsy Palmer, up to then more well known for being anAll-American, girl next door type, knocks it right out of the park withher memorable and delicious scenery chewing. The assorted victims are areasonably good looking bunch, without looking like supermodels oranything like that, and are an entertaining enough group, likable andamusing, with Mark Nelson filling the role of the practical joker Ned,a role that would be visited again in subsequent entries in thisseries. Kevin Bacon is of course the true breakout star although truthbe told he doesn't really stand out among the young cast, although hedoes display some charisma. Supporting characters Crazy Ralph (WaltGorney) and Officer Dorf (Ron Millkie) are both hysterical and providemuch appreciated comedy relief. Sean S. Cunningham does a serviceablejob of producing and directing, although in addition to Savini, oneother member of the crew creates a highly enduring element, and that ofcourse is composer Harry Manfredini, who made the "ki ki ki, ma ma ma"sound effect instantly identifiable with this series. While maybe notthe absolute best among the "Friday the 13th" films (this reviewer'spersonal favorite is "The Final Chapter"), it's still worthy of somerespect for having kick started a franchise that remains a fan favoriteto this day. Almost 31 years later, it's still good fun for horrorfans.8/10

Chiidatbe 2013-03-26 03:31:47

Entertaining, but for the wrong reasons

As much as I'd love to give this film a lower rating, there wassomething about it I found rather compelling. In short, it's nothingspecial or different than any other horror film out there. A group ofteenagers head to camp, the majority end up murdered, the remainingperson finds the villain, fights with villain, villain gets killed.However, this was actually quite entertaining, but for the wrongreasons.Firstly, the negatives, Mrs. Voorhees has to be one of the worst scaryvillains ever in a film. I think this is down to both the writing byVictor Miller and the performance by Betsy Palmer as a whole. The"mama" scenes being particularly bad.The action sequences in the film were also quite bad with a lot of thescenes being hugely under-acted. After Alice beheads Voorhees, shealmost calmly walks away from the decapitated head still lying on thefloor. And one of the girls throws a box to try and keep somebody awayat one point.I think keeping the first half of the movie mostly action free andgetting to know the characters and seem them naturally worked well forthe film though personally I don't think it really made me care for thecharacter's death scenes as much as it should have done. But I do thinka lot of the actual death scenes were quite memorable and well carriedout.The ending I also thought carried a nice twist though I think the movieshould have ended straight after Alice wakes in the hospital bedscreaming and a lot of the dialogue used in that scene cut.Overall, a good film if you're looking to be entertained while killingsome time, though I wouldn't recommend it as a must see.

Kevin 2013-03-25 02:21:43

Kev's Friday the 13th review

It is the one that started it all! A true classic! Great deaths. And a pretty good stroyline. I would give it a B. The saga gets better when Jason shows up. Great Directing.

movieloather 2013-03-24 12:47:05

Everything you need to know about Friday the 13th

Friday THE 13TH (1980)death listBarry - stabbed in abdomen Claudette - killed off screen (assumed thatshe's stabbed in neck) Annie - throat slit with hunter's knife Ned -throat slit Jack - back of throat impaled with spear Marcie - axed inface Mr. Christy - knifed in abdomen Brenda - killed off screen(assumed death by archery weapons) Mrs. Voorhees (killer) - decapitatedwith machetesynopsisA young boy by the name of Jason Voorhees drowns to death in 1957 whenthe two counselors responsible for his safety snuck off to have sex. In1958, the two teens who were responsible for his death were viscouslykilled by an unknown killer. Years later, bizarre murders take placewhen teen counselors fix up Camp Crystal Lake, re-bought by a man namedSteve Christy. The killer is unknown until the sole survivor meets themin a heated scuffle.This film is widely acclaimed for it's creative yet horrifying murdersequences.

Eli Dirkx 2013-03-23 09:02:27

Oh, for Pete's sake...

Now, I will admit that I have watched some 'slasher'-type films in thepast.Nightmare on Elm Street and Alien, for example, which, I guess, is alittle bit difficult to compare to, but still about the same genre.We start off in 1958, where we experience some people getting killed onsummer camp. Afterwards we go to 1980, where some young peeps are goingto try out for that same camp, apparently known as Camp Crystal Lake,or if I recall correctly also Camp Blood.In the evening, that turns to crap. Don't be expecting Shakespeare.It's really just people getting killed off one by one, and occasionallysome music accompanying it. The ending is one of the better thingsabout this film, but I wouldn't spoil it.3 points for the ending.However, the ending alone is definitely not a reason to watch thisfilm. I wouldn't recommend this film even to bore someone.

grkamerican1984 2013-03-22 17:59:31

an obsession of an infamous slasher series that almost didn't happen to me

"Friday the 13th" is my favorite horror film, along with JAWS, andBLACK Christmas. now, its kind of weird that i'm a fan of a series thati didn't even know of until a few years ago. in 2003, rumors were goingaround about the movie FREDDY VS JASON. i was clueless about the movie,so i did a little research. i was familiar with the series from thatpoint on, and when i first saw the first film, i enjoyed it a lot. iwon the DVD, which has some minor cuts in the death sequences, such asJack's (Kevin Bacon) death which was cut after we see the arrow gothrough him. "Friday the 13th" was just another slasher film at thattime, but now, it's probably one of the most famous and notoriousslasher films in the history of American Cinema. Thanks, SeanCunningham! P.S. - Harry Manfredini's music really suits it too! nicen' ominous

concarni 2013-03-18 13:13:07

Typical slasher *Spoiler*

The original 'Friday the 13th' is a basic slasher film which actually hasmore similarities to 'Black Christmas' than 'Halloween'. In this part thereis no Jason, instead the killings are all (for the 1st 2/3 of the filmanyway) seen through the point-of-view shot, just as in 'Black Christmas'.It's not until the sequel that Jason appears and the films adopt a moreHalloween style approach. The acting is typical (Kevin Bacon was the only member of the young cast whodid anything of note later in his career), the direction is a rip off of'Psycho' and 'Black Christmas' (probably Halloween as well). Had it not beenfor the very good 'final scare' at the end (which i think is one of the bestin horror history) the film would have been very mediocre. It's still by nomeans a classic but still entertaining, invite a few mates over, drink a fewbeers and you'll enjoy it.5/10

Craig Williams 2013-03-18 00:00:54

The worst movie I've ever seen.

An inane slasher flick that's poorly done in every thinkable way. Theactingis horrible, the writing is horrible, and the cinematography is pathetic.The film is too obviously low budget, but not even more money could salvagethis turkey of a movie. The film has no thrills, in fact it's PAINFULLYboring. Anyone with half a brain could've written a screenplay better thanthis. Although the idea of a bunch of teens getting slaughtered at a darkcamp by a lake is a rather good premise for a horror movie, it isn't usedwell here. There's nothing enjoyable about this movie. It's most definatelythe worst movie I've ever seen. I thought "Halloween" was bad, but "Fridaythe 13th" makes "Halloween" look like something just short of Shakespeare.Don't think I'm some old person who hates all horror movies. I'm a teenagerwho loved "Scream" and also liked "I Know What You Did LastSummer".